13th FLOOR ELEVATORS With such a seminal album, it’s not surprising that the cover for The Psychedelic Sounds Of The 13th Floor Elevators (1966 : International Artists Artwork : John Cleveland) has been borrowed such a lot, often by psych upstarts (also leaning on the music) and CD compliers wanting some of the early sixties garage ambience to rub off on them. The result is a great display of primary colours.
Artist : The Suicidal Flowers Title : The Psychedevilic Sounds Of The Suicidal Flowers / 1997 Album / Suicidal Flowers Artwork : Unknown
Artist : Artist : Various Various Artists Artists Title : The Title : The Pseudoteutonic Psychedelic Sounds Of The Sounds Of The Prae-Kraut Sonic Cathedral Pandaemonium # / 2010 14 / 2003 Album / Sonic Album / Lost Cathedral Continence Recordings Artwork / Artwork : Jimmy Reinhard Gehlen Young - Andrea Duwa - Splash 1
COVERED! PAGE 6 1 LEONA ANDERSON ASH RA TEMPEL
Leona Anderson’s 1958 long-player Music To Suffer By (Unique Records) This copy of Ash Ra Tempel’s 1973 album is a gem, though I must admit I’ve never been able to get vinyl albums Starring Rosi lovingly recreates Peter to shatter quite like that (or the Buzzcocks TV show intro). The Makers Geitner’s original (cover photo : Claus have actually copied the original image for their EP and then just Kranz). added a new label design.
Artist : Magic Aum Gigi Title : Starring Keiko/ 2000? Album / Fractal Records Artwork : Peter Artist : The Geitner (Photo : Makers Magic Aum Gigi) Title : Music To Suffer By / 1995 3 track EP / Estrus Wreckers Artwork : Art Chantry
Artist : Smiff-N- Artist : Pavement Wessum Title : Watery, Title : Dah Shinin’ Domestic / 1992 / 1995 EP / Matador Album / Wreck Records Records Artwork : Unknown Artwork : C.M.O.N. (Photo : Gary Spector)
The group looking down at a fi sh-eye lens was a Ambergris’ eponymous 1970 album on Paramount popular effect in the late 60s, and used on Roy featured artwork by Thom Williams (and a Ayers’ ‘71 Polydor LP He’s Coming (artwork : Kinji Nakamura, Kats Ahe. rooster called “Jim”!) and forms the basis Photo : Minoru Aoki), but with the eye peering through, it’s clear this for a 7” 1992 reworking by designers unknown. cover was Smiff-N-Wessum’s inspiration. 1 PAGE 9 COVERED! ROY AYRES AMBERGRIS HERB ALPERT’S TIJUANA BRASS
As Herp Alpert founded A&M, he was able to push for a cover which many labels might have quickly over-ruled. Designed by Peter Whorf Graphics, back in 1965 this was seriously saucy stuff for a mainstream album cover and Whipped Cream & Other Delights has rightly become a favourite of sleeve collectors the world over. There is even a Stateside collector who admitted to buying every second-hand copy of the original he found and was decorating his apartment with them... The album sold by the truck load, forcing Alpert to quickly recruit a real backing band for tours and TV. The sleeve has also inspired a lot of tributes (and even a band called Whipped Cream, their 1991 album - below - on Radium Records redrew the original title block), some recreating their own version of the cover, others picking up on the decorated type (which cleverly has echoes of Victorian decorated fonts as well as the emerging organic contemporary West Coast look), and many doing both.
