The Man Who ‘Dressed the King’

By Robert Benson

Fashion designer extraordinaire, Bill Belew, passed away on January 7, 2008 in Palm Springs, CA at age 77.

Best known for designing the elaborate and iconic Elvis Presley ‘jumpsuits,’ Belew also created costumes for stage, screen and television during his 50 year career; including costumes for such stars as Josephine Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Flip Wilson, Brooke Shields and Gloria Estefan among others.

But it was his flamboyant and bejeweled jumpsuits (with matching capes) that the King of rock ‘n’ roll adopted as his own that made Belew a household name.
“Bill Belew changed the face of rock ‘n’ roll fashion,” related Presley costume historian Butch Polston. “He is the one who created the jumpsuits, after that, everybody wanted to dress like Elvis.”

Belew’s collaboration with Elvis began when he was commissioned to design the wardrobe for Elvis’s 1968 television special. He also designed the tight-fitting black leather outfit that Presley loved and Presley was heard saying, “If the songs don’t go over, we can do a medley of costumes.”

The costumes enriched Elvis’s personality and were even given names, such as the ‘Burning Love Suit’ (red with several pinwheel designs), the ‘Flame Suit’ (in which the first of two versions had large jewels in a flame design on the front, on the back and down the legs), the ‘Dragon Suit’ (which was an embroidered dragon embellished with rhinestones) and Elvis’s favorite, the ‘Peacock Suit’ (which featured a peacock on the front and back in chain-stitch embroidery with feathers tapering off the tail of the peacock that ran down the entire side of the suit).

“The simplest outfits that didn’t seem particularly remarkable on the rack transformed into something spectacular when Elvis put them on,” said Belew. “He was that beautiful and powerful a presence.”

And so was Bill Belew, who remained Elvis’s wardrobe designer until Elvis’s untimely demise.

This Day In Music History- Jan 17

Cat woman Eartha Kitt, whose raspy-voiced delivery made VH1 dub her one of the 100 Greatest Women in Rock, was born in North, S.C. in 1927.

Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts and Ian Stewart perform together for the first time at London's Marquee Jazz Club in 1963.

In 1972, a section of Bellevue Boulevard in Memphis was renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard. The remaining length of road kept its original name after protests from the Bellevue Baptist Church.

Barry Manilow had the number one record in the US in 1976 with "I Write The Songs.” Ironically, he wrote many of his hits, but he didn't write this one; Bruce Johnson of The Beach Boys did.

In 2003, Charlie Webber of The Swingin' Medallions, died of cancer on January 17th at the age of 57. The group was best known for their 1966 hit, "Double Shot Of My Baby's Love.”

Mick Taylor (one-time member of the Rolling Stones) turns 60.

Billy Stewart ("Summertime") dies, along with three members of his band, in an auto accident near Smithfield, North Carolina, in 1970.

In 1994,Donny Osmond fights Danny Bonaduce of the Partridge Family in a charity boxing match in Chicago (Danny wins a controversial split decision-Must See TV!)

The Blues Brothers make their first appearance on NBC-TV's "Saturday Night Live” in 1976.

The first Led Zeppelin album (self-titled) was released in 1969.

In 2004, Art Garfunkel was arrested in Hurley, NY, for pot possession after cops pulled him over for speeding and subsequently smell marijuana wafting from his limousine(so that’s what he does in his spare time).

In 1975, Bob Dylan released Blood on the Tracks, arguably his most important album of the '70s.

In 1970, the Doors performed the first of two nights at New York's Felt Forum. The dates are recorded for their live album Absolutely Live.

In 1967 an article appeared in today's Daily Mail about the "holes in our roads." The snippet gives John Lennon an idea for a lyric in his song "A Day in the Life." (interesting)

Steve Earle was born Fort Monroe, Va. in 1955. The country outlaw went from "Copperhead Road" to working as a guard at a crack house to resurrecting his career with 1995's “Train A Comin'.”

Chris Montez ("Let's Dance") was born in 1943 in Los Angeles as Christopher Montanez.

In 1945, the Delfonics' singer William Hart was born in Washington, D.C. The soul group's biggest hit was 1968's "La - La - Means I Love You."

Blue-eyed British soul boy Paul Young ("Everytime You Go Away") was born in 1956.

