Head to the Vinyl Beat website to check out extensive LP label guides and wild cover galleries!
Eric Christensen has made an entertaining and informative documentary called The Cover Story about iconic album covers and how they came to fruition. There are interviews and stories with a number of the photographers and designers such as Bob Seidemann (Blind Faith), Henry Diltz (Morrison Hotel, Crosby Stills & Nash, Eagles), Mouse (Grateful Dead), and Jim Marshall (Allman Brothers and hundreds of others). Along the way he also interviews such rock luminaries as Nick Lowe, Ray Manzarek, Huey Lewis, Elvis Costello, and Sammy Hagar. There’s also a very intimate chat with Yoko Ono where she talks about John’s blood smeared glasses, etc. It is also a hoot to see a psychedelic Amoeba SF in the introduction.
Head to the Vinyl Beat website to check out extensive LP label guides and wild cover galleries!
Rufus Thomas led a storied life. He started in show business in the late 1930s with a traveling minstrel show. By the early ‘50s, he was a renowned DJ on WDIA Memphis and was also recording on Meteor, Chess, and Sun Records.
“Bear Cat” - Sun Records 1953
His daughter, Carla, had one of the first hits on the fledgling Stax Records with “Gee Whiz.” Two years later in 1963, Rufus had a monster crossover hit with “Walking The Dog.” Later he recorded “Jump Back,” which became a R&R standard.
“Walking The Dog”
Rufus Thomas led a storied life. He started in show business in the late 1930s with a traveling minstrel show. By the early ‘50s, he was a renowned DJ on WDIA Memphis and was also recording on Meteor, Chess, and Sun Records.
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Head to the Vinyl Beat website to check out extensive LP label guides and wild cover galleries!
Here’s a little known surf gem that I stumbled upon at Amoeba. It has all the ingredients of a hit: catchy
tune, great production, and excellent vocal performance, but for whatever reason it never charted.
Here’s a little known surf gem that I stumbled upon at Amoeba. It has all the ingredients of a hit: catchy
tune, great production, and excellent vocal performance, but for whatever reason it never charted.
Bruce & Terry are unknown as a group, but individually 
they’ve got quite the reputations. Bruce Johnston went on to become a Beach Boy and also wrote the infamous hit “I Write the Songs,” which Barry Manilow got reamed for. Terry Melcher was a renowned L.A. producer and son of Doris Day. He produced the first few Byrds albums among others. Together Bruce & Terry also produced many other acts, including the Riptides and their hit of “Hey Little Cobra.”
Unfortunately, Terry is perhaps best known for having been chummy with Charlie Manson for awhile. It was his just-vacated house where the murders occurred and it’s theorized that the family was really after him and his girlfriend, actress Candice Bergen, and not Sharon Tate.
To check out extensive LP label and price guides plus cover art, head to the Vinyl Beat website!
In 1956, Willie Dixon was lured from Chess Records to be the musical director of the newly formed Cobra label. He signed the relatively unknown Otis Rush, and the stage was set for some of the deepest Chicago blues ever recorded. Otis had amazing pipes and played a mean left-handed blues guitar. Perhaps more importantly, Willie Dixon was able to get an otherworldly sound on his singles.
All Your Love
Keep On Loving Me Baby
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In 1956, Willie Dixon was lured from Chess Records to be the musical director of the newly formed Cobra label. He signed the relatively unknown Otis Rush, and the stage was set for some of the deepest Chicago blues ever recorded. Otis had amazing pipes and played a mean left-handed blues guitar. Perhaps more importantly, Willie Dixon was able to get an otherworldly sound on his singles.
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| Otis Rush in a 1957 Cobra publicity shot. |
Keep On Loving Me Baby
To check out extensive LP label and price guides plus cover art, head to the Vinyl Beat website!
78s were totally discontinued in the States by 1960, but not so in other parts of the world. Unbelievably, many Beatles 78s were released in the Philippines and India from 1963-1965, mainly for juke box plays. There were also a few titles released in South America in Columbia and Argentina. The site Cool78s features all known issues, including 17 from the Philippines and 24 from India. Beatles collectors pay from $500 - $1,200 each for these sides depending on condition and scarcity. Tell your Pilipino and Indian friends to check with their music loving relatives to see if they have a goldmine stashed away in their attic.
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78s were totally discontinued in the States by 1960, but not so in other parts of the world. Unbelievably, many Beatles 78s were released in the Philippines and India from 1963-1965, mainly for juke box plays. There were also a few titles released in South America in Columbia and Argentina. The site Cool78s features all known issues, including 17 from the Philippines and 24 from India. Beatles collectors pay from $500 - $1,200 each for these sides depending on condition and scarcity. Tell your Pilipino and Indian friends to check with their music loving relatives to see if they have a goldmine stashed away in their attic.
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