David Bowie  “Pinups”  RCA Records (1973)  Released between “Aladin Sane” and “Diamond Dogs.”  The woman on the cover with Bowie is 1960s supermodel Twiggy in a photograph taken by her then-manager Justin de Villeneuve.  In the album booklet, Bowie himself describes Pin Ups as: 

“These songs are among my favourites from the ’64–67′ period of London. / Most of the groups were playing the Ricky-Tick (was it a ‘y’ or an ‘i’?) -Scene club circuit (Marquee, eel pie island la-la). / Some are still with us. /Pretty Things, Them, Yardbirds, Syd’s Pink Floyd, Mojos, Who, Easybeats, Merseys,  The Kinks

(29 votes, average: 3.72 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Rendez-Vous Avec Rex Stewart  Barclay Records (France)

K & J.J.  East Coast Jazz  Bethlehem Records  (Cover by Burt Goldblatt)

(34 votes, average: 3.85 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Hank Crawford  “More Soul”  Atlantic Records (1961)   Portrait by Lee Friedlander.  Along with David “Fathead” Newman, Hank Crawford lead the pre-eminent sax section of Ray Charles classic group of the late 50′s – early 60′s.  Crawford, who joined Charles’ band in 1957, primarily held down the role of baritone sax player, but with this recording he’s able to stretch out on the alto.  As he often did with Ray Charles, More Soul sees Hank in the role of arranger.   The night that this record was cut, I’ve read, Crawford played Harlem’s Apollo theater until 1am, took the short ride down to Broadway and the Atlantic studios and recorded these seven tracks before dawn.  Crawford’s arrangements for septet dispense with piano, aside from a little comping by Hank, which vividly opens out the sound of brass and horns, and gives a greater weight and clarity to the bass/drums rhythm section of Edgar Willis and Milt Turner.  Fathead Newman plays tenor.  The great Tom Dowd engineered.  Nesuhi Ertegun produced.  Check it out!

(27 votes, average: 3.30 out of 5)

 Loading ...

“Night-Club at After Dark”  Various Artists  Teichiku Records Japan  (Thanks to SEM SINATRA for generously contributing this image.)

(30 votes, average: 3.33 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Valsas     A Brazilian Radio Orchestra

(31 votes, average: 2.97 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Monk’s Moods   The Thelonious Monk Trio   Prestige Records (Holland) Dutch cover photo.   Thelonious Monk piano, Gary Mapp or Percy Heath bass, Art Blakey or max Roach drums.     Recorded in 1953

(32 votes, average: 3.34 out of 5)

 Loading ...

“Golden Folk Album”   (Vol. 4)     I think this is Korean but not sure.   Great cover shot though!

(28 votes, average: 3.46 out of 5)

 Loading ...

The Stooges     Their debut album on Elektra Records   (1969)     Photo by Joel Brodsky     Here’s “No Fun” to kick off side B.

(40 votes, average: 3.85 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Vanusa   RCA Victor Records

(33 votes, average: 3.64 out of 5)

 Loading ...

George Harrison   “All Things Must Pass” Apple Records   (1970)   (I got my copy that year.)   A triple album with the #1 hit “My Sweet Lord,”   “Isn’t It A Pity,” and many other beautiful songs.   Album design and photography:   Tom Wilkes.

Wilkes was partner in a Long Beach advertising firm when he became art director for the 1967 Monterey International Pop Music Festival for which he created all of the graphics and print materials, including the festival’s psychedelic poster that was printed on foil stock.   Music producer Lou Adler, who produced the landmark music festival with singer John Phillips, said Wilkes “caught the spirit of the time” with his festival graphics.   The Monterey pop festival “catapulted” Wilkes’ career into the music industry, his daughter said, beginning as art director at A&M Records.

During his heyday, Wilkes designed or provided the art direction or graphic design for scores of album covers, including designing the covers for the Rolling Stones’ “Beggars Banquet,” Neil Young’s “Harvest,” Eric Clapton’s “Eric Clapton,” Joe Cocker’s “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” and George Harrison’s “Concert for Bangladesh” and “All things Must Pass.”

As he did with many of the albums, Wilkes also shot the cover photo of Joplin for her 1971 “Pearl” album, which shows the flamboyant singer lounging on a settee.   (Their photo session was the night she overdosed.)

In 1973, Wilkes won a Grammy Award for best recording package for the Who’s rock opera “Tommy,” as performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Choir.

Wilkes passed away in 2009.   He was 69 years old.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

(49 votes, average: 3.82 out of 5)

 Loading ...