In 1969, "Lady Samantha" was released in England. It was one of the very first recordings by Reginald Kenneth Dwight, better known as Elton John.

Convert all of your vinyl records

Convert all of your vinyl albums to digital recordings on your PC with the affordable USB Turntable. See why everyone is raving about this product!





USB Turntable

Finding Quality Vinyl Records Online

It Is Easier Than You Think

By Robert Benson

While CD sales continue to plummet and music consumers go “digital,” there is an audio format that has endured through all the other formats that were supposed to bring it to its demise. As we read about the resurgence in the production and sale of vinyl records (up ten percent from last year), some still assume that finding vinyl is a hard process.

And although the ‘brick and mortar’ stores may be closing up shop, a new avenue for vinyl lovers has come to the forefront; the ‘online record shop.’
From the ‘big box’ online retailers like Music Stack, GEMM, Net Music, and even ebay to the small independent dealers like vinylcollective.com, diversevinyl.com, heydj.com and many more, finding quality new and used vinyl records has become quite easy.

I spoke with Lorie Beshara operator and owner of a small vinyl website called www.BackToVinylRecords.com about this phenomenon and the enjoyment she gets from, not only the music, but this historic format as well.

“I have been selling vinyl records since the year 2000, but I have been collecting vinyl forever,” Lorie said. “I was raised in a family of musicians and I have a great love and appreciation for all kinds of music. In fact, my Mother was a singer with some of the all-time greats including Ted Weems, Artie Shaw and Les Brown, among others. My Father was a very famous drummer (at one time he was named the drummer of the year) and he also produced a band called Fuse. I still have some of my Mother’s old records; I cannot bring myself to part with those.”

I asked Lorie if she remembered the first 45 rpm that she purchased.

“Oh my, yes, the first 45 I bought was “Surfer Girl,” by the Beach Boys, when I was fourteen. They were very popular and I just loved their sound,” recalled Lorie.

She held on to all her records and she decided to go into business online selling used vinyl that she has accumulated over the years from garage sales, estate sales, thrift stores and what she can find locally. But before she opened www.BackToVinylRecords.com, she had to research the best methods of cleaning and grading records.

“Some of the records are so dirty, but will certainly play great once they are cleaned up a bit. So I did extensive research as to the optimum way to clean and grade them,” said Lorie.

After trying several different methods, Lorie has discovered a simple, yet very effective way, to clean up the records she has for sale.

“Each record is meticulously cleaned using a UPI Record Cleaning Machine using ionized water, which helps eliminate static. It also takes off all the dust, dirt, human oils and nicotine off the records,” explained Lorie. “Then I dry the records with a microfiber cloth.”

We talked about the very subjective and tricky element of grading vinyl records.

“I am very, very picky about my grading and especially so with a rare and valuable record,” detailed Lorie. “All the records I sell are, not only professionally cleaned, but I also “play grade” them (for 45’s I play grade the ‘A’ side) and I love listening to the old music. I then incorporate the Goldmine Grading Standard to them and give the buyer a clear indication of the quality of a record. I do grade conservatively and the condition of the album cover (for 33 rpm) or the 45 rpm record sleeves are also taken into account. I use Jerry Osborne’s “Cyberguides,” (which is a real-time weekly update of his Rockin’ Records Price Guide) GEMM or Musicstack to gage what a particular record may be selling for and combined with the condition, I ascertain how much I will be selling the record for.”

Besides BackToVinylRecords.com website, Lorie also sells her records on ebay.
“Ebay is a wonderful option, you have a targeted buyer that may be looking for exactly what you are selling,” said Lorie. “It is also a great place to find rare and undervalued records. And we sell 45’s from all genres, from big band, blues and country to folk, gospel, rock and everything in-between.”

But Lorie and her husband have also incorporated a novel concept with the records that don’t pass her strict grading policies. They have created the “Rock N Roll Beverage Coaster,” a fast-selling novelty gift.

These 45 rpm coasters make great gifts and conversation pieces,” added Lorie. “We take an unplayable oldie, coat it in a thick high gloss acrylic finish, add a cork backing and they fit into any bar or living room. These are used records, so the labels may show signs of wear and tear and slight defects, but that is their charm.”