Artist : The Frivolous Five Artist : Cherry Capri & The Martini Kings Title : Sour Cream & Other Delights / 1966 Title : Creamy Cocktails & Other Delights / 2007 Album / RCA Victor Album / SwingOmatic Records Artwork : Unknown Artwork : M-M Straton (Photo : Toso Papadakis) 1 PAGE 11 COVERED! HERB ALPERT’S TIJUANA BRASS
Artist : Various Artists Artist : Various Artists Title : Right To Chews - Bubblegum Classics Revisited / 2002 Title : Surfin’ Senorita / 1999 Album / Not Lame Album / Wildebeest Records Artwork : Mike Simmons (Photo : Peter Kuehl) Artwork : Steve Bracamontez & Doug Kaiser (Photo : Mark Stultz)
Artist : Sweet Cream Artist : Pat Cooper Title : Sweet Cream & Other Delights / 1978 Title : Spaghetti Sauce & Other Delights / 1967 Album / Shadybrook Records Album / United Artists Artwork : Photo : Dirk Bakker Artwork : Frank Gauna
COVERED! PAGE 12 1 BADFINGER
Badfinger’s 1970 album No Dice managed to cleverly echo Artist : Cash the risque New York dancers of the 1920 through Richard Title : Bedfinger / 1992 Dilello’s photo and the artwork by Gene Matton. It provided Album / Yoroshita Music the template for Cash’s sleeve which substitues a Japanese Artwork : Kodahman / Shingo “Tokutaisei” girl but is otherwise very close, right down to the Yamagami (Photo : Chukyo Ozawa) typography
COVERED! PAGE 14 1 The BEATLES When I fi rst visited EMI’s Manchester Square building in the late 70s, like everyone else who ever went there, I had to pause and look up the stairwell, such is the power of that photo which decorated The Beatles 1962-1966 (1973, Apple. Artwork : P. Linard Marketing). Shampoo and The Bangles were similarly struck.
Artist : Shampoo Title : In Naples 1980/81 / 1980 Album / EMI Artwork, Artist : photo : Ennio The Bangles Antonangeli Title : 1980-1983 Everything / 1990 Album / CBS Artwork : Unknown
Artist : The Beatles Hitparade 20 Title : Mr. Moonlight - You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away Album : Echo Industry Artwork : Unknown
Artist : Various Artists Title : From Liverpool To Tokyo Vol. 2 / 2006 Album : Teichiku Artwork : A Collection Of Beatles Oldies [1966, Parlophone. Artwork The unusual (for the times) informal group : David Christian], a cover redolent of the times, given a portrait on Beatles For Sale by Robert Freeman twist on this Japanese CD - so the group are posed beside a [1964 : Parlophone] is given a slightly Midwich Bullet Train not a veteran car, etc. Cuckoos look on this version. 1 PAGE 17 COVERED! BLACK SABBATH
Artist : Butthead Title : Volume (4 track) / 1992 EP / Heat Blast Artwork : Unknown
Artist : Jim Artist : White Florentine Flag Title : Title : Vol. 23 Terrorizing / 2010 Telemarketers Single / Cupcake Vol. 4 / 2005 Records Album / Artwork : Pat Mulejuice Fear / Michael Artwork : Mike F. Glass (Photo Morse : Kim McWhorter)
1 PAGE 25 COVERED! BLONDIE
Blondie’s massive selling 1978 Parallel Lines album (design : Ramey Communications. Photo : Edo) came up with a novel group portrait and one which was instantly recognisable. No wonder a number of bands have borrowed the idea, with Lombardi getting the prize for worst look-a-like. Artist : Artist : Germ Deadline Attack Title : Hanging Title : A On The Telephone Tribute To + 2 / 2006 Blondie / 1996 EP / I Used To Album / Fuck People Like Wolverine You In Prison Records Artwork : Artwork : Def. Unknown com (Photo : Eva)
Artist : Artist : Lombardi Rantanplan Title : Uno Title : Liebe (Backside) / Minus Null / 2002 2005 Album / Warner EP / Hamburg Music Spain All Styles Artwork : Rafa Recordings Sanudo Artwork : Petra Wehling (Photo : Andrea Küppers)
1 PAGE 27 COVERED! DAVID BOWIE
No reason that I can see for this part copy, part reinvention of David Bowie’s gatefold Diamond Dogs LP cover painting by Guy Peellaert (1974 : RCA), with what looks like Angie Bowie’s head on. Peellaert specialised in airbrushed rock portraits at the time.
