Barbra Streisand: "What About Today?"

Released in 1969, this was Ms. Streisand's eleventh (11th) studio LP.

This was not one of her more popular recordings.

Read more about it HERE.

Photography: Richard Avedon

Barbra Streisand: "Stoney End"

Released in 1971,

this was the quintessential diva's twelfth (12th) studio LP.

Read more about this LP HERE,

and follow links to some outstanding

contributors such as Randy Newman, Larry Carlton,

Gene Page, Eric Weissberg and many others.

Design & Photography: Tom Wilkes and Barry Feinstein

for Camouflage Productions.

Joe & Eddie: "Coast to Coast"

Released in 1963,

this was Joe & Eddie's third (3rd) studio LP.

Read more about Joe Gilbert and Eddie Brown HERE.

Joe & Eddie: "Tear Down The Walls!"

Released in 1965,

this was the fifth (5th) LP recorded by

Joe Gilbert and Eddie Brown.

Their successful musical career as a duo

was tragically shortened by Joe Gilbert's

death in an automobile accident in 1966.

Read more about Joe & Eddie HERE.

Bobbie Gentry & Glen Campbell

Released in 1968,

this was one-time collaboration

that was Glen Campbell's tenth (10th) LP.

The country duo's version of "Let It Be Me" -

which has been recorded before and since

by countless artists -

was a well-loved hit in 1969.

Cover Photo: Dick Brown

Hoyt Axton: "Mr. Greenback Dollar Man"

Released in 1965,

this was Hoyt Axton's seventh (7th) LP.

A talented singer-songwriter whose songs were

most often popularized by other singers and groups,

Hoyt Axton was also a fairly active presence

in television and movies.

Read more about Hoyt Axton HERE.

[Hoyt Axton is also a distant cousin of this blogger! wooHOO!]

Chad & Jeremy: "Distant Shores"

Released in 1966,

this was Chad & Jeremy's fifth (5th) studio LP.

Read more about Chad & Jeremy HERE.

Cover Photo: Peter James Samerjan

Michael Nesmith: "And The Hits Just Keep On Comin'"

Released in 1972,

this was Michael Nesmith's fifth (5th) LP

of his post-Monkee's solo career.

Features, among others, his song "Different Drum,"

which was popularized by Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys in 1967.

Read more about Michael Nesmith HERE.

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

The Friends of Distinction: "Friends & People"

Released in 1971,

this was The Friends' fifth (5th) studio LP.

Read more about The Friends of Distinction HERE.

Designer: Acy Lehman

Photographer: Nick Sangiamo

Art Director: Acy Lehman

Liner Art: Steve Bernstein

Pablo Cruise: "Part of the Game"

Released in 1979,

this was Pablo Cruise's fifth (5th) studio LP.

This album marked something of a decline

in Pablo Cruise's popularity.  Their previous two recordings,

"A Place in the Sun" and "World's Away"

had been huge successes with multiple top hits.

Read more about the rise and fall and resurgence of Pablo Cruise

HERE.

Illustrations and Cover Desgin: Greg Brown

Insert photography: J. J. Morris

Stan Wilson: "Ballads & Calypso"

Released in 1956,

this was something like Stan Wilson's

third or fourth solo LP.

Unfortunately, I could not find any articles online

describing Stan Wilson's life and career.

Cover photo: Romaine

Henry Mancini: "The Music From Peter Gunn"

Released in 1959,

the theme for the television show "Peter Gunn"

was one of Henry Mancini's most popular tunes.

This version of the album art apparently is not the most widely distributed

version of this LP.  I have not been able to find any explanation for the two very different

versions of the cover art, but it seems likely that one is a re-issue of the album.

I'd put my money on this one being the original and the other one being the re-issue,

which would have come after the show and the theme song became

extremely popular.

HERE is a look at both covers.

Artwork by Jason Kirby

Read more about Henry Mancini's life and times HERE.

I find the graphic design of the inner sleeves

to be interesting, too!

Some more than others, of course.

And actually, since this inner sleeve advertises

"Carlton Records"

it is clearly not the original inner sleeve

for this RCA Victor LP.

Juice Newton: "Greatest Hits"

Released in 1984,

this was Juice Newton's first (1st) compilation LP.

I discovered when researching this album

that it seems to be universally referred to as

"Greatest Hits (And More),"

and the album art is indentical

to the above,

except every picture I saw

included (of course) the words

'(And More)'

right below 'Greatest Hits.'

So,

now I'm wondering

if I possessed some kind of knock-off

or early production release

or what!

Who knows.

Read more about Juice Newton's career HERE.

Art Direction: Roy Kohara / Peter Shea

Photography: Robert Blakeman Studios