“Cover Stories with Paul Morris,” Vol. 20

September 6th, 2016

 


Paul Morris is a graphic designer and writer who collects album art of the 1940’s and 1950’s. He finds his examples of influential mid-century design in the used record stores of Portland, Oregon.

 

In this edition, Paul features examples of vintage kitsch on several themes

 

 

 

__________

 

 

It’s summer, and my interest has strayed from the realms of high design and good taste. I pulled out a few examples of vintage kitch on several themes. There are some dated notions of style, some inexplicable graphic devices, towering hairdos, and even Ed Sullivan.

 

 

 

_____

 

“Smoking” was one of the first album art themes I became aware of. You could amass a large stack of records from the decades when cancer sticks were cool. I have just a few, starting with Music for the Quiet Hour (1955). That is the cocktail and cigarette hour, when you have “those weary, end-of-a-frantic-day blues,” according to the liner notes. The  lady styles a silver cigarette holder.

 

paul-1

.

 

__________

 

 

In this layout the trumpeter Clyde McCoy blows menacingly from the upper corner while the couple at the table smoke, unconcerned. Photos showing attractive women exhaling were thought to be sexy.

 

 

paul-2 

 

paul-3

 

 

 

 

__________

 

“Two Cigarettes in the Dark” is a 1935 song recorded by Bing Crosby. The cig is a symbol of love: “Gone is the flame in the spark, / Leaving just regrets and two cigarettes in the dark.” The cover photo from 1957 shows how romantic it was to get a light in this intimate way from a tall, dark handsome man.

The still life on the cover of Cocktail Hour in Berlin shows clear gender differentiation of the smokes. The gentleman has a gross-looking cigar, and his companion left a lipstick smudge on her cigarette. Through the window is the Kempinski Hotel, still there on the Kurfürstendamm shopping boulevard.  

 

paul-4

 

paul-5

 

 

 

__________

 

Stan Kenton playing the music from Hair was a desperate attempt by a jazz group to appeal to the youth audience. It was 1969, a low ebb in jazz’s popularity, but that doesn’t explain this bizarre photo. I now regret that I didn’t save the record, as now I see that Jack Sheldon, an esteemed trumpeter, was in the band, and was featured in their version of “Sodomy.”

 

 

 

paul-6

 

 

 

 

__________

 

From nicotine I’ll now move to “People Listening to Records.” The first one is for practicing stenography. I remember those phones with six buttons. In the next cover, Ed Sullivan seems to be wondering when his listening session will be over. His record player is a portable stereo unit with detachable speakers.

 

paul-7

 

 

paul-8

 

 

 

__________

 

In I Hear Music, from ca. 1959, the boy is listening to a large console stereo. The photo of the strange ventriloquist’s doll singing to a group of six girls and one boy features Little Marcy, the singing Christian puppet from Eugene, Oregon, voiced by Marcy Tigner. Her selections include “When Mr. Satan Knocks at My Heart’s Door” and “I’m in the Lord’s Army.”

 

 

paul-9

 

 

paul-10

 

 

__________

 

 

Another theme that could fill crates of albums is “Firearms.” These two show “Double-Barrelled Hits” and themes from TV Westerns. The second photo is carefully composed, and actually could have been photo-directed by Alex Steinweiss, a freelancer for Coral at this time, 1959.

 

paul-11

 

 

paul-12

 

 

 

__________

 

The “Glamour of Bearskin Rugs” seemed an obvious theme. These furry props suggested animal urges and sensuality. In Organ Favorites note the mid-fifties chair and the chic cocktail glasses. The gentleman also wears a suit in Continental Gems; his fingers are oddly long. The photo, credited to Victor Mikus, features an ashtray and a dingy-looking bear.

 

paul-13

 

 

paul-14

 

__________

 

The liner notes for this album with the model caressing the stuffed tiger actually quotes the line from Congreve, “Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast.” The hackneyed notes go on to say that this selection of love songs is “designed to quiet your cares and set you aglow.” Photo by Hal Buksbaum. In the Claude King album both the tiger and the woman look you in the eye. The Ferrante & Teicher album reminds me of the cougar-skin rug that my Uncle Ray had in his living room. The first thing a small kid wants to do is stick his hand in the beast’s mouth.

 

paul-15

 

 

paul-16

 

 

paul-17

 

__________

 

My last category for this summer trip into questionable taste is “Unusual Evangelists.” Additional keyword: Big Hair. They don’t make hairdos anymore like Mother Rambo’s tall pile in The Soul Singing Rambos. Daughter Dottie has a more restrained do. In the Kroezes family, the younger girl isn’t going along with the big hair.