Artist : Toilet Boys Title : The Early Years / 2004 Album / Ozit Morpheus Records Artwork : Edward Odowd Illustration : Scott 1 Ewalt PAGE 29 COVERED! DAVID BOWIE David Bowie proves to be as infl uential with his covers as music. Pin-Ups from 1973 (Artwork : Mick Rock & Ray Campbell Photo : Justin) is just lovingly referenced by Human Drama. The Man Who Sold The World (1970. Photo : Brian Ward) has the piss taken by Five Fifteen with an accurate pastiche, while Heroes (1977. Photo : Sukita) is imitated to good effect by Cex, who then very cleverly repeats the exercise for an instrumental edition of the same album after slapping gaffa tape across his mouth. Top! Artist : Five Fifteen Title : The Man Who Sold Himself / 2004 Artist : Human Album / Ranch Drama Records Title : Pinups Artwork : Tuomas / 1993 Pietinen / Album / Triple Sonicboom X Records Artwork : Unknown
Artist : Cex Artist : Cex Title : Being Ridden (Instrumental) / 2003 Title : Being Ridden / 2003 Album / Temporary Residence Album / Temporary Residence Artwork : Jeremy Devine (Photo : Katie Artwork : Jeremy Devine (Photo : Katie Rose) Rose)
COVERED! PAGE 30 1 BYRDS The evocative cover to The Byrds Sweetheart Of The Rodeo album (1968 : Geller & Butler Advertising) relies on a great illustration from a 1933 book. In turn it has been borrowed by Petty Booka (with photos lifted from a book on old plastic radios), redrawn by a duo named after the album itself, and referenced on an album of celebrity vocalists by Rhino Records.
Artist : Petty Booka Title : Sweetheart Of The Radio / 1997 Album / Sister Records Artwork : Kato-chin club (Illustration : Rockin’ Jelly Bean) (Photo : Bun- Shaka)
Artist : Artist : The Various Artists Sweethearts Of Title : Golden The Rodeo Throats - Title : Buffalo Sweethearts Of Zone / 1990 Rodeo Drive / Album / Columbia 1995 Artwork : Album / Rhino Bill Johnson Records (Illustration : Artwork : Dennas Davis) Monster X (Illustration : Drew Friedman)
1 PAGE 31 COVERED! BLUE CHEER Blue Cheer’S Vincebus Eruptum pitched in at the centre of the psych movement in 1968 (Philips. Photo : John Van Hamersveld) with artwork by ‘Gut’ so redolent of the time it was bound to inspire others thirty plus years on, though none quite had the same mastery of lettering.
Artist : Artist : Dementia Reverend Thirteen Bizarre Title : Do The Title : Doom Snake + 2 / Meta / 2002 2000 Album / Lohja EP / Smilin’ Power Bob Records Artwork : Artwork : Gut Albert & John Gallo
Artist : Thee Michelle Gun Elephant Title : Chicken Zombies / 1997 Album / Triad Artwork : Unknown
COVERED! PAGE 32 1 BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY Big Brother & The Holding Company’s Cheap Thrills is a rare example of underground comic artist (and all round genius) Robert Crumb working on an album sleeve back in 1968 [Artwork : Smay Vision. Illustration : Robert Crumb]. A quartet of bands have followed the layout and electric type but only the contemporary KYA collection begins to match up, though the Glory Hill art is a decent example of a more contemporary take.
Artist : Various Artists Title : KYA 21 Golden Gate Greats - Vol. 2 / 1968 Album / Take 6 Enterprises Artwork : WT. Vinson
Artist : Fat Tuesday Title : Califuneral / 1992 Album / Metal Blade Records Artwork illustration : Pat Moriarity
Artist : Hugs And Kisses Title : The Casualties Of Happiness / 2007 Album / Manup Music Artwork : Phonzie Davis
Artist : Glory Hill Title : Signs / 2009 Album / Ultimate Recordings Artwork : 7 Stars Design
COVERED! PAGE 34 1 The CLASH This is listed under Clash as it’s perhaps best known as the London Calling sleeve, which is what the v/artists cover Family 5 has borrowed. In fact the Clash nicked it from the generic record sleeve used by Columbia in the UK for their 10” 78 rpm singles during the 1950s, an excellent illustration and one of several used by the EMI Group at the time on their bags. The Clash designer has fi lled in the missing art for the centre hole and used a similar script for the title.
