Album covers: WTF were they thinking of?
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Topic: Album covers: WTF were they thinking of?
Posted By: Mascodagama
Subject: Album covers: WTF were they thinking of?
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 15:10
 I've spent much longer looking at this than I ever wanted to. It's strangely, horribly hypnotic. What is it about the disconcerting leer with which Manuel fixes us? It puts me in mind of some self-satisfied pervert who likes to get a rise from complete strangers by regaling them with the sordid tales of his mind-boggling debauchery. I can only hope that there is a more innocent explanation, in that Herr Gottsching was under the influence of very strong drugs both when the photograph was taken and when he approved it for the album cover.
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Replies:
Posted By: DDPascalDD
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 15:22
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I guess he was quite self-loving, giving himself an aureola. ------------- |
Posted By: Modrigue
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 15:30
 When you see this cover, you immediately think of pioneering electronic music  ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqf2srRfppHAslEmHBn8QP6d_eoanh0eW" rel="nofollow - My compositions |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 15:32
 Love the album, but if you had to choose one image to answer the question "what went wrong in the seventies?"... I see Bill Ward's bulging red trousers (are they trousers, or a pair of tights?) and shirtless, leather-jacketed torso in nightmares.
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Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 16:03
Scorpions had great covers, some I cannot post here (family friendly forum  )...but these two I am always like what is it and why??????  -------------   
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Posted By: Modrigue
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 16:15
   Why this obsession for men's bums? ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqf2srRfppHAslEmHBn8QP6d_eoanh0eW" rel="nofollow - My compositions |
Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 16:32
It's anal..........man...... ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Modrigue wrote:Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 16:38
By the way, I want to state that the cover of Love Beach is officially banned from this thread. I don't need to see that again 
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Posted By: emigre80
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:03
| ^ agreed, keep it away from my sight. |
Posted By: AZF
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:04
I think this was an even worse cover!  |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:05
Thanks for saying that! I really enjoyed the band Flash, and even their first two LP covers were edgy ("panties" and "boobs"), but where this came from is anyone's guess. p.s. note: male bums again!!  |
Posted By: AZF
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:12
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I can't decide which was the worst from Pierre Moerlen's Gong. This was pretty awful.  But at least this one makes it look like his eyes are closed because he's imagining swatting away the people saying "Yeah, not as good as when Daevid Allen was in the band!"  And as for fresh hell, how about this for capturing the sheer thrill and excitement of LIVE! music?  |
Posted By: Modrigue
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:16
 Are they the same person?  ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqf2srRfppHAslEmHBn8QP6d_eoanh0eW" rel="nofollow - My compositions |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:20
 God damn it, Chick, how hard would it be to trim both sides of the moustache equally?? This is giving my OCD a hernia! Have you heard of 'stylists'? They are a thing.
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:22
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This is when I wish I could post pics (still lame at tech.....) The HAWKLORDS album (Hawkwind 1978). Oh, and if there ever was a douche-ified band photo - check CHICAGO - Hot Streets. |
Posted By: Wreck
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:25
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Posted By: emigre80
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:27
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^That one has always grossed me out. |
Posted By: AZF
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:28
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I don't mind the cover for "The Who Sell Out". But I do mind the cover for this one!  Even Roger Daltrey looks like he wants to piss off before the picture got taken!
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Posted By: Windhawk
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:34
------------- Websites I work with: http://www.progressor.net http://www.houseofprog.com My profile on Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/haukevind/ |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:36
What, this one?  In 1978 this was a perfectly good cover for a gay disco album. So, not a great deal of truth in advertising there.
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Posted By: Modrigue
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 17:41
This one is not bad either:  ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqf2srRfppHAslEmHBn8QP6d_eoanh0eW" rel="nofollow - My compositions |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 18:14
 Will someone please tell me how these jokers are on PA under Krautrock?? I know it was 1984, but even so.
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Posted By: Magnum Vaeltaja
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 19:12
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I think that Ted Nugent is the king of trashy/ugly album covers. Behold: Amboy Dukes - Tooth, Fang & Claw  Ted Nugent - Scream Dream  This monstrosity:  I like the name but the cover makes me groan.  If your parents aren't home, you can also look up "Love Grenade"; it might be a bit risqué for this forum, though.