In a musical arena filled with thousands of online retailers pitching vinyl records, it is refreshing to find a small “Mom & Pop” shop, where you can not only find quality used vinyl records, but have personal service, a unique gift option and a music lover that appreciates the memories that we all have of our treasured music format.

This Day In Music History- Jan 15

The Supremes were signed to Motown Records in 1961.

In 1972, Don McLean hit the #1 position with "American Pie.”

Sollie McElroy of the Flamingos passed away in 1995.

Harry Nilsson ("Without You" and a Lennon crony) died of heart disease in 1994.

The Rolling Stones perform a cleaned-up "Let's Spend Some Time Together" on CBS-TV's "Ed Sullivan Show" (at Ed's request) in 1967.

"Happy Days" premiered on ABC-TV in 1974.

Today in 1977, the song "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing," by Leo Sayer, topped the charts and stayed there for a week.

In 1993 the great lyricist Sammy Cahn died in Los Angeles at age 79. He was a favorite of Frank Sinatra's, he co-wrote "All the Way" and "Come Fly With Me."

In 1966, The Beatles remain at No. 1 this week in the US with "We Can Work It Out."

Eddie "Sonny" Bivins of New Jersey R&B vocal group the Manhattans ("Kiss and Say Goodbye") was born in 1942.

Famed drummer Gene Krupa was born in 1909 in Chicago.

Captain Beefheart was born in 1941, in Glendale, Calif., as Don Van Vliet.

In 1964, Vee Jay records filed a lawsuit against Capitol and Swan Records over manufacturing and distribution rights to Beatles recordings.

Elvis Presley reportedly drew the largest audience for a single TV show at the time, when he presented a live, worldwide concert from Honolulu in 1972.

Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist, Ronnie Van Zant, was born in Jacksonville, FL in 1948.

Drummer Charlie Watts joined the Rolling Stones in 1962.

Guitarist Joe Walsh made his debut with the Eagles in 1976 and signs on for the group’s Australia/Japan tour.

The Eagles’ “Hotel California” is the #1 album in the U.S. in 1977. The album is already platinum (one million sales) and contains the title track and “New Kid In Town.”

The Beach Boys enter Billboard's Hot 100 for the 23rd time with their version of "Barbara Ann", (previously a hit for the Regents in 1961). The song was recorded live at a party and actually features the voice of Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean on lead vocal. The record peaked at #2 in the US and stayed on the charts for eleven weeks.

In 1983, Australia's Men At Work owned both number one spots on the US albums and singles charts. "Down Under" was the second #1 single from the "Business As Usual" album, following "Who Can It Be Now.” The L.P. was also at the top of the UK chart, a feat previously accomplished only by Rod Stewart, Simon and Garfunkel and The Beatles.

Sean Lennon's remake of his father's hit, "Give Peace A Chance" was released in 1991 to coincide with the United Nation's midnight deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait. The lyrics are updated to reflect the concerns of the day.

An oddity in the music business occurred in 1969 when Atlantic Records traded the contract of -Richie Furay for Graham Nash-with CBS Records. Furay is now free to work with Poco and Graham can partner with David Crosby and Stephen Stills for CS&N.

Join Jerry Osborne's Vinyl Forum

Ask "Mr. Music" is in its 22nd year of syndication (1986-2008). Jerry Osborne has also opened up a new forum for all vinyl and music lovers....stop by for a visit!




http://www.jerryosborne.com/cgi-bin/Forum/YaBB.pl

This Day In Music History- January 13

In 1979, Donny Hathaway ("Where Is The Love" with Roberta Flack) falls to his death from the 15th floor of a New York City hotel room (ruled a suicide, though evidence suggests it was accidental).

In 1970, John Lennon and Yoko Ono cut their hair and donate it to a charity auction.

British police arrested the Who's Pete Townshend in 2003, on suspicion of possession of child pornography (he says it was "research" and receives an official caution).

In 1999, the performing rights group BMI proclaims the most-performed song of the century is the Righteous Brothers' 1965 # 1 hit "You've Lost That Loving Feeling."

The Beatles released “I Want To Hold Your Hand" in the U.S. in 1964. Let Beatlemania begin!

Guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of the Doobie Brothers was born in Washington, D.C. in 1948.

In 1948, Tony Gomez, organist with English soul act the Foundations ("Build Me Up Buttercup"), was born in Sri Lanka.