Artist : Various Artists Title : Die Zeit Ist Reif...Für Ein Tribute An Family 5 / 2002 Album / Paul! Artwork : Andreas Thiel / Knut Schötteldreier
Artist : The Clash Title : London Calling + 1 / 1979 Single / CBS Artwork : Artist : Radio Unknown Wendy Title : Bad Asteroid / 19-- 10“ / Sympathy For The Record Industry Artwork : P. Waters
This Is Radio Clash [1981 : Single Artwork : Unknown] just blatantly lifted by Radio Wendy
1 PAGE 43 COVERED! The CLASH The Clash debut [The Clash 1977 : Photo : Kate Simon] is their most copied sleeve, though I wonder if The Ramones fi rst album (pg 114) pre-dated it? It provided an instant punk look for these bands to follow in any case (the US and UK versions were slightly different by the way - the US label were scared of not having the title at the top...).
Artist : Artist : My C.H.E. So-Called Title : Move Band Like Pigeon / Title : My 2004 So-Called Album / I’m A Band / 1997 Cliché Album / Artwork : Jim Yesha Delbes Artwork : Steve Munsell and Contagious Graphics. Photo : Robert Lincoln
Artist : Various Artists Artist : Thee Title : This Is Stash Rockabilly Clash Title : / 2002 Should I Suck Album / Raucous Or Should I Records Blow + 1 / Artwork : Unknown 1993 Single / Shakin’ Street- Get Hip Records Artwork : Unknown
COVERED! PAGE 44 1 DEEP PURPLE
Artist : Various Artist : Vive Artists La Fête / Title : Andyasshole Strassenkreuzer Title : Child In In Rock / 2003 Time + 2 / 2007 Album / 12” Single / Strassenkreuzer Surprise - e.V. Lowlands Artwork : Artwork : Arthur Engler Unknown / Wolfgang Gillitzer (Photo : Michael Matejka)
Even the singer on the album Ian Gillan had a go; kicked out of the band in 1989 he commissioned a cover for his first solo single which faded out all the rest of the band. Someone pointed out it might have repercussions and the cover was quickly withdrawn. He was rehired a couple of years later. And the Japanese spoof? Mad guitarist King Curlee, who specialises in sending up rock bands in Japan. 1 PAGE 49 COVERED! DURAN DURAN The slick look of Duran Duran’s 1982 LP Rio, put together by Malcolm Garette (Illustration : Nagel, Los Angeles) cleverly referenced by The Quitters and mercilessly attacked by Alan Forbed for a V/a collection.
Artist : Various Artists Title : Gag Me Artist : The With A Spoon / Quitters 1995 Title : 1982 Album / Don’t / 2006 Records Album / Illustration : Garage-Pop Alan Forbes Records Artwork : Unknown
Artist : Artist : Babamania Soundtrack Title : Title : Pornmuzik / Elizabethtown 2001 - Songs From Album / The Brown Hotel Imperial / 2005 Records Album/ RCA Artwork : Artwork : Motion Tohru Asou Picture Artwork (Photo : Mikio Ariga)
The Doors’ Strange Days album from 1967 was made by With Cameron Crowe behind Elizabethtown, it’s Joel Brodsky’s teriffi c cover shot, here the inspiration hard to believe the resemblence between the for Babamania’s cover, right down to the fake gig soundtrack album and The Doors Morrison Hotel (1970 : poster on the wall. Elektra Artwork : Gary Burden(Photo : Henry Diltz) wasn’t very knowing. The DOORS COVERED! PAGE 54 1 FUNKADELIC Well, you gotta have a bit of fun. Not so much a tribute more an almost exact replica! Funkadelic’s Free Your Mind ... And Your Ass Will Follow was important musically and pushed boundaries cover-wise, especially for 1970 (Westbound Records. Artwork : The Graffi teria / Stanley Hochstadt). Sadly for Nocturnal Rage they lacked the option of gatefold vinyl and also had to suffer one of those ‘parental advisory lyric’ warnings. As if any parents bought it. I’m now so fed up of these that I digitally removed it.
