Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Blue Note 4003. (1958) One of the greatest jazz records by a giant among men and an all-star ensemble of superstars: LEE MORGAN, BENNY GOLSON, BOBBY TIMMONS, JYMIE MERRITT and ART BLAKEY. Songs here include the jazz standards “Moanin’,” “Along Came Betty,” and “Blues March” among others. The cover portrait was shot by Buck Hoeffler. The session was produced by Alfred Lions and recorded by Rudy Van Gelder of course. Liner notes by Leonard Feather .

(18 votes, average: 4.61 out of 5)

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“Bringing It All Back Home” Bob Dylan Cover photo by Daniel Kramer.

I went to Bard College and spent a semester living in a mansion-turned-dorm called Ward Manor. It was campus legend that Dylan had spent time hanging around Bard in the sixties and I was told this cover photo was taken at Ward Manor (but I think I read recently that it was actually shot at his manager Albert Grossman’s home. The woman on the cover is Grossman’s wife). Other rumors floating around Bard years after the facts were that the lines “Must bust in early May/Orders from the DA” in his song “Subterranean Homesick Blues” refered to the annual Bard drug raids by local cops. And that in the same song, the couplet “The pump don’t work/Cause the vandals stole the handles” refers to an incident at Bard. There was an old water pump just off campus, and true or not, it was somewhat magical. Steely Dan formed at Bard and so did the Beastie Boys (but those are stories for another post).

My friend Fred wrote in his blog about the recent passing of Bob Altshuler who was the head of publicity at Columbia   for many years (and who could probably clear up many of the Dylan rumors we all cling to).   For Fred’s personal remembrance check out www.frederatorblogs.com

(22 votes, average: 4.18 out of 5)

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The Band.   The “Brown” Album.   (1969)

(17 votes, average: 3.59 out of 5)

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A wisp of smoke curls in the shadows above this black and white portrait of a 1920’s literary type washed in light.   It’s time for love.

(12 votes, average: 4.83 out of 5)

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Private press release by Jim Glasco …

(11 votes, average: 2.45 out of 5)

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Paul Mark and His Orchestra and Voices “Golden Melodies from Japan”   Imperial Records.

(30 votes, average: 4.40 out of 5)

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Black Orpheus on Philips. This beautiful cover comes from Lartaun Perez and his personal collection. Lartaun suggests that it may be “the first bossa-nova in history”. Thanks for sending!

(16 votes, average: 3.75 out of 5)

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