Friday, February 27, 2015

Commodores: "Natural High"



Released in 1978,
this was the Commodores' sixth (6th) studio album.

Features the hit


and some terrific disco-funk tracks, too.



Art Direction & Design: Norm Ung
Illustration: Dave McMacken
Photo: Jim Shea
Project Manager: Suzee Wendy Ikeda
Album Coordinator: Tony Jones

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Tragic Fire

On 2 February 2015, my house burned to the ground. 

It is quite a process "starting over."

For the purposes of this blog, the relevant result of the fire is that my entire music collection - CDs, LPs, and digital files - were destroyed.  My wife, bless her heart, did manage to grab my iPod, which has several thousand tracks on it.

However, the digital photographs of the nearly 2000 LP covers I had taken were lost when my computers and external hard drives were destroyed.

Thankfully, for some purpose I cannot now recall, I had emailed my working spreadsheet (Excel file) to myself a while back.  I believe it is complete; i.e., I do not think I had added any new items to it subsequent to sending it to myself.

So, I have the list!  But I do not have the pictures of the actual albums.  Henceforth, I will need to find an alternate source for the LP cover art when I get back to this blog and continue its development.

Please be patient. In terms of priorities, this blog (and my others, as well) is pretty far down on the list.

Nevertheless, I hope to be back at it as soon as I can.

Stand by!

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Commodores: "All the Great Hits"



Released in 1982,
this was the Commodores' thirteenth (13th) album.

As advertised, this includes "all the great hits,"
including:




Read more about the Commodores HERE.


Art Direction: Johnny Lee
Photography: Ron Slenzak
Project Manager: Suzee Wendy Ikeda

Imperials: "Heed the Call"


Released in 1979,
this was the Imperials' twenty-seventh (27th) album.

The Imperials were (are!) a gospel institution.
Together for over fifty years,
they have had personnel changes over that span,
but they are still going strong.
Their latest recording: "Still Standing" (2010).

"Heed the Call" includes several enjoyable, inspirational tracks.
The musical style - like the suits in the back cover photo - reflects the time.



Read more about the Imperials HERE.


Cover Illustration: David Gaadt, The Graphic Truth
Back Cover Photo: Goss Photography

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

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:




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


and


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.



Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Rita Coolidge: "Anytime... Anywhere"


Released in 1977,
this is Rita Coolidge's sixth (6th) album.

Among other great tracks,
this album includes


Read more about Rita Coolidge HERE.



Art Direction: Roland Young
Album Design: Chuck Beeson
Photography: Dick Zimmerman
Production Assistant: Ellen Vogt