Artist and underground comic legend Robert Crumb created some great lp covers beginning with the classic cover illustration for Big Brother and the Holding Company’s “Cheap Thrills” album and including many for his own jazz band the “Cheapsuit Serenaders. Crumb amassed a world-class collection of rare 78 records and the Serenaders play classic jazz from that era. Here’s one on Blue Goose Records courtesy of frequent contributor and cover afficianado Kerstan Reineke.

(21 votes, average: 3.62 out of 5)

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I was charmed by your lp cover log that I ran into over the weekend.

Most of my unusual covers were picked up in the early 90s when I could go to places like the local “Off Broadway Flea Market” and pick up my favorite jazz stars for around a dollar. I kept running into these odd covers that reminded me of when this kind of thing looked normal. Frankly it seems to me like it was more fun when wacky covers were a normal part of marketing these things. I hope some of these covers might find a place on your log.   — Steve Talley, Muncie, In

Georgie Gibbs on Halo Records.

(33 votes, average: 4.15 out of 5)

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Kenneth Rexroth organized and emceed the legendary Six Gallery reading on October 7, 1955, at which Ginsberg introduced the world to “Howl”. Rexroth’s work was composed with attention to musical traditions and he performed his poems with jazz musicians. Nonetheless, Rexroth was not wholly supportive of the dramatic rise in popularity of the so-called “Beat Generation,” and he was distinctly displeased when he became known as the father of the Beats.

A life-long iconoclast, Rexroth railed against the dominance of the east-coast “literary establishment” and bourgeois taste that was corrupting American poetry. While he refused to consider himself a Beat poet, his influence as champion of anti-establishment literature paved the way for others to write poems of social consciousness and passionate political engagement. His greatest contribution to American poetry may have been in opening it to Asian influences through his mystical, erotically charged poetry and superb translations. Kenneth Rexroth died in 1982 at 77 and is buried in Santa Barbara on a cliff above the sea.

Read more about Kenneth Rexroth at Modern American Poetry.

(19 votes, average: 3.26 out of 5)

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“A little bit of LATIN, and a little bit of JAZZ” Ronnie Neuman at the Padded Cell. Rare Latin Jazz lp on Soma Records. The Padded Cell was a Minneapolis nightclub and restaurant known for it’s charburger and experimental jazz. This cover was featured in the “Incredibly Strange Music” books.

(28 votes, average: 3.93 out of 5)

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#4 in a cool series of jazz compilations put out by the Dawn label. All with great covers, this is the best though. What style! The classic Lambretta, the babe, the tight pants and low cut top! The music is equally good and deserving of the hip sleeve. The roster includes Paul Quinichette, Nat Pierce, Gene Roland, Ed Thigpen and Earl May.

(42 votes, average: 3.90 out of 5)

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James Cleveland Sings Songs My Mother Taught Me”

Cover art by “Harvey”. One of many gospel and jazz illustrations by the artist on the Savoy label.

“Throughout the 1960’s Harvey produced paintings for the covers of Savoy Records and their subsidiaries Sharp, Regent and Gospel. Most, but not all, were gospel albums. More than 190. The record jackets are signed on the front, “Harvey”, and on the back of many of the records Harvey is given credit for the album art. No other name. No one knows for sure the identity of the mysterious Harvey to this day. According to long-time Savoy producer Lawrence Roberts, Harvey lived in New York and was very secretive. They would send him a title or concept and he would produce the painting.” The paintings were not expensive and they paid him in cash. I wish I had some of these paintings. I wonder where they are today!

(18 votes, average: 3.56 out of 5)

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One of my favorite covers and one of my favorite saxophonists (and on this session with one of my favorite piano players). Go Man! It’s “Sonny Criss” and Modern Jazz Imperial Records. Sonny Criss (as) Sonny Clark (p) Leroy Vinnegar (b) Lawrence Marable (d) Los Angeles, CA, July 10, 1956 (No, that’s not Criss on the motorbike)

(39 votes, average: 4.44 out of 5)

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I’ve always loved this cover and title! I’ve seen Ralph Sharon accompany Tony Bennett a half dozen times, the most memorable being opening night of the Newport Jazz Festival 1990 or 1991. The gala concert and party was held at the Tennis Hall of Fame and I sat at the side of the stage with Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. Perhaps also aptly Mr. and Mrs. Jazz.

Sue and Ralph Sharon “Mr. & Mrs. Jazz” Bethlehem

J.R. Monterose (ts) Eddie Costa (vib) Ralph Sharon (p, vo) Joe Puma (g) Milt Hinton (b) Jo Jones (d) Sue Ryan (vo ) NYC, November, 1956 1. It Don’t Mean A Thing 2. A Fine Romance 3. I Could Have Told You 4. Mynah Lament 5. Just You, Just Me 6. That Goldblatt Magic 7. A Nightingale Can Sing The Blues 8. Hugette Waltz 9. A Trout No Doubt 10. With The Wind And The Rain

(17 votes, average: 4.06 out of 5)

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Charlie “Bird” Parker (Dial 202)   From Vintage Vanguard — an amazing source of jazz album photos and information.

Three 10″ LP’s were issued in 1949- “Charlie Parker Quintet” vols 1, 2, and 3. (Dial LP’s 201, 202 and 203). Dial also released “Charlie Parker Sextet” (207) in 1950.

(21 votes, average: 3.81 out of 5)

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The Gerry Mulligan Quartet “Reunion” with Chet Baker. World Pacific Records

Mulligan (BS), Baker (T), Henry Grimes (B), Dave Bailey (D) (1957)

The Mulligan-Baker group of 1952-53 was one of the best and most popular jazz ensembles of the fifties (even without a piano!). This reunion session was one of the few times the two leaders recorded together afterwards.

(21 votes, average: 4.19 out of 5)

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