Anthony Faas of Philadelphia, PA, patented the accordion in 1854.

1957 saw Elvis Presley record "All Shook Up" and "That’s When Your Heartaches Begin" in Hollywood.

In 1968, Dr. K.C. Pollack of the University of Florida audio lab, reported that tests found that the noise levels at rock & roll concerts was harmful to teenage ears. (and we loved it anyway!)

The Y.M.C.A. filed a lawsuit against the Village People in 1979 over their song, "Y.M.C.A." The suit was later dropped.

Elvis Presley entered the American Sound Studio in Memphis ("Memphis Sessions") in 1969, where he will cut some of the finest recordings of his career, including the hits "In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds." It is the first time he's recorded in his hometown since 1956.

Backed by an all-star band in 1973, guitar legend Eric Clapton performed a solo concert at London's Rainbow Theatre. It is promoted as a comeback concert, returning Clapton to the public eye after a reclusive period of heroin addiction. Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert is released in abbreviated form on LP (6 tracks) in 1973 and in expanded form on CD (14 tracks) in 1995.

In 1958, radio station KWK in St. Louis declared that Rock n’ Roll was dead. After giving their Rock n’ Roll records one final play, the station staff started breaking them. (real smart, eh?)

In 2006, it was announced that The Jimi Hendrix Experience's "Axis: Bold as Love" and Bob Dylan's "Bringing It All Back Home" albums will be added to the Grammy Hall of Fame. The inductees represent "the most significant recorded musical masterpieces that have had a profound impact on our culture," says Recording Academy president Neil Portnow.

"The Twist," by Chubby Checker, topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks in 1962.

Blue Note Releasing Classic Music

Blue Note Records To Release 'Droppin' Science' Feb. 12

On February 12, Blue Note Records will release Droppin' Science, a unique collection of the legendary label's classic late 60s through mid-70s jazz-funk tracks, all of which have featured prominently as samples in some of the greatest hip hop cuts of the late 80s, 90s and beyond.

This Day In Music History- Jan 11

In 1963, Sam Cooke's late show at the Harlem Square Club in Miami, Florida, was recorded by RCA for possible release as a live album.

"Little Boxes," by Pete Seeger, entered Billboard's Top 100 in 1964. It is his one and only entry on the pop charts.

In 1975, "#9 Dream," from John Lennon’s Walls and Bridges LP, entered the Top Forty, where it will peak, appropriately, at #9.

In 1986, "Living in America," the theme song from Rocky IV, reached #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, becoming James Brown's biggest pop hit since "I Got You (I Feel Good)" went to #3 in 1965.

Spencer Dryden of Jefferson Airplane passed away in 2005.

The big man - Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band - was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1942.

In 2005, Jimmy Griffin, guitarist with soft rock superstars Bread and co-author of the Carpenters' hit "For All We Know," passed away from cancer complications in Nashville aged 61.

Mickey Finn, percussionist for '70s glam rockers T. Rex ("Get It On (Bang A Gong)") died in a hospital south of London in 2003 at age 55.

Vicki Peterson, guitarist with the Bangles and the Continental Drifters, was born in Los Angeles in 1960.

The Whiskey-a-Go-Go opens in Los Angeles in 1963. The rock club would become a hangout for musicians trying to break into the music industry, as well as the launch pad for the Doors.

In 1967, Jimi Hendrix recorded "Purple Haze.”

The Beach Boys recorded "Do You Wanna Dance,” in 1965.

In 1992, Paul Simon became the first international performer to play in Johannesburg, South Africa after a U.N. apartheit boycott was lifted.

Chuck Barksdale, bass vocalist with the R&B group the Dells ("Oh What A Night"), was born in Chicago in 1935.

In 1964, "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash became the first country album to top the U.S. pop album chart.

Nirvana appeared on “Saturday Night Live.” At the end of a song, Krist Novoselic hurls his bass into the air. Unfortunately, it comes down right on top of him. (*ouch*)

The Coasters record their first tracks for Atlantic Records in 1956.

"Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen was the number one song on the Cash Box music chart in 1964. For a while, the record was banned by some US radio stations because of its indecipherable lyrics, which were rumored to contain some naughty words. Even the F.B.I. investigated the song, but finally concluded that they could find nothing wrong. (what a long way ‘censorship’ has come !)