 ------------- when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents |
Posted By: AEProgman
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 19:32
A bit risqué but it is a cover listed on PA, luckily it is blurred some. It is a RPI band Cormorano, the cover is one of the worst....  ------------- 
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Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 20:22
There have been other threads dwelling on hideous album covers, usually by some unknown German theramin player or some 60s gospel singers with bouffants, but the real WTF were they thinking of moments come with important bands who sold millions of albums:  ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 20:31
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The Love Beach cover is iconic !! .........for all the wrong reasons - and I think, the otherwise reasonable music on it is tainted by this pathetic presentation. The back cover photo is much more 'acceptable'. They should've reversed the sleeve and at least had the Bee-Gees wannabes on the back. As for Guru Guru's Hinten album...........FANTASTIC music, freaky cover-art. |
Posted By: Pastmaster
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 22:58
I was listening to a podcast about Black Sabbath, and I believe they said that Bill Ward was wearing his sisters pants there.
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Posted By: emigre80
Date Posted: March 26 2016 at 23:11
Leda and the swan? WTF?
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Posted By: ole-the-first
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 00:08
------------- This night wounds time. |
Posted By: Imperial Zeppelin
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 00:09
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Gong's Acid Motherhood, anyone? ------------- "Hey there, Dog Man, now I drink from your bowl." |
Posted By: GreatBeyonder
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 02:52
 This cover helped me realize just how bonkers the prog scene was.
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Posted By: Son.of.Tiresias
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 02:56
"Love Beach" front cover is OK. Lake & Palmer are very handsome, as bold and beautiful as Bee Gees, at least. Obviously this was against pop music´s banality and this time (again) ELP succeeded. It was middle finger to punk BS using its anti thesis, bold & beautiful look as weapon against it. And to fill the contract they just recorded some stuff and this is how the album came about, obviously not the best material... but what the hell. And it´s much better than "Works 2", their rock bottom. I see the irony of it all. How many of the rock superstars had the guts to posing like this and made joke about themselves? Not so many. ------------- You may see a smile on Tony Banks´ face but that´s unlikely. |
Posted By: Son.of.Tiresias
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 03:04
The Amboy Dukes cover is great, describes Mr. Nugent himself and the music nicely. Great record as well. The Nugent covers are awful ------------- You may see a smile on Tony Banks´ face but that´s unlikely. |
Posted By: Son.of.Tiresias
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 03:17
Yah, this is classic ! The very worst of the 70´s style is right here, all horrid except Tony Iommi. Actually he looks like a real gentleman among the other guys wearing those weird costumes. Luckily ------------- You may see a smile on Tony Banks´ face but that´s unlikely. |
Posted By: Son.of.Tiresias
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 03:33
Right, The Final Tap ------------- You may see a smile on Tony Banks´ face but that´s unlikely. |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 05:30
You just added a whole new layer of WRONG to something that was wrong enough already
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 06:21
 I thought Alzzy was dressed the coolest ❄️ Now I edit Sarn spellcheck - OZZY came out as Alzzy  - Yay Spellcheck  Now 'darn' may have been a typo........... |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 06:45
You could break it down to a 'condensed' version of Volume I : EMERSON - Barrelhouse Shakedown, Maple Leaf Rag and Honky Tonk Train Blues LAKE - Watching Over You, I Believe In Father Christmas and Show Me The Way To Go Home. PALMER - Bullfrog and Close But Not Touching EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER - Tiger In A Spotlight, When The Apple Blossoms Bloom......., Brain Salad Surgery and So Far To Fall. Overall, not a bad album then - not as special as Vol I though, and on-par with Love Beach. |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 06:48
You only get maximum Alzzy points if you have the suede platform boots to go with it
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Posted By: Meltdowner
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 07:39
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Posted By: JD
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 07:48
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I've never understood why ELP didn't re-do the cover when the album had future releases. It's not an unheard of thing to do. Believe me, If I ever obtained the rights to the ELP library...I'd update it in a heart beat. I've always found this one to be a WTF? cover for ASIA  ------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: uduwudu
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 07:54
No. Beyond hideous. And naturally, a serious contender for winning this thread. That is not a compliment. |
Posted By: uduwudu
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 07:56
Actually the tights were his wife's. I understand they are an improvement over what he had. I suppose album cover photo shoots were a surprise way back when. Ah well, at least it all backs up the title. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 09:03
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pfff... red tights.. like none of us have worn those out in public before. I am more put off by Iommi's trim man... he actually looks more sinister there ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 09:03
This thread obviously needs some Ya Ho Wa 13:
------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: TeleStrat
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 09:13
Bouc Emissaire from Canada
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Posted By: emigre80
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 09:24
Ugh, that's just awful. I hadn't seen it before and quite frankly I would have been glad if no one had ever brought it to my attention.
