Bread: "Manna"

Released in 1970,

this is Bread's third (3rd) album.

The very definition of "soft rock,"

they demonstrate that categorization

to the hilt on this album

with their mega-hit

IF

Read more about Bread HERE.

Cover Concept, Design, Photography, & Art Direction: Robert J. Heimall

[NOTE: I could have retouched this photo to 'remove' what is visible through those 'windows,' 

but what fun would that be?]

Blood, Sweat & Tears: "3"

Released in 1970,

this was Blood, Sweat & Tears' (surprise!) third (3rd) album.

This recording was not received so enthusiastically

by reviewers, but it did contain a couple of hits:

A cover of Carole King's "Hi-De-Ho"

and David Clayton Thomas' "Lucretia MacEvil."

Oh, and this:

"Symphony for the Devil/Sympathy for the Devil"

Read more about Blood, Sweat & Tears HERE.

Album Design: John Berg

Cover Photo: Lee Friedlander

Other Photos: Fred Lombardi and Melissa Katz

The Jazz Crusaders: "Old Socks New Shoes, New Socks Old Shoes"

Released in 1970,

this was "The Jazz Crusaders" eighteenth (18th) album,

thirteenth (13th) studio recording

(plus five live releases);

and their last

as "The Jazz Crusaders."

After this album,

they dropped the "Jazz"

from their name

and were known simply as

"The Crusaders."

This is an entertaining album

nice, easy but soulful and funky,

a great mix of original tunes

and memorable covers of a few then-recent

pop hits.

Here is their version of "Thank You Fallettinme Be Mice Elf Agin"

Read more about The Crusaders HERE.

Photography: Barry Feinstein and Tom Wilkes

Tony Orlando & Dawn: "Candida"

Released in 1970,

this was Dawn's debut LP.

As you can see by the cover,

technically this album was recorded by "Dawn";

i.e., without the "Tony Orlando &"

This was because of Tony Orlando's contract

with another recording label.

Thanks to the success of this record,

Tony Orlando was able to

"come out of hiding"

and continue to record and tour

as "Tony Orlando & Dawn."

Read more about Tony Orlando & Dawn HERE.

Photography: Joel Brodsky

Design: The Graffiteria / David Krieger

Art Direction: Beverly Weinstein

The Friends of Distinction: "Real Friends"

Released in 1970,

this LP is among The Friends'

most popular.

Their style perfectly captures

the orchestra-backed funk/soul/pop trends of that day.

You can hear the influences of "5th Dimension," Bacharach & David,

and the accenting horn section;

very smooth and easy.

Here is "My Mind Is A Camera."

Album Design: Frank Mulvey

Illustration: Dave Wilcox

Photography: Tony DeMaria

Carole King: "Writer"

Released in 1970,

this was Carole King's debut LP.

Read more about Carole King and her brilliant career HERE.

Cover Photograph: Guy Webster

Liner Photographs: Tom Neuwirth

Layout and Design: Rod Dyer / Paul Bruhwhiler

Bert Kaempfert: "The Kaempfert Touch"

Released in 1970,

this is one of many, many recordings by this

easy-listening standard bearer.

Read more about Bert Kaempfert HERE.

The Moody Blues: "A Question of Balance"

Released in 1970,

this was The Moody Blues' sixth (6th) studio LP.

More about this LP HERE.

Cover Painting: Phil Travers

Photo Montage: Mike Goss / David Rohl

Photography: David Rohl

Floyd Cramer: "The Big Ones, Vol. 2"

Released in 1970.

Read more about Floyd Cramer HERE.

Bing Crosby: "All Time Hit Parade"

One of many "Longines Symphonette" recordings

this one featured Bing Crosby,

released around 1970.

Wish I knew who did that artwork!

Monterey International Pop Festival: "The Mama and the Papas"

Released in 1970,

a few years after the historic festival,

this is a fun recording;

not all that sonically pure

or meticulously mixed,

but a great kick

and stunningly historic.

Read more about the incredible

MONTEREY INTERNATIONAL POP FESTIVAL.

