Sun Ra and his Arkestra featurig John Gilmore on Tenor Sax   I don’t have any information about this as I don’t have the disc, just the cover, which is “homemade.”  The back is all pasted over with gold foil and the front has hand-coloring and some stickers.   I think that this covered one of Sun Ra’s records on Saturn.  Any Sun Ra followers out there that can shine some light here?

Esquivel and his Orchestra  “Strings Aflame” (1958)  Vik  Alternate Cover from Argentina.  Here’s the original RCA Victor cover:

Despite the “strings” in the title, this one actually swings quite well, and has a bit of an exotic gypsy flavor to it, augmented by cool spacey production that makes the strings hum with a strange other-worldly tonality. The set’s filled with the usual crazy Esquivel arrangements, and includes the cuts “Turkish March”, “Andalusian Sky”, “Misirlou”, and “Gypsy Lament”.  (Dusty Groove)

Alternate RCA UK cover of “Mmm Nice!” by  arranger, composer and conductor Bob Thompson, his chorus and orchestra  Recorded Aug. 1959.

Selected Personnel: Shelly Manne (drums), Larry Bunker (drums, perc.), Frank Capp (drums), Emil Richards (perc.), Bud Shank (Sax), Frank Rosolino (trombone), Ken Shroyer (trombone), Don Fagerquist (trumpet), Al Porcino (trumpet), Alton Hendrickson (guitar), Red Callender (horns).

Tracks: The Song is You, Younger than Springtime, People Will Say We’re in Love, They Can’t Take That Away from Me, While We’re Young, The Best Thing for you, Ain’t We Got Fun, Hello, Young Lovers, Do It Again,  joie_de_vivre  I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face, Playboy.

This record is a staple of any EZ listening/bachelor pad/lounge music library and features the most imaginative intrumentals with wordless vocal chorus. This is Thompson’s first LP.  Here’s the U.S. release with cover girl Sandy Warner:

“Sweet Caroline” Neil Diamond Uni Records (shown here with a very special spindle girl – my sweet Caroline!)

Officially released on September 16, 1969, Neil only recently revealed that he wrote this after seeing a Life magazine photo of Caroline Kennedy riding a pony in the mid-sixties.  But every Caroline owns it.  The song has been a tradition at Boston’s Fenway Park since 1997, and since 2002 it has been played at every game in the middle of the eighth inning.  Elvis liked to sing it.

Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I’ve been inclined
To believe they never would

Joe Newman: “Counting Five in Sweden”   With Basie-ites Frank Wess, Al Grey, Nat Pierce, Eddie Jones and Sonny Payne.  Label: Metronome 15018   12″ LP 1959  Design: Stig Söderqvost  Photo: Bengt H. Malmqvist

Joe Newman with his (then) new wife, Rigmor Newman.  This cover was pulled from distribution so as not to offend with the image of a happy and happily integrated couple.  His tune “To Rigmor,” (recorded around the same time) was dedicated to her.  In the early 90’s Rigmor married Harold Nicholas (of the Nicholas Brothers).

Check this out from designer, artist and LP cover lover, Marc “swellzombie” Palm:  “I was just apart of an art show in Seattle where the artists involved had to take existing record cover images and recreate them with a Muppet theme.  The show looks great and if you’re interested check out information about the show at http://ouchmyeye.com/2009/muppettrawk/ Thanks and your site is awesome.”

“The Buddy Holly Story”  Compare the U.K. Coral  (top) and U.S. Coral Records (bottom) releases.

“Cocktail Swing”  Jack Sterling and his Quintet  Columbia Harmony Records

“Idol Worship of the Worshipped Idols” a piece of original art by John Purlia.

A solo exhibit of John Purlia’s Lp cover-inspired art is coming to Distinction Gallery in Escondido, California.  The show is titled “Plastic Prophets of Vinyl Redemption” and will run from February 14-March 7.  Check it out!

Kool and the Gang “Live at the Sex Machine  Blue Elephant Records

Check out FunFaceCam.com and put yourself on an lp cover.

Contest: Let us see your best one, we might post it and send you a shirt too.