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 09:57
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Perhaps one of the lamest album covers AND band names in all of history 
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 09:59
The first Dream THeater - When Dream And Day Unite is pretty horrific |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 10:01
Brainstorm's debut Smile A While is notably cringe worthy |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 10:04
The Handsome Beasts had this lame little cover on Beastiality |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 10:11
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Not prog, but WTF? Dude was trippin with this one Swamp Dogg - Rat On!  |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 10:13
EULENSPYGEL 2 |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 10:15
I always thought Tarkus had a super cheesy cover. Still do |
Posted By: Meltdowner
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 10:18
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 10:18
This might take the cake though although this is a comedy album so not sure if it counts |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 10:38
I do not know the veracity of the 2nd Scorpions album, but the title song (Fly to the Rainbow) seems to be a double take on Amon Duul 2's "Apocaliptyc Bore" in the Vive La Trance album, and both songs end with a very nice guitar duel to close the song, with AD2's being a guitar/violin blow out. There is also a bit about the songs ... I think that AD2's is about the drugs are dead and boring now, and Scorpions is about ... let's party and fly! AD2's song, might also be a take on the romantic notion about the communes coming to an end, or the folks growing up enough to have kids and the partying ... slow down considerably. The cover itself, is more a take on the end of the fascination with all things "stellar" and "space", which by that time was becoming boring and taken to the cleaners by many artists. "... taken all the skybites, and we're leaving for the big bear ... " kinda says it all ... enough dope. I quit almost all of it at that time, as well. ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 11:59
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Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 12:33
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 13:01
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^
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 13:05
That would make an appropriate Prince cover! Speaking of the purple one, he has had some real turkey album covers as well although not the worst of the worst Prince  Lovesexy  Musicology  |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 13:08
Surprised no one's yet mentioned this... After Fireballet's classic Night on Bald Mountain we get "Two too" which might have been more accurately titled, "Too Much Information"
------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 13:20
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Hmmm...interesting.....many of the 'bad covers' posted are naked or scantily clad men. Is there something Freudian going on here with these postings...? ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 13:28
this website is a progressive community you know ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Son.of.Tiresias
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 13:54
Surely... or even homophopic I´m afraid  ? I really hope not. ------------- You may see a smile on Tony Banks´ face but that´s unlikely. |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 14:16
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You can imagine the conversation at the record company office in Budapest. Record Company Guy: "So, listen, I know it would have been great to get Roger Dean, and you guys had your hearts set on it. And we tried, we really did. But his people were very clear that he's not interested in being paid in forint." Karthago: "Bummer." RCG: "But wait! I know this guy, and he's even better than Roger Dean! For real. And I got him to do something for you that you're just going to love." Karthago: "Wow." RCG: "Look, here it is! Pretty rad, am I right?"  Karthago: "What the actual f*ck??"
