Check Out This Album Cover…What’s With The Faces?
I am a collector of vinyl…called “albums” when I was growing up. The covers used to be works of art – for good and bad!
I am beginning a series that looks at some of the most unique album covers that I own, beginning with this heavily censored Rolling Stones album “Some Girls!” Let’s take a closer look:
This classic album from 1978 includes smash hits “Shattered”, “Miss You”, “Beast Of Burden” and the title track – and it’s a flawless rock album…so what’s with that weird “yellow” face and red block letters above “Shattered?”
I explain what’s going on here:
I Have The Uncensored Version!
Thanks to a used record swap meet in New York that my wife took me to, I now have the uncensored copy!
See Marilyn Monroe upper left? Lucille Ball in the top row second from the right? And yes, Raquel Welch in the middle of the bottom row!
Lawsuits and threats from celebrities like Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe’s estate, and Farrah Fawcett forced the band to pull the release and issue a censored version.
So now I have the collector’s item! But the censorship lives on…
In fact, if you play the album today on Apple Music, here is what you see!
Even THEY censor the cover! 48 years later, the images are still covered up!
I can also find this cover art online: generic faces that are printed on the outside cover. By the way, this is one of the band’s best efforts: the hits I mentioned as well as great album tracks like “Before They Make Me Run” and “When The Whip Comes Down.”
Here is one of the great songs from the album, the video for “Beast Of Burden”, captured live in concert by a fan:
Love that song!
There is actually new Rolling Stones music out right now, which I will share in a minute but first: did you know that Mick Jagger also had a controversial acting career that included this film?
Yep, that’s Mick taking a bath with a number of women – a scene from the 1970 film “Performance!”
It’s a fascinating film where he plays two characters, as does Actor James Fox…click here to see the trailer and why Keith Richards was so angry about it!
As I said, the band has just released an acclaimed album of new music – have you heard their new single “In The Stars?”
Here is the music video – enjoy!
The new album is getting rave reviews as the “Glimmer Twiins” just keep going and going…you know them by that name, right?
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have been making music for more SIXTY years! So many stories, and Keith decided to tell them all in a memoir!
Life by Keith Richards and James Fox (Contributor) – published in 2010
Oh, and what a life it was! This is one of the most candid, honest, and entertaining musical memoirs I have ever read – and there was SO much I didn’t know!
Back to that film: one of the naked women in the bathtub was Keith’s real life girlfriend – and he WAS NOT happy about it!
See more about his memoir here – and some of my other favorite music memoirs too…
I have more unique record album covers to share soon…I love the artistry on display for so many records I own…in fact, there was a poll of the greatest album covers of all time – like this one!
The Beatles shot this in the crosswalk right outside their Abbey Road recording studio – and when I was there with my wife Alex and friend Yvette, we re-enacted the shot as everyone does – but we had help!
Yes, Ringo Joined US!
Well….an “AI” version did – Alex added Ringo to our shot – you will notice her right foot is on top of Ringo’s left foot…but it a cool homage she did!
See what were named the greatest album covers of all time here:
I enjoy lists like this – even when I disagree – and it reminded me about the time I took a look at the other end of the album cover spectrum.
Yes, these are real album covers – and The Beatles made that list too! That is real if you didn’t know – talk about a censored album cover! Click on my story to see why The Beatles were censored, plus some of the worst album art of all time!
Sometimes bad cover art is deliberate:
This Spinal Tap album cover is hilariously bad, but on purpose – see more of their hilariously inept artwork!
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Categories: 70's Music, Art, British Cinema, Classic Rock, London, Memoirs, Music, Obscure Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities, True Hollywood Mystery
johnrieber 
Okay, you got me at first with the Abbey Road shot. Even better with Alex stepping on Ringo’s foot. That’s a cool album cover to have John. So much history with the Stones! I somehow missed Keith Richard’s memoir. Guess I was living under a rock. Gotta check that one out!
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WOW! That cover is a real collector’s prize….congrats. I did not know about the movie….although I probably would not have seen it if I had. I like the idea of posts on the record covers back in the day there were some fantastic artwork. I look forward to the posts. chuq
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Thanks for the note! I agree that ,for a time, album cover art was indeed art…creativity and imagination driving some really cool covers…I’ve got some wild collector’s items to share in the weeks ahead !
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I look forward to it. chuq
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I’m sure that album is worth a lot of money now, John. I was never really a huge fan of the Stones, though ‘Gimme Shelter’ is one of the best songs of the era, even though I prefer the Merry Clayton cover version. (She sang backing on the original) I had a few of their singles in the early days, but never bought any of their albums. In case you have never heard it, here is Merry’s cover. (Shared the post on Twitter) Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks for this Pete! I was never a huge fans but this album is really strong…when you hear them over time you realize they do a rocker, a ballad, a funky, a blues-driven, one country, etc. Each album has one of each at least!
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