Artist : Nocturnal Rage Title : Way Out Your Mind / 2005 Album / Noc On Wood Records Artwork : Robert C. Wood & Jovan Price. Photo : Paige Craig-Apodaca 1 PAGE 59 COVERED! MARIANNE FAITHFUL BRIAN FERRY Island Records did great sleeve for many of their Bryan Ferry’s post-Roxy sleeves were often just plain dull, but acts, but this one for Marianne Faithfull’s In Your Mind [1977] was on form, courtesy Nicholas de Ville & remarkable Broken English LP in 1979 [Artwork / Photo Bob Bowkett at C.C.S. (Photo : Monty Coles). Certainly far more : Dennis Morris] is one of their simplest and best. contemporary than Macs LP from the same year.
Artist : Kid & Artist : Tiga Khan Title : Title : Bad Sexor / 2006 English / 2004 Album / PIAS Album / Artwork : Transsolar Pawel Karwowski Records (Photo : Marek Artwork : Vogel) Danuta (Photo : Bela Borsodi)
Artist : Schlong Title : Tumours Artist : Dougal / 1993 Reed EP / Bun Lenght Title : Rumours Records / 2001 Artwork : Hugh Album / The Janus (Photo : Kitty Kitty Farzad Owrang) Corporation Artwork / Photo : Melanie Standage
Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours [1977] cover seems to have prompted mostly piss-takes; here are two poking fun at Desmond Strobel’s design and / or Herbert Worthington’s cover pic.
COVERED!FLEETWOOD PAGE 60 1 MAC JIMI HENDRIX
Artist : Die Toten Hosen Title : Reich & Sexy / 1993 Album / Virgin Artwork : Johann Zambryski & Die Hosen Cover AG (Photo : Gabo)
Artist : Die Toten Hosen Title : Love , Peace & Money / 1995 Album / Virgin Artwork : Johann Zambryski & The Hosen Cover AG (Photo : Gabo)
Artist : Audio Active Title : You’re No Good / 2000 EP / Dream Machine Artwork : Tatsuya Horinouchi (Atami Graphics)
Artist : Fun Lovin’ Criminals Title : King Of New York (US) / 1977 Single / Chrysalis Artwork : Morph Iconography / Gerb / Dr. Revolt (Photo : Bob Gruen) Outer and inner sleeve shown.
Artist : Sex Pistols Title : Substitute + 1 / 1977 Single / Virgil Records Artwork : Unknown
Artist : John 5 Title : Remixploitation / 2009 Album / Mascot Records Artwork : Piggy D. (Photo : Neil Zlozower)
COVERED! PAGE 64 1 LIGHTNIN’ HOPKINS Never underestimate the power of the blues, though it is interesting to see just how diverse a bunch of musicians have borrowed elements from this 40 year old self-titled 1962 Lightnin’ Hopkins album, issued by Folkways in a typically (for the label) classy cover [artwork : Ronald Clyne. Photo : Samul B. Charters]. It’s the graded colour overlaid by black and white photos which proves the big draw, with only Brimstone Howl daring to run their name at 90%.
Artist : Brimstone Howl Artist : Jester Title : Guts Title : Not Of Steel / Ready For The 2007 World / 2003 Album / Alive Album / DJ Sets Records Artwork : Artwork Himbeertoni : Rachel (Photo : (Photos : Refl ectorium. Julia) com)
Artist : The Artist : Paolo Chronics Nutini Title : Title : These Soulshaker / Streets / 2006 2000 Album / Album / Bad Atlantic Afro Records Artwork : Artwork : Dominic Leung Peter Markham / Jez Potter (Photos : (Photo : Paul Andreas Mikkel Wesley Griggs) Hansen)
1 PAGE 67 COVERED! IRON MAIDEN I never ‘got’ Iron Maiden musically, and still look on their childish cover output with clenched teeth. I like a bit of OTT sci-fi illustration as well as the next man, but Derek Rigg’s work always seemed very weak. It has been copied a lot though and here are four examples, taking inspiration from Iron Maiden (1980), The Number Of The Beast (1982) and a single The Trooper (1983). Auto Repeat manage to airbrush out “Eddie” altogether but otherwise use the same art, while Scudelia Electro go for one of those air-brushed robot pieces so popular in Japan.
