Bruce Hornsby and the Range: "The Way It Is"

Released in 1986,

this is Bruce Hornsby and the Range's debut album.

Bruce Hornsby's delicious piano skills (and his voice) are front and center here.

The entire album is worth a good, repeated listen.

It includes these hit songs:

THE WAY IT IS

MANDOLIN RAIN

EVERY LITTLE KISS

Read more about Bruce Hornsby HERE.

Art Direction and Design: Ted Raess

Art Consultant: Kathy Hornsby

Photography: Aaron Rapoport

Inner Sleeve Photo: Robert Llewellyn

The Honeydrippers: "Volume One"

Released in 1984,

this EP is The Honeydrippers'

only recording.

Includes

SEA OF LOVE

and

ROCKIN' AT MIDNIGHT

The Honeydrippers could be considered

a "supergroup."

Their line-up included Robert Plant, Jimmy Page,

Jeff Beck, Nile Rodgers, Paul Shaffer, and Brian Setzer.

Read more about The Honeydrippers HERE.

Rita Coolidge: "Anytime... Anywhere"

Released in 1977,

this is Rita Coolidge's sixth (6th) album.

Among other great tracks,

this album includes

HIGHER AND HIGHER

Read more about Rita Coolidge HERE.

Art Direction: Roland Young

Album Design: Chuck Beeson

Photography: Dick Zimmerman

Production Assistant: Ellen Vogt 

Frankie Carle: "Sunrise Serenade"

Released in 1967

by Harmony Records

(a division of Columbia).

Frankie Carle was a well-known pianist and bandleader,

"Sunrise Serenade" was his signature tune,

which reached No. 1 in 1938.

SUNRISE SERENADE

Read more about Frankie Carle HERE.

Cover photo: Abe J. Surovell

Sandy Nelson: "drums and more drums!"

Released in 1968

by Sunset Records,

under the category "budget compilation."

This is a great LP to have

because it includes Sandy Nelson's top hits,

"Let There Be Drums," "And Then There Were Drums,"

and "Day Drumming."

AND it features enjoyable covers

of other major songs such as

"All Shook Up," "Splish Splash," "Be Bop Baby,"

and "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)"

I couldn't find this album on YouTube,

but here is his signature

LET THERE BE DRUMS

Read more about Sandy Nelson HERE.

Art Direction: Woody Woodward

Design: Gabor Halmos

Cover Photography: George Whiteman

Jackson Browne: "Late for the Sky"

Released in 1974,

this is Jackson Browne's third (3rd) album.

His unmistakable style abundantly evident

in every track of this recording.

Listen to the full album:

LATE FOR THE SKY

Read more about Jackson Browne HERE.

Front cover photograph and package design: Bob Seidermann

Front cover lettering: Rick Griffin

Back cover photograph: Henry Diltz

Cover concept: Jackson Browne

Trini Lopez: "LIVE at PJ's"

Released in 1963,

this is Trini Lopez's debut album.

This album arrived at the height of the popularity

of folk music, and before the arrival of the Beatles'

in the USA.

Listen to a great medley from this recording HERE.

Read more about Trini Lopez HERE.

Cover Photo: Marko

Liner Notes: Mike Connolly

Mark-Almond (eponymous debut)

Released in 1971,

this is Mark-Almond's debut recording.

A British band that incorporates jazz sax and flute

with piano-driven rock,

mostly mellow, but they have their raucous moments.

Listen to the entire album HERE.

Read more about Mark-Almond HERE.

Cover photo: Richard Dunkley

Cover concept and design: Ian Latimer

Barbra Streisand: "Simply Streisand"

Released in 1967,

this is Barbra Streisand's ninth (9th) album.

Beautiful, heartfelt renditions of classic

torch and show tunes, such as:

MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW

Read more about Barbra Streisand HERE.

Cover Photo: James Moore

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?]

April Wine: "The Nature of the Beast"

Released in 1981,

this was April Wine's ninth (9th) LP.

Formed in 1969, this Canadian rock band managed moderate success

in the '70s and '80s.

They are still doing shows today.

From this album,

the most commercially successful track

was the love ballad:

JUST BETWEEN YOU AND ME

Read more about April Wine HERE.

Design and Concept: Bob Lemm, Promotivations

Cover Photos: Andrzej Duvel

Coordination: Virginia Duvel

Nick Gilder: "City Nights"

Released in 1978,

this is Nick Gilder's most successful album.

Includes the hit "Hot Child in the City,"

and of course several less known

but enjoyable tracks,

like:

GOT TO GET OUT

Photography and Concept: Julius Bates

Design: David Allen

Jethro Tull: "Stand Up"

Released in 1969,

this was Jethro Tull's second (2nd) album.

This is a terrific album musically. 

Among the excellent blues-rock tracks

wrapped in Ian Anderson's lead vocals and flute playing,

it also includes the classically recognizable track "Bouree."

Click below to listen to the entire album (highly recommended!):

Stand Up

The fantastic album cover art is the work of James Grashow.

Note pictures of the pop-up gatefold below.

Read more about Jethro Tull HERE.

Design: Terry Ellis and John Williams

Woodcuts: Jimmy Grashow

Stevie Wonder: "Talking Book"

Released in 1972,

this was Stevie Wonder's fifteenth (15th) album.

Includes the mega-hits

"Superstition"

and

"You Are the Sunshine of My Life."

Many say this recording is when Stevie Wonder

'hit his stride' as an artist.

Read more about Stevie Wonder HERE.

Photography: R. Margouleff

The Atlantics: "Big City Rock"

The Atlantics were a Boston New Wave band.

"Big City Rock" was their debut album,

and the title track the only song

that caught a bit of national attention,

unfortunately.

Read a bit more about The Atlantics HERE.

Art Direction/Concept/Design: Stuart Kusher

Photography: Earl Miller

Lettering: Rod Dyer, Inc.

Bee Gees: "Trafalgar"

Released in 1971,

this was the Bee Gees ninth (9th) album.

Includes the hit

"How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?"

Read more about the lives and times of the Bee Gees HERE.

Cover Art: "The Battle of Trafalgar" by Pocock

Inside Liner Photo: Roger Brown

Album Design: Hamish Grimes

Andy Williams: "In the Arms of Love"

 

Released in 1966,

this is Andy Williams' nineteenth (19th) studio LP.

Read more about Andy Williams' life and career HERE.

Photography: Bob Cato

Perry Como: "Dream Along With Me"

Released in 1957,

this LP is one of dozens recorded by Perry Como

over the course of his 60+ year career.

Read more about Perry Como HERE.

Joan Armatrading: "Show Some Emotion"

Released in 1977,

this was Joan Armatrading's

fourth (4th) studio LP.

Joan Armatrading is a well-loved artist

who is still writing, recording and performing.

Read more about Joan Armatrading HERE.

Art Direction: Fabio Nicoli

Sleeve Photography: David Montgomery

Design: Nick Marshall

Jose Feliciano: "Feliciano!"

Released in 1968,

this was Jose Feliciano's fourth (4th)

and most successful studio LP (in the US).

This LP includes several excellent covers of great songs,

but it Jose's cover of The Doors' "Light My Fire"

that literally caught fire with listeners everywhere.

The album also includes enjoyable covers of

"Sunny"

"California Dreamin'"

"Here, There, and Everywhere"

"Always Something There To Remind Me"

"And I Love Her"

"The Last Thing On My Mind"

Illustrations: George Bartell