Art of the Long Player

Not sure who did the awful art and design on this 1972 Ray Charles album (A MESSAGE FROM THE PEOPLE, Tangerine/ABC Records), but it looks like Ray might have been the art director. (Ray was blind)

Kenny Burrell, BLUE LIGHTS (1958); Count Basie, COUNT BASIE (1955); The Velvet Underground, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO (1968); The Rolling Stones, STICKY FINGERS (1971); Diana Ross, SILK ELECTRIC (1982); Johnny Griffin, THE CONGREGATION (1958); John Cale, HONI SOIT (1981); Kenny Burrell, VOLUME 2 (1956); The Rolling Stones, LOVE YOU LIVE (1977); Moondog, THE STORY OF MOONDOG (1957).

An image dump. Some illustrated album covers from my personal collection, such as it is.

Four Tops illustrated album covers: FOUR TOPS SECOND ALBUM (1964), REACH OUT (1967). Motown Records.

Art by Gunall, Jim Johnson, Boyle.

From the top down: GERSHWIN PORGY AND BESS (RCA Victor - 1953), PORGY AND BESS - SWINGIN’ IMPRESSIONS BY HANK JONES (Capitol Records - 1959), GEORGE GERSHWIN’S PORGY AND BESS (Coronet Records - 1960), OSCAR PETERSON PLAYS PORGY & BESS (Verve Records - 1959), PORGY AND BESS - SAMMY DAVIS, JR. AND CARMEN McRAE (Decca Records - 1959), GEORGE GERSHWIN - HIGHLIGHTS PORGY AND BESS (Philips Records - 1952?), COMPLETE GEORGE GERSHWIN PORGY & BESS (Columbia Records - 1951), GEORGE GERSHWIN PORGY AND BESS (Columbia Records - 1956), PORGY & BESS (MFP Records - 1967?), GEORGE GERSHWIN PORGY AND BESS AND MORTON GOULD SPIRITUALS (Mercury Classics - 1953)

Frank Sinatra illustrated album covers: IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS (1955 - Capitol Records), WHERE ARE YOU? (1957 - Capitol Records), COME FLY WITH ME (1958 - Capitol Records), SINGS FOR ONLY THE LONELY (1958 - Capitol Records), POINT OF NO RETURN (1961 - Capitol Records), RING-A-DING DING! (1961 - Reprise Records), ALL ALONE (1962 - Reprise Records), SINATRA AND SWINGIN’ BRASS (1962 - Reprise Records), MOONLIGHT SINATRA (1965 - Reprise Records), SEPTEMBER OF MY YEARS (1965 - Reprise Records).

Nina Simone illustrated album covers: FOLKSY NINA (1964 - Colpix Records) and NINA AT THE VILLAGE GATE (1962 - Colpix Records)

Illustrated album covers from Tony Bennett: “MR. BROADWAY” (1961 - Columbia Records), SINGS A STRING OF HAROLD ARLEN (1961 - Columbia Records - Bob Peak art), WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (1964 - Columbia Records), SNOWFALL: THE TONY BENNETT CHRISTMAS ALBUM (1968 - Columbia Records - Bob Peak art), TONY SINGS THE GREAT HITS OF TODAY! (1969 - Columbia Records).

Also pictured is the cover sleeve for the ‘Round Midnight/Knock Me a Kiss 45 single, from Staton’s ‘ROUND MIDNIGHT album.

Illustrated Jack Jones album covers: WHERE LOVE HAS GONE (1964 - Kapp Records) and WHERE IS LOVE? (1968 - RCA Victor).

Sarah Vaughan album covers: SNOWBOUND (1963 - Roulette Records) and THE LONELY HOURS (1964 - Roulette Records)