New Vinyl Information!

Always on the lookout for interesting and informative vinyl record sites, check out this blog about "bootleg" vinyl, the gent is very well informed!

http://scottythered.livejournal.com/3332.html

Vinyl Art - A New Canvas

By Robert Benson


Album cover art has a fascinating and long history. From the days of Alex Steinweiss to pop artists like Andy Warhol and Roger Dean, album cover art has evolved; with some highly praised covers (i.e. the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper LP) to the controversial, including Jimi Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland” that featured nude women.

But using old, generally unplayable vinyl records (LP’s) as a canvas, artist Daniel Edlen is creating one-of-a-kind ‘Vinyl Art’ masterpieces, adding a new dimension to the art of vinyl albums.

I spoke with Daniel about his love of art and music and how he is able to merge the two on the unique canvas of a vinyl record.

“My Dad introduced me to records with the Beatles’ “Revolver” album,” explained Daniel. “My Mom volunteered for the local library, running the used book sales. They would get records as donations and I got first crack at them because they were usually too beat up and they didn't sell well. Then I had an art project in my teens with white pencil on black paper and I thought, why not try to paint on some of these old records.”

But as a record collector yourself, isn’t this almost blasphemy, using a vinyl record as a canvas?

“I have struggled with that question, especially after the reaction I've gotten from some collectors. My answer is that I do try use albums that would practically ruin a good phonograph needle, and also, I'm turning something that likely would sit in a box in someone's garage into something they can hang on their wall to celebrate their musical culture. It's something unique and creative that is a great ice-breaker, starting conversations about music, art, and all things retro.”

When asked about the process, Daniel detailed:

“The actual painting part of the process verges on meditation for me, it just flows. I'm always listening to music while I work, often whom I'm painting. It's a joy to do what I do, and when I write my blog posts, I often end up adding how lucky I feel that my passion allows me to touch people. The tricky part is finding and sizing the right image of the musician. I place the portrait so the label becomes part of the composition, sometimes highlighting specific information, like the title of the album or certain tracks that make that particular record special or important. I use just white acrylic paint, using the density to create the shading. The whole process takes about a day."

Recently, Daniel has also begun creating time-lapse videos that he's uploaded to YouTube http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=dedlen. These show the development of the paintings, using about twenty-five pictures taken as the painting goes through its stages, and are backed by music recorded by the subject of the piece.

So, just who is Daniel Edlen? Obviously a very talented artist, he would draw and paint for fun and enjoyment throughout his formative years and after experimenting with other art media (such as sculpture), he did a few pieces of what he now calls ‘Vinyl Art’ for friends and family as gifts.

His audience not only loved his work, they encouraged him to try selling them. So with the support of his wife, family and friends, Daniel decided to utilize his talent and passion to, not only make something new from something old, but to create a whole new way for music-lovers to share that passion. For Daniel, the payoff is peoples' reaction when they see the pieces for the first time.

Daniel has opened up a web site and online gallery http://www.vinylart.info/why.htm so the public can see just what he does. Framed simply in a black metal LP frame with the album sleeve behind, the focus is on the original painting.

As a vinyl record collector and enthusiast, I am excited and just marvel at the ‘Vinyl Art’ history and one-of-a-kind paintings that Daniel Edlen creates everyday. Daniel keeps his audiences craving more, and as an artist, that is all you could ever wish for.

70's Reggae Music Missing

A portion of the 70's reggae music that had been locked up in the archives of the former Jamaica Broadcasting Corp. are now gone. The sketchy act is a dis on the Jamaican government who people accuse of not properly maintaining the archives, according to the AP.

The theft was noticed recently by workers for the new Public Broadcasting Corp. of Jamaica, who went to the old JBC building looking for archived material for new programs on the network.

Thousands of vinyl records and compact discs are being considered stolen. Also missing is video, including footage from Fidel Castro's 1977 visit and the 1978 "One Love Peace Concert," where Marley famously joined the hands of two bitter Jamaican political rivals, political rivals Michael Manley (PNP) and Edward Seaga (JLP), onstage.

'from news files'

Today In Music History- Jan 7

In 1963, Gary "U.S." Bonds files a $100,000 suit against Chubby Checker, charging Checker rearranged "Quarter to Three" and turned it into "Dancin' Party." The suit is settled out of court.

