Bill Haley and his Comets Decca Records. (1955) Includes “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” the song that introduced rock & roll to White America. “Rock Around the Clock” was a modest hit until the song was used as the title track of “The Blackboard Jungle” some 12 months later. His next record was a cover of Joe Turner’s “Shake, Rattle and Roll’ which was a top ten hit and the first rock & roll record to sell a million copies!

Kustom City U.S.A. The Kustom Kings. Smash Records. Mono.

The Vettes “REV-UP” “The explosive new sound of hot rod music!” MGM Records. (1964) Check out this all-star LA studio session band: Bruce Johnston (Vocals); Steve “Shutdown” Douglas (Sax, Arranger); Tommy Tedesco (Guitar); Glen Campbell (Guitar); Ray Pohlman (Bass); Hal Blaine (Drums); Leon Russell (keyboards) and Jay Migilori (Saxophone)

“Sound Off” The exciting new sound game. A record and a board game. Great cover illustration. 1960.

A two-sided monsterpiece from Hairy Records (1964) this record is based on the hugely successful early sixties “Silly Surfer” and “Weird-ohs” model car assembly kits from The Hawk Model Co.. The Weird-ohs model kits were introduced in 1963. The initial three-kit batch of Weird-ohs consisted of Digger, a dragster; Daddy, a commuter; and Davey, a biker. These were soon joined by other releases that went on to become one of the most popular and successful series of model kits in plastic hot rod history. Similar to the drag monsters and toy model kits that Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and Stanley Mouse were creating the Weird-ohs were the creation of William Campbell. The Musical Director here was no less than surf maestro Gary Usher.

Excuse the reflection.  This one is a favorite that I have framed.

Amazing how many lps were put out with cool hot rod, dragster, car covers and the “sounds” of the racetrack. No music or anything, just the sounds of racecar engines, screaming tires and shifting gears and such. But the packaging shows some pretty cool cars that deserve a place in my cover collection.