One of my favorite covers and records too. Paul Weller took the photo. Paul Bacon designed the cover. “Monk’s Music”   The Thelonious Monk Septet with Coleman Hawkins, Art Blakey, John Coltrane, Gigi Gryce, Ray Copeland, Wilbur Ware. Riverside Records. 1957.

Monk’s fifth for the label and the first to focus on his own compositions. The record begins with “Abide With Me” – a very short piece, (only 50 seconds long).   This is an 18th Century hymn brilliantly arranged by Monk.   “Well, You Needn’t,” more than 11 minutes long, gives everybody the opportunity to blow.   Monk, first, in a masterful solo; then Trane (listen to Monk calling “Coltrane, Coltrane!” just before Trane’s solo). “Ruby,my dear” is played by Hawk, and is the perfect tune for Bean’s imperial ballad playing. “Off Minor” has great solos by Hawk, Copeland and Monk.   Finally, the sumptuous “Crepescule with Nellie”, written by Thelonious for his wife, is mostly played by Monk. (FYI: ‘Crepescule” comes from the French word “crepuscule”, which means twilight, dusk).

(28 votes, average: 4.61 out of 5)

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Sharon Tate in “Valley of the Dolls” Scepter Records 45 from Italy.

(47 votes, average: 4.68 out of 5)

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“The Unforgettable Eddie Cochran” Liberty EP. Eddie Cochran was only 21 in 1960 when he died in a tragic accident while on tour in England.  

(17 votes, average: 3.94 out of 5)

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Another cool Brazilian record from Sabadabada.

(20 votes, average: 3.10 out of 5)

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“Fire on the Strings” Joe Maphis, “King of the Strings”

(22 votes, average: 3.41 out of 5)

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Screamin’ Jay Hawkins…What That Is! Philips Records.   1969.   (Courtesy of Uncle Gil)

Hawkins, who first hit big in 1956 with “I Put A Spell On You,” used to have a flaming coffin in his wild stage show.   A surrealistic, theatrical performance piece that influenced Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper and other “shock rockers”.   He toured late in his life with The Stones and The Clash before passing away in France in 2000.   When he died he had more than 50 children with women around the world!

(21 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)

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“The Glory (????) of the Human Voice”   “A Faust Travesty”   RCA Records.   Ms. Jenkins was a wealthy benefactor to the arts in the first half of the twentieth century.   She fancied herself an opera singer despite her complete lack of talent, pitch or range.   Never-the-less she performed and recorded with the utmost earnesty for friends and family.   She even went so far as to rent out Carnegie Hall and a full orchestra to perform with.   How or why RCA got involved, I have no idea.   Check her out on youtube.   Someone wrote that David Bowie is a fan of this record.

(28 votes, average: 3.21 out of 5)

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Word Records presents “The Addicts Sing” (Nine former addicts)

(41 votes, average: 3.71 out of 5)

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“Girl with Cat’s Eye”   (I’m assuming that this is just a awkward translation and that she doesn’t have just one cat’s eye but “cat eyes”.   But she seems so sad.   Cat eyes can be exotic and quite nice.   It’s not a disease or something.)   Regardless I like the graphics.

(19 votes, average: 3.32 out of 5)

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