In 1970, area residents file a $35,000 lawsuit for property damages against Max Yasgur, owner of the New York farm that hosted the 1969 Woodstock Festival.

1978 saw the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever enter the US album charts, where it will eventually hit number one and stay there for six weeks starting February 18. The album had a chart stay of 39 weeks and to this date, has sold over 15 million copies.

The "Eagles Live" album went platinum in 1981. The two-record set will turn out to be the final Eagles album until 1994's comeback LP, "Hell Freezes Over".

Led Zeppelin's "In Through the Out Door" was awarded a platinum disc in 1980. It's the last album issued before the September 25th death of drummer John Bonham.

Paul Revere ("Hungry") turns 70.

Happy birthday to Kenny Loggins ("Your Mama Don't Dance" with Jim Messina) who turns 60.

In 1962, Chubby Checker's "The Twist" returns to #1, the only rock song to do that by the same artist.

Led Zeppelin fans riot before a Boston concert in 1975, causing $30,000 in damages and the concert to be cancelled.

In 1998, Owen Bradley, who introduced slick instrumentation to the country genre in his productions for Patsy Cline and Brenda Lee and helped establish Nashville as the center of C&W, dies at the age of 82. His last work was on k d lang's album Shadowland.

Early rock 'n' roll star Larry Williams is found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in his Los Angeles home in 1980. The "Bony Maronie" singer drifted into crime during the '60s, and although his death is ruled a suicide, many believe he was murdered.

Also in 1980, The Rivingtons' Carl White dies in Los Angeles, aged 48. The West Coast doo-wop group made their mark on the pop culture with the two nonsense singles "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and "The Bird's the Word."

In 1964, the Beatles record a session for the BBC Saturday Club program, during which they make their only known recording of the Chuck Berry song "Johnnie B. Goode."

In 1967, The Young Rascals, The Doors and Sopwith Camel played at Winterland in San Francisco.

Today in 1950, the song "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," by Gene Autry, topped the charts and stayed there for a week.

In 1956, the song "Memories Are Made of This," by Dean Martin, topped the charts and stayed there for 6 weeks.

Rolling Stone founder and editor Jann Wenner was born in New York City in 1946.

In 1968, David Gilmour is asked to join Pink Floyd, briefly making them a five-piece band.

Naked Vinyl Cover Art- Selling Music and Sex

Part two

As we continue our look at ‘naked vinyl’ album cover art, let’s explore two other companies who capitalized on the fad and what has transpired since.

In the last article, we discussed two West Coast record labels that were prolific and utilized ‘naked vinyl’ to sell their record albums. Not to be outdone by their counterparts, many East Coast record labels followed suit. None were more successful than the Davis and Que record labels and both of them focused on saucy songs and risqué nude cover art. Davis, in particular, had a cavalcade of stars that would churn out ‘double entendre’ songs that had been popularized on the Vaudeville stages. In fact, the owner of the label, Joe Davis, also wrote some of the songs and brought talented entertainers to the genre as well as a classic line of album cover art. The Que record label produced more of the same material, but the records were dubbed as “sexucational,’ with songs and stories to inform the uninitiated.

In 1967, it seems that the attitudes about ‘naked vinyl’ had changed over the years, being replaced by peace, love-ins and flower children. When Jimi Hendrix released his album “Electric Ladyland,” that featured Jimi surrounded by naked and buxom beauties, it created quite a stir. The cover was replaced, but the genre did not go away altogether, rather it was replaced by pop-art covers, psychedelia and slender, beautiful European women who would grace various covers from a multitude of musical genres.

Maybe the fad had run its course; the gimmick wasn’t nearly as popular by the end of the 60’s. But, now instead of getting coarse comedy, stag party specials and often quality music to accompany the ‘naked vinyl’, instead it became an avenue and a tool to release terrible music, by not so talented musicians; all packaged in a sexy cover and priced to sell.