Artist : Scudelia Electro Title : Miss / 1998 Artist : Auto 5”CDS / Repeat Polystar Title : The Artwork : Unbearable Takafumi Maeda Lightness Of (Cracker Auto Repeating Design). / 1998 Illustration : Album / Crammed Kazumi Nonaka Disc Artwork : Unknown
Artist : Porn Artist : Marc Flakes Live Title : The Title : This Number Of The Is Street Beef / 1998 Music / 2004 Album / EP / Live Grappler Seven Unlimited Recordings Artwork : Joe Illustration D. / Todd : Kacy
Quite what Porn Flakes set out to do I’m not sure, unless they were rabid vegetraians, while Marc Live clearly nicks the cover idea but reworks it as a baseball cap wearing street zombie.
1 PAGE 69 COVERED! MICHAEL JACKSON Parodying Michael Jackson gave some comfort to those who never really got the singer, especially when you took Quincy Jones away. Weird Al Yankovic had his fi nest moment with elaborate digs at both Bad [1987 Artwork : Tony Lane / Nancy Donald Photo : Sam Emerson] AND Thriller [1982 Artwork : Mac James / Valadé Photo : Dick Zimmerman], able to use state of the art Japanese illustrators for the latter and Jackson’s photographer for the former.
Artist : Weird Artist : Tech Al Yankovic N9ne Title : Eat It Title : Killer / 1984 / 2008 Album / Scotti Album / Bros. Strange Music Artwork : - Fontana Yasuo Kuni- Artwork : Sean Eda / Takaomi Branagan. Shibayama. Photo : Joshua Illustration : Hoffi ne Hideharu Ishii
Artist : Weird Artist : Bob Al Yankovic Sapp Title : Even Title : Sapp Worse / 1988 Time + 1 / Album / Scotti 2003 Bros. Single / For Artwork : Life Music Tony Lane / Entertainment Nancy Donald Artwork : / Christine Mitsuru Wilson. Photo : Komagata Sam Emerson / Daisuke Suzuki. Photo : Ryu Tamagawa
1 PAGE 71 COVERED! KISS and even those which are doing it on the cheap (such at the Muscle Bitches shared 45) still have a sense of fun. The Hard Ons have been in the book before (pg --), while the String Quartet tribute cover adds a new element to the mix - cellos.
Artist : Muscle Artist : Second Bitches + 1 Hand Title : Save Title : Puke And The Nymphos + 2 Fall Over / 1996 / ---- EP / Recess EP / Baptist Records Cracker Artwork : Little Artwork : Robin Stevie Driscoll
Artist : Artist : White The String Flag Quartet Title : Benefit Title : For Cats / 2010 Tribute To Album / Cupcake Kiss / 2004 Records Album / Artwork : Chris Vitamin Shary / Michael Records F. Glass / Pat Artwork : Fear Ron Sievers / Martin Cimek
1 PAGE 75 COVERED! KING CRIMSON Hopefully you’re mostly familiar with Barry Godberg’s dramatic and unsettling painting which decorated King Crimson’s awesome album In The Court Of The Crimson King back in 1969 (Island). Because last time I looked band leader Robert Fripp was taking action against a history of Island Records for using said sleeve. So I’ll be a wuss and just show a quartet of sleeves which have used it to work from, including a very clever reworking of the original on the inevitable tribute CD.
Artist : Artist : Various Various Artists Artists Title : Title : Have Schizoid A Nice Die (A Dimension : Tribute To Hi A Tribute To Technology King Crimson / Suicide) / 1997 2007 Album / Purple Album / P-Vine Pyramid Records Artwork + Artwork : painting : Unknown Grenas
Artist : Sex Artist : Machineguns Various Artists Title : Title : G.Lasts S.H.R. + 1 / - Tribute To 2001 Godzilla / 2004 Single / Album / EMI Japan Monster Music - Express - Universal Artwork : Artwork : Kenji Unknown Saiki / 7 Stars
1 PAGE 79 COVERED!