Various: "On The Move"

Released in 1970,

this is a great promotional piece

from Chevrolet.

Excellent music from popular mainstream artists of the day,

and drop dead pics of the latest muscle from GM.

Van Morrison: "Moondance"

This 1970 release

is an absolute must for any collector.

It is considered by most critics to be a classic

and one of the greatest albums of all time

for a reason.

Besides the title cut, which is indisputably a treasure,

this LP also includes what I consider to be

one of the best songs ever written -

"Crazy Love" -

among a gathering of tunes that is delicious

from beginning to end.

Read more about the LP and Van Morrison HERE.

Photographer: Elliott Landy

Designer: Bob Cato

Whikehart Chorale: Thompson/Copland

This is a fantastic choral recording.

Date? Who knows?

Art Credits? Who knows?

But if you ever get a chance to give these pieces a listen,

I strongly recommend them.

Classical: "Our Greatest Hits"

A wonderful compilation LP from around 1970.

Great composers,

renowned orchestras and conductors and choirs,

and fabulous album art by Milton Glaser to boot.

Hamburg Radio Dance Orchestra: "The Very Best of Gershwin"

Formally known as

Sinfonieorchester des Norddeutschen Rundfunks

(North German Radio Symphony Orchestra),

this world-renowned "big band"

has an interesting history.

(see story at link above)

And, of course,

the music of George Gershwin

is universally loved and recorded.

Did not find any art/design credits.

Dennis Coffey and the Detroit Guitar Band: "Evolution"

Released in 1970.

As far as I can tell, this is not a very well known album,

although the single "Scorpio" got plenty of airplay.

This is one of those albums that gets inside you the minute you hear it.

And the entire album is well worth listening to.

More about Dennis Coffey HERE.

Apologies to the photographer(s) and designer(s).

I can't read the credits, and I couldn't find references online.

This LP went to a fan in Missouri.

Various Artists: "Fillet of Soul"

This is one tremendous GEM of a compilation LP from the early '70s.

Take a gander at the back cover for the featured artists.

Really wish I knew who did this album design and artwork.

There is a signature below the merfox on the front cover, but I can't make it out.

UPDATE - 8 August 2012:

An Anonymous commenter provided some album credit information on 6 July 2012,

which I have confirmed with other sources, too;

and added the Album Design credit as well.

Cover Art: Alex Eben

Creative Direction: Larry Shaw / Ron Gordon

Album Design: Ron Canagata

Art Direction: Davis Fried Krieger

This LP traveled to a discerning buyer in France.

Chicago: "Chicago (Chicago II)"

This LP was released in January 1970 after the band had officially changed its name from "The Chicago Transit Authority" to simply "Chicago."

Technically, this album is titled just "Chicago" but it has come to be known retroactively as "Chicago II" although the band did not adopt the Roman Numeral LP naming convention it came to use until the release of "Chicago III."

The naming convention gets a little confusing with compilation, live, and "greatest hits" albums in the mix.  Also they randomly chose to give a few albums "normal" names; e.g., "Hot Streets" (LP #12) and "Night & Day Big Band" (#22).  In the '80s they strayed mostly from the Roman Numerals to regular arabic numbers for albums 13 - 19 (except for XIV), and #21 was named "Twenty 1."

At any rate, this second album was an immediate hit including such memorable tunes as "25 or 6 to 4" "Colour My World" and "Make Me Smile." 

The inner sleeve offers an interesting peek at the era.

And the LP included this photo poster for adorning teen bedroom walls (mine stayed in the jacket).

This LP was sent to a collector in Maryland.

Steppenwolf: "7"

I confess I borrowed this pic of the LP cover from Wikipedia.  My photo was taken with the cellophane still on, and the reflections unfortunately obscured some of the artwork.

This is not one of Steppenwolf's best known or best-loved recordings, but it is still a great listen.

Released in 1970, "7" was Steppenwolf's fifth studio recording.

See? The cellophane is really annoying, huh?

This LP went to a fan in California.