 

paul-18

 

paul-19

 

 

__________

 

The Good Twins, Dwight and Dwayne, apparently ran out of gas in this Robert Bolen photo. One of them stayed behind, cooling his heels and reading his bible. The title, “Have Gospel—Must Travel” is a play on the TV series Have Gun, Will Travel. The twins traveled 40,000 miles in one year of musical evangelizing.

 

paul-20

 

 

*

 

Next time: Paul shows some Alex Steinweiss albums from his early years.

__________

 

 

In Volume 1 of “Cover Stories,” Paul shared his collection of covers by Alex Steinweiss, known as the father of the record album cover, and for many years in charge of Columbia Records’ art department.

Volume 2 focused on Columbia covers

Volume 3 featured jazz illustrations from the early years of the record album

Volume 4 revisited the 1950’s with images of fans holding and enjoying their albums

Volume 5 explored the work of Alex Steinweiss when he used the pseudonym “Piedra Blanca”

Volume 6 featured teenagers of the 1950’s enjoying their music

Volume 7 featured Steinweiss album covers from his prime period — the late 1940’s and early 1950’s

Volume 8 featured a “disturbing” and fascinating trend in 1950?s album art — Records on the Floor!

Volume 9 featured a selection of RCA Victor album covers from Paul’s collection

Volume 10 featured a selection of covers by Curt John Witt, the prolific illustrator for mid-century budget record labels

Volume 11 featured a selection of “glamour girl” covers

Volume 12 featured the “late Columbia” era of master designer Alex Steinweiss

Volume 13 focused on Everest Records, the last of several new labels that Alex Steinweiss helped launch

Volume 14 Paul shares some of his personal jazz record collection, concentrating on the lesser known and sometimes quirky covers that emphasize photographs

Volume 15 took a look at the art of London Records

Volume 16 Paul shared some jazz covers from the 1950’s

Volume 17 looked at the album cover art of Erik Nitsche, a pioneer of modern design

Volume 18 featured album covers picturing designer furniture

Volume 19 showcased choice examples of Decca Records

 

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Share this:

4 comments on ““Cover Stories with Paul Morris,” Vol. 20”

  1. Hey Paul. Great meeting you in Hood River this weekend. Great articles here. Lots of fun. Nicely done. If you haven’t done so already I also suggest exploring the LP covers from the Dot Records label. Some terrific mid-century classics including one of my favorite voices of all-time; a Ken Nordine word jazz recording (or two). -Ron Maita

  2. Hey Paul. Great meeting you in Hood River this weekend. Great articles here. Lots of fun. Nicely done. If you haven’t done so already I also suggest exploring the LP covers from the Dot Records label. Some terrific mid-century classics including one of my favorite voices of all-time; a Ken Nordine word jazz recording (or two). -Ron Maita

Comment on this article:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

In This Issue

"Nina" by Marsha Hammel
A Collection of Jazz Poetry — Winter, 2024 Edition...One-third of the Winter, 2024 collection of jazz poetry is made up of poets who have only come to my attention since the publication of the Summer, 2023 collection. What this says about jazz music and jazz poetry – and this community – is that the connection between the two art forms is inspirational and enduring, and that poets are finding a place for their voice within the pages of this website. (Featuring the art of Marsha Hammel)

The Sunday Poem

The cover of John Coltrane's 1958 album "Soultrane"
“Soultrane” by George Held

Poetry

Proceeding From Behind: A collection of poems grounded in the rhythmic, relating to the remarkable, by Terrance Underwood...A relaxed, familiar comfort emerges from the poet Terrance Underwood’s language of intellectual acuity, wit, and space – a feeling similar to one gets while listening to Monk, or Jamal, or Miles. I have long wanted to share his gifts as a poet on an expanded platform, and this 33-poem collection – woven among his audio readings, music he considers significant to his story, and brief personal comments – fulfills my desire to do so.

Feature

Jamie Branch's 2023 album "Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))"
On the Turntable— The “Best Of the ‘Best Of’” in 2023 jazz recordings...A year-end compilation of jazz albums oft mentioned by a wide range of critics as being the best of 2023 - including the late trumpeter Jamie Branch's Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))

Poetry

Ali Yahya ayahya09, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
“Black Coffee Blues” – a poem by Mary O’Melveny

Essay

"Lester Leaps In" by Tad Richards
"Jazz and American Poetry," an essay by Tad Richards...In an essay that first appeared in the Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Poetry in 2005, Tad Richards - a prolific visual artist, poet, novelist, and nonfiction writer who has been active for over four decades – writes about the history of the connection of jazz and American poetry.

