Inappropriate Oktoberfest Gingerbread

No, that's not the name of a hip new band. ;) It describes what looks like a kids' album, but perhaps not...

A "buxom fraulein" (as mentioned in the back cover description below) on a kids' album? No. This is for the beer drinkers! :p

I think that's an inappropriate amount of cleavage for what appears to be a gingerbread woman. Haha.

Looks legit to me.

More info on Walter Ostanek at his official site here.

Ventures and bikinis

Go together like guitars and surf. :)

Typical Ventures cover of the era.

Atypically uninformative back cover! :/ (is it just me, or does her bikini bottom look like underwear with those seams?)

Very informative inside layout.

More info on The Ventures at their official site, here.

JFK Memorial Tribute

A more serious entry today. Not in great shape, especially on the front, but there's no way I'd pass up this gem from Goodwill. :)

My mother says that she was in one of her high school classes when the news of his assassination came through. A janitor came in and told the class, probably right after he'd heard it on the radio.

Here are a couple of closer views from the back cover:

More info on John F. Kennedy here.

The Great Donkey Serenade

I'd rather just feed it a carrot or something. ;)

Well, apparently it's great. I haven't listened to it yet, to be honest. :p

Here are some notes from the back:

More info on Allan Jones here. "Donkey Serenade" is mentioned in the first paragraph of the 'Life and career' section. :)

OK, spread 'em!

On second thought, close 'em! Close 'em! ;)

Not a particularly flattering cover, but whatever, it's unique. Looks like a laid back (literally), mellow dude.

Nice pic on the back of the autoharpist in action.

Plenty of info on Bryan at his official site, here.

K-tel's Mini Pops attack

I say attack, because this in one of the earliest in a seemingly endless line of Mini Pops albums. ;) They're still making them! (after a long break, I believe) Lots of variety back then, but now it's all Justin Bieber/Katy Perry/Lady Gaga/whoever drivel. :p

Is the Fame kid supposed to be Leroy? Heh.

The gang's all here! Wonder how much they got for this gig...

I know there's no contest, but I would say that Mini Motown wins the cuteness award! :)

According to this, this was the second version of the album, released in 1983. (originally released in the UK in 1982)

Here's a TV spot for it:

 

Brazilian cool

I think this cover is pretty awesome...

I love the 'blurry on purpose' design and simplicity of it all. Gives it a dystopian, Max Headroom sort of feel, I would say. :)

Same coolness on the back. I got this at the same Goodwill where I picked up the Ney Matogrosso album. It had this letter inside...

I'm guessing someone in Brazil mailed this album, along with the Matogrosso one, to their Canadian friend and/or family member. Anyway, pretty interesting purchase all around! :)

More info on Eduardo Dusek here.

Dumptruck?

Hey, that's not a dumptruck!

Now THAT's a dumptruck! (?!)

More info on those crazy Canucks here.

It's real...something

Classy cover.

Not a big variation from classy front cover to classy back cover. Go with what works, I guess.

You know it's legit if The Swag Man endorses it! :p Appropriate that he says "tears come to your eyes." Heh heh...

Plenty of info on John at his site. No mention of this album that I could see, though. A bit more info here.

Funnily enough, before I read in that second link that he's a pilot, I saw that big dimple in his chin and was reminded of a line in the movie Clifford, where Martin Short's character (Clifford) says that he imagines people with cleft/dimpled chins are pilots. Ha!

The Wright Stuff

Another Ontarioianian musician with his first (?) and only (?) album (yeah, I can't find much info on it, to be honest)...

Simple, straightforward cover, which is often best.

Here's his simple, straightforward logo, which is often best.

Some nice hype from producer/manager Max Boag on the back cover.

More info on Paul here. It's his personal site, where you'll quickly find that he's a tennis instructor first and foremost nowadays.

When in Brazilian rainforests...

...watch out for this guy! Yikes!

Yes, that's Ney Matogrosso, as if I needed to tell you! ;) Turns out he has had quite a career. Read more about him here.

The back of the lyrics sheet is interesting too. Not so glam in that pic.

Is this the album to which I'm listening?

I was so happy to find this one at Goodwill! :) Lily rules!

One ringy-dingy...

According to her wiki page, "Tomlin released her first comedy album on Polydor Records in 1971, This Is A Recording, an album of Ernestine's (as seen on the cover) run-ins with customers over the phone. The album hit #15 on the Billboard Hot 200, becoming (and remaining as of 2011) the highest-charting album ever by a solo comedienne. She would earn a Grammy award that year for Best Comedy Recording."

Definitely out of character on the back.

More info on Lily here. Be sure to look her up on YouTube too!

Rollicking sea shanties

Fun cover on this one. Oscar Brand plays guitar on this, by the way. More info on him here. :) He's had quite a career and life in general! According to that info...

"Brand was on the original board that created the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), which was the genesis of the creation of the Sesame Street television show. He maintains that the organization has never achieved its original purpose, which was to reach inner-city children. His demeanor led to the creation of Oscar the Grouch. This was confirmed on March 4, 2010, by Brand's son, Jordan Brand, who was appearing on Jeopardy!, in response to a question by Alex Trebek."

A study in high fidelity sound? How serious are they about that? Well...

...those are certainly some very technical technical notes. Interesting to some! :p

Bottoms up!

Woody Woodbury, definitely dad's favorite, what with the lounge lizardy, boozey groove. You know the type.

Stereoddities! I love it! Would've been a great name for this blog, actually... :/

This is a card that comes with the album.

More info on Woody here.

Pops in Space!

Typical "greatest hits" type of album, but definitely more interesting art-wise!

Nice selection of tunes. :)

More info on John Williams here and the Boston Pops here.

Feliz...something, dad

I suppose I should preface this post by saying that I despise Christmas music and will probably never listen to this thing. Just being honest. ;) I thought it was a good laugh for 25 cents, though.

I first saw the colors, which jumped out of the pile these were in at the local Sally Ann. I then saw what it was and got a goofy grin on my face, due to the fact that it's so...goofy! :p

I wonder how much he got paid for that gig...

What pill? Oh, THAT pill...

Great, interesting cover design here, I would say. Definitely a standout. In short, they were a Canadian satirical music group in the 60s and early 70s, apparently controversial at times, which is no surprise considering this album was released in 1967.

More info on The Brothers-in-Law here.

This is their story from the back cover.