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 14:49
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^So what's worse....the cover or the actual music by Karthago? ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: timothy leary
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 16:06
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Posted By: timothy leary
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 16:10
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Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 17:36
Erm, is it both? |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 17:40
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^ I once had a Karthago album, it had a cover similar to Nektar's 'Recycled' album. It was CRAP !! Just percussive-heavy Pop-music. No space for them here. |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 17:51
I listened to some of the first album. I'd say time hasn't been kind to it, but I'm pretty sure it was crap in 1981 as well. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 21:56
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 22:13
the more I look at that... the more I wish I could have had a 'fro. The only thing missing from my bad ass resume... ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: BarryGlibb
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 22:23
Seems the mammoth/elephant-with-four-tusks-two-mouth-theme didn't deter the Karthago boys. Here is 1974's Rock'n'Roll Testament album with none other than Jethro Tull's Glenn Cornick on bass.  There are actually 3 good songs on this and Cornick's bass is a highlight on a very ordinary album. But I must admit I love the track "I'm Back Again"...the song is very catchy and Cornick is on fire! Can't find it anywhere on Youtube......might have to add that one myself. Karthago have been put up previously for addition on PA but were promptly and appropriately given the short shrift. See here.... http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66753" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66753 |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 22:44
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^ That's the Karthago album I had - I think it's the same artist as Nektar (Helmut Wenske). I didn't like it. I didn't even think much of Cornick. Nor did I think much of Cornick in Wild Turkey. Love him in Tull, though. |
Posted By: BarryGlibb
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 23:05
C'mon Tom lighten up!!!...Cornick was good on everything he played! I found that song on Youtube "Back Again" it's very kitch (if you can have kitch music!) but catchy and I sort of love it ..the "Oh Yo" repetition gets tedious after a few listens but hey doesn't everyone yell out "Oh Yo" repeatedly just to get their message across? I know I do(!). "Oh Yo, Oh Yo, Oh Yo, Oh Yo" ...........but listen to the bass line from Cornick.......it does get your feet tapping. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: March 27 2016 at 23:20
| ^ Funky.........still don't dig it. Cornick is O.K. |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 02:49
Bizarrely it looks as though there have actually been TWO bands called Karthago. The one nominated (and rejected) for PA in your link was a German outfit featuring pre-Kraan Ingo Bischof. But the elephant-obsessed nut jobs whose album covers we've been enjoying hailed from Hungary. |
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 03:16
I don't know...I'm straight as an arrow and I'm looking at those Prince covers thinking `Man, that mutha f**ker is smouldering!' (all great albums actually!) |
Posted By: BarryGlibb
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 05:03
I'll have to correct you on that. Yep, there were two Karthagos; the early Karthago was from Germany and the other later one from Hungary. BUT both of these bands were in fact "elephant-obsessed nut jobs" as you say. I have done a little research and found out that Karthago is Latin for Carthage and Carthage was the capital city of the Carthage civilization, whose army included "mounted troops on North African elephants (now extinct), trained for war, which, among other uses, were commonly used for frontal assaults or as anticavalry protection. An army could field up to several hundred of these animals,......The riders of these elephants were armed with a spike and hammer to kill the elephants, in case they charged toward their own army." So there you have it; two bands named Karthago, both of which had an album cover obsession with elephants because of the Carthage (Karthago) army elephants! |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 05:27
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^ More like Mastodons........ .......and a rip-off of the first 2 Roger Dean wrapped Osibisa albums. |
Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 05:36
That is truly odd. Thanks...I think
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Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 05:44
I'm not going to tell you Prince isn't hot, only a fool would say that. But you know who is really smoking? Herbie Mann. Herbie motherf*ckin' Mann.  Why this didn't reach #1 will always be a mystery to me. |
Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 13:34
------------- "It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 15:24
Sounds like Earth Wind and Fire meets Blood Sweat and Tears.....but not as good. Didn't really notice Cornick at all in the mix. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: emigre80
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 15:56
I need that device from Men in Black that erases memories, so I can un-see that album cover.
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Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 16:00
| ^ My work here is done. |
Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 18:13
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Posted By: Magnum Vaeltaja
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 18:28
I'm surprised that nobody's posted this masterpiece yet: ------------- when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents |
Posted By: Magnum Vaeltaja
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 18:42
Some more gems (most of which may be satire but who knows):    And the king of WTF rap album covers and possibly the worst youth role model on the planet, Viper:   ------------- when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 19:01
OMG! I would have totally included this if only i had the divine privelege of knowing about it! Yes! Top 10 list! |
Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 19:03
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 19:04
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 19:06
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 19:14
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 19:14
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 19:14
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 19:15
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: March 28 2016 at 19:15
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