Interview

photo of Pepper Adams/courtesy of Pepper Adams Estate
Interview with Gary Carner, author of Pepper Adams: Saxophone Trailblazer...The author speaks with Bob Hecht about his book and his decades-long dedication to the genius of Pepper Adams, the stellar baritone saxophonist whose hard-swinging bebop style inspired many of the top-tier modern baritone players.

Poetry

Three poets and Sketches of Spain

Interview

IISG, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Interview with Judith Tick, author of Becoming Ella Fitzgerald: The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song...The author discusses her book, a rich, emotionally stirring, exceptional work that explores every element of Ella’s legacy in great depth, reminding readers that she was not only a great singing artist, but also a musical visionary and social activist.

Poetry

Trading Fours with Douglas Cole is an occasional series of the writer’s poetic interpretations of jazz recordings and film. This edition is influenced by Stillpoint, the 2021 album by Zen practitioner Barrett Martin

Review

Jason Innocent, on “3”, Abdullah Ibrahim’s latest album... Album reviews are rarely published on Jerry Jazz Musician, but Jason Innocent’s experience with the pianist Abdullah Ibrahim’s new recording captures the essence of this artist’s creative brilliance.

Short Fiction

Christerajet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Short Fiction Contest-winning story #64 — “The Old Casino” by J.B. Marlow...The author's award-winning story takes place over the course of a young man's life, looking at all the women he's loved and how the presence of a derelict building informs those relationships.

Feature

George Shearing/Associated Booking Corporation/James Kriegsmann, New York, via Wikimedia Commons
True Jazz Stories: “An Evening With George,” by Terry Sanville...The writer tells his story of playing guitar with a symphony orchestra, backing up jazz legend George Shearing.

Short Fiction

photo via PxHere/CC0 Public Domain
“An Un-played Instrument” – a story by Terry Sanville

Poetry

The poet Connie Johnson in 1981
In a Place of Dreams: Connie Johnson’s album of jazz poetry, music, and life stories...A collection of the remarkable poet's work is woven among her audio readings, a personal narrative of her journey and music she considers significant to it, providing readers the chance to experience the full value of her gifts.

Short Fiction

“Sayir” – a short story by Ron Perovich

Poetry

"Jazz Trio" by Samuel Dixon
A collection of jazz haiku, Vol. 2...The 19 poets included in this collection effectively share their reverence for jazz music and its culture with passion and brevity.

Poetry

“Remembering Mose,” a poem by John Kendall Hawkins

Jazz History Quiz #170

photo of Dexter Gordon by Brian McMillen
This bassist played with (among others) Charlie Parker, Erroll Garner, Nat King Cole and Dexter Gordon (pictured), was one of the earliest modern jazz tuba soloists, and was the only player to turn down offers to join both Duke Ellington’s Orchestra and the Louis Armstrong All-Stars. Who is he?

Community

FOTO:FORTEPAN / Kölcsey Ferenc Dunakeszi Városi Könyvtár / Petanovics fényképek, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
.“Community Bookshelf, #1"...a twice-yearly space where writers who have been published on Jerry Jazz Musician can share news about their recently authored books. This edition includes information about books published within the last six months or so…

Contributing Writers

Click the image to view the writers, poets and artists whose work has been published on Jerry Jazz Musician, and find links to their work

Coming Soon

An interview with Tad Richards, author of Jazz With a Beat: Small Group Swing, 1940 - 1960;  an interview with Laura Flam and Emily Sieu Liebowitz, authors of But Will You Love Me Tomorrow? An Oral History of the 60's Girl Groups;  a new collection of jazz poetry; a collection of jazz haiku; a new Jazz History Quiz; short fiction; poetry; photography; interviews; playlists; and lots more in the works...

Interview Archive

Eubie Blake
Click to view the complete 22 year archive of Jerry Jazz Musician interviews, including those recently published with Richard Carlin and Ken Bloom on Eubie Blake (pictured); Richard Brent Turner on jazz and Islam; Alyn Shipton on the art of jazz; Shawn Levy on the original queens of standup comedy; Travis Atria on the expatriate trumpeter Arthur Briggs; Kitt Shapiro on her life with her mother, Eartha Kitt; Will Friedwald on Nat King Cole; Wayne Enstice on the drummer Dottie Dodgion; the drummer Joe La Barbera on Bill Evans; Philip Clark on Dave Brubeck; Nicholas Buccola on James Baldwin and William F. Buckley; Ricky Riccardi on Louis Armstrong; Dan Morgenstern and Christian Sands on Erroll Garner; Maria Golia on Ornette Coleman.

Site Archive