Foreign music from Italy, France and Germany and other countries flooded the market with substandard music, but they all had one thing in common-‘naked vinyl ‘covers. Cover versions and greatest hits compilations were hastily recorded and rushed to press, all including that special feature that the record companies knew the public would enjoy, never mind the music. In the 1970’s, the ‘easy listening’ music boon was in full swing, full of Hammond organ medleys, smoochy-sax covers of pop hits and ear-bending violins destroying popular classics. Artists such as Gil Ventura, Klaus Wunderlich and the ‘Latin Lounge Lizard’ covers of Robert Delgado were all cashing in on the fading fad.

In addition the 70’s saw an exotic extravaganza of foreign music that the public would probably have never have gotten to hear, sans the ‘naked vinyl’ album covers. Mysterious countries all of a sudden were thrust into the music spotlight, from Borneo to the shores of South America and Africa. No country or culture was excluded. From the erotica landslides of misguided music of traditional song, all merged with native naked women in exotic poses that were happily hawking the substandard music.

In the late 70’s, another phase of ‘naked vinyl’ came in the “disco era.” The Ohio Players released a wonderful erotic series of ‘almost’ nude cover art. Sexual innuendo on the form of an album cover was not lost with the disco ‘divas’ “Silver Convention,” whose cover for their album called “Save Me” created waves. Their frontal nudity of “Discotheque Volume Two,” not only features their big hit of the era “Get Up and Boogie,” but a startling cover of a handcuffed female. Blended in with a list of steamy, seductive songs, the cover grabbed audiences’ attention as well as their eyes.

But as the disco era closed and the 70’s drew to a close, society seemed to tire of the market and album cover nudity was no longer a mainstream wonder. Album cover artists and record companies all left sex to the imagination and returned to the safe images and cover art that was G-rated. With the advent of the compact disc, album cover art was led into the annuls of music history and pretty much became a non-issue. But, there have been some historic naked album covers since then. Let’s explore a few.

Leave it to John Lennon to create a stir, he was a master at creating controversy and knew how to draw media attention to whatever he was doing. In 1968, Lennon and Yoko Ono released their album called “Two Virgins,” with the front cover displaying a full-frontal nude image of them. The back cover showed the same image, but from behind. They were forced to replace it (they sold it in a brown paper wrapper) and copies of the album were impounded as obscenity in some jurisdictions.

The rock band Blind Faith had a cover that pictured a topless pubescent girl in 1969, and the U.S. record company had it reissued with an alternative cover showing a photograph of the band. The Scorpions actually had two “naughty” covers that caused a stir, 1976’s “Virgin Killer,” also featured a topless young girl and was replaced with a photo of the band. In 1979, the band released “Lovedrive,” with a man and a woman in the back seat of a car. The woman’s chest is exposed and the man was pulling bubble gum off of her breast and the album was repackaged.

But the band Jane’s Addiction got it right when, anticipating trouble, released the 1990 album called “Ritual de lo Habitual” with two covers. One cover, which featured singer Perry Farrell’s artwork (male and female nudity), was released along with a ‘clean’ version of the cover with the text of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, that promotes free speech.

All we can ask is where was the censorship in the heyday of ‘naked vinyl’ album cover art? Now pop artists, rappers and rock and rollers can sing and say anything they want on a record. You can turn on the radio and hear the “Frankie Goes To Hollywood” sexual number “Relax,”, but god forbid you show any nudity on an album cover.

But all is not lost for the lovers of ‘naked vinyl’ cover art, as the 90’s and beyond have seen album cover art and specifically ‘naked vinyl’ return as record companies and designers are not afraid to use the human body to sell music. Vinyl is back, with the public demanding the format as well as the album cover art that accompanies it, no matter what the format, because as we have all learned; sex sells.


Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music, vinyl record collecting and operates http://www.collectingvinylrecords.com, where you can pick up a copy of his ebook called
"The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting."
Contact Robert at robert@collectingvinylrecords.com

Naked Vinyl Cover Art- Selling Music and Sex

Part one

by Robert Benson

When we look back at album cover art throughout the years, it is kind of ironic that some album covers that are released these days can cause such an uproar because they may have a nude image on them or sexual suggestive scenes. But ‘naked vinyl’ started a long time ago, and, in fact, sold many, many records before it was decided that it is offensive. In this two-part article series, let’s explore some of the more interesting facets of ‘naked’ album cover art and erotica.

