Commodores: "Natural High"

Released in 1978,

this was the Commodores' sixth (6th) studio album.

Features the hit

THREE TIMES A LADY

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

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!

Commodores: "All the Great Hits"

Released in 1982,

this was the Commodores' thirteenth (13th) album.

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

including:

BRICK HOUSE

MACHINE GUN

THREE TIMES A LADY

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.

WHENEVER I SPEAK HIS NAME

PRAISE THE LORD

Read more about the Imperials HERE.

Cover Illustration: David Gaadt, The Graphic Truth

Back Cover Photo: Goss Photography

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

Roy Clark: "The Everlovin' Soul of Roy Clark"

Released in 1969,

this is Roy Clark's tenth (10th) album.

Contains covers of a surprising range of songs,

from pop to country to gospel,

including a beautiful rendition of:

UNCHAINED MELODY

Read more about Roy Clark HERE.

Art Direction: Christopher Whorf and Paula Bard

Photography: Bernard Nagler and Don Peterson

Liner Notes: Charlie Williams

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

Chicago: "III"

Released in 1971,

the was Chicago's third (3rd) album,

and their third consecutive double album

of new material in less than two years.

Filled with great tracks, of course,

including:

FREE

and

LOWDOWN

Read more about Chicago HERE.

Album Design: John Berg

Flag Sewn by Natalie Williams

Photographed by Sandy Speiser

Lettering by Melanie Marder and Annette Kawecki

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

Neil Diamond: "Hot August Night"

Released in 1972,

this was Neil Diamond's tenth (10th) album,

his second live album.

This double album remains one of Neil Diamond's

most successful recordings.

Whatever your personal opinion of Neil Diamond,

based on your musical tastes,

he is indisputably among the greatest

singer/songwriters of the late 20th century.

In case you need to remind yourself,

or hear it for the first time,

here is the entire recording:

HOT AUGUST NIGHT

Read more about Neil Diamond HERE.

Photography: Ed Caraeff and Tom Bert (Peggy Jo Studios)

Art Direction: George Osaki

Liner Notes: Karen Shearer

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

Michael Bolton: "Michael Bolton"

Released in 1983,

this was actually Michael Bolton's third (3rd) studio LP.

This was his first recording with Columbia,

and his first recording using his stage name.

His previous recordings had been under his

given name - Michael Bolotin.

So, for all you music snobs out there

who 'sniff' and look askance

at this artist,

I say, "Give him a chance."

Take a closer look at his story

and his credits.

Before he made it big as an 'easy listening'

soul ballad singer,

Michael had some success as a rock star...

From this album - watch and listen:

Fools Game

The hair is pretty amazing, though, right?

Read more about Michael Bolton HERE.

Design: Allen Weinberg

Photography: David Kennedy

Michael Omartian: "Adam Again"

Released in 1976,

this is Michael Omartian's second (2nd) solo album.

It is thematic; essentially a mini rock opera.

As always, the music and the production quality

are excellent.  The band credits read like a Who's Who

of '70s session stars:

Ernie Watts

Paul Hubinon

Dean Parks

Lee Ritenour

Larry Carlton

Ed Greene

Victor Feldman

Richard Bennett

Wilton Felder

David Hungate

Scott Edwards

Here is a taste:

HERE HE COMES

Read more about Michael Omartian HERE.

Photography: Harry Langdon