There is an age-old adage in the marketing world that ‘sex sells.’ And let’s face it, you’re more apt to buy a particular product from a curvy supermodel than a housewife with curlers in her hair and pictured in a robe and slippers, or you may prefer a hunky-he-man instead of a pot-bellied, balding gentleman hawking a product.

So, taking advantage of this motto, the record labels and specifically, album cover art, used this phenomenon to sell records. The labels released all kinds of music and ‘blue’ comedy records with one thing in common, nudity and plenty of it.

It all began in the late 40’s when album cover designers and the marketing departments for various record labels conjured up a plan to sell records by adorning the album covers with nude or scantily clad women. Another slippery gimmick was to make a play on the title of the record, a visual pun that allowed the erotica to slip in subtly and unnoticed.

For instance, on an album by Hugo Winterhalter (RCA Victor LPM-1904) called “Wish You Were Here,” the cover depicts a beautiful woman seemingly stranded on a desert island with only a telescope and her ripped and cleverly revealing nightgown. Beside her, in a cartoon caption cloud, she is stating the name of the album. And, yes, this worked, the album sold very well and it is still cherished by record collectors to this day.

In post-war America in the 1950’s, stripping as a form of adult entertainment was in vogue, with some women becoming minor celebrities. Why even American idol Joe DiMaggio had a well-documented affair with a hooker. Sex was selling magazines, posters, calendars and everything else in between. And jumping on this bandwagon, record companies rose to the occasion by releasing hordes of “Music to Strip By” records.

Cinema and magazines soon jumped in with big and low budget films and the success of the adult magazine ‘Playboy’ helped pave the way for an increase in the use of ‘naked vinyl’ record covers. In fact, famous Playboy models like June Blair, Dawn Richard and Jayne Mansfield were featured on record album covers. Playboy even released a few records now and then, such as 1958’s “Playboy Jazz-All Stars LP.” In the same year the magazine featured a pictorial montage about erotic album cover art, even using the headline “Music To Make Your Eyeballs Pop.” Playboy documented that the record companies were utilizing a discovery that was made popular by the paperback and romance book publishers-that nudity on the covers sells.

But the ‘naked vinyl’ and erotica vinyl cover phenomenon was just getting started. The 1960’s brought the public ‘stag party’ records, sex-obsessed vinyl covers that not only featured risqué music and lyrics, but ‘live’ blue comedy as well. Kind of like sports cards for adults, these ‘stag party’ records were highly sought after and collectible.

Yes, the public was snatching up these raunchy and ‘blue’ comedy records and two record labels on the West Coast in particular took full advantage of the opportunity to cash in on the trend. It became an excuse to release as much crass comedy and trashy sex songs as they could. Based in L.A., Fax Records was one of the most prolific labels, and had four distinct ‘sex genres’ that they focused on. They, of course, capitalized on the ‘stag party’ themed records, but also included a ‘personality’ series, a special ‘erotica ‘series as well as a ‘themes and scenes motion picture set’ series. These records were all about sex, in many forms, and were both educational and entertaining.

The second West Coast record label, LAFF records, focused on the American Nightclub Comedy Circuit and promoted their releases by quipping “Recorded at the scene of the applause, on the stage, or at an intimate party, the live and living heart-tugging, button-busting laughter of America’s funniest comic personalities; on LAFF Records just for you!! Have a Party, Have a LAFF!”

And LAFF backed up their claims with coarse and crude comedy records including a record called “Tales You’d Never Tell Your Mother,” from raunchy comedian Kenny Carol. A country comedian, Sam Nichols’ (Cowboy Sam-The Old Cowhand From The Rio Grande) slow southern drawl was a perfect medium for his crass comedy; including a country comedy song called “Courtin’ on a Mule.” Other “naked cover” comedians included the lascivious Rex Benson, the ‘blue’ comedy of Bub Thomas, the stand-up dirt of Bert Henry and many, many more.

But the coarse comedy was not limited to the men. Faye Richmond, Madame Mame, Terri “Cupcake” O’Mason and many others were all successful entertainers in their own right. All these records invited the public into the intimate world that was popularized by the rich, famous and sexually successful, embellishing “You Are There” or “Rubbing Shoulders With Hollywood Greats.”

In part two of our look into ‘naked vinyl’ we will explore a couple of East Coast record labels and look at some other albums that have caused a stir because of nudity.



Look for part two of this article in tomorrow's post!