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Thursday, January 07, 2010

COLLECTORS' ITEMS

NEW stamps featuring ten classic British album covers are out now – Led Zeppelin IV, Ziggy Stardust, Let it Bleed, Screamadelica, Tubular Bells and London Calling are among the selection.

The stamp issue, we’re told, “explores some of the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people’s lives. Many of the most significant graphic designers of the last 40 years are represented by this selection of ten iconic album covers.”

Some of the choices are interesting – Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” cover has been ignored in favour of “The Division Bell” and Zeppelin’s more distinguished I and II covers lose out to IV. The Stones’ “Let It Bleed” would have been one of my choices, too, however.

But, in no particular order, here are ten British album covers I have selected as an alternative:

Hats – The Blue Nile
Solid Air – John Martyn
Led Zeppelin II – Led Zeppelin
Turning Point – John Mayall
Meat Is Murder – The Smiths
Hunky Dory – David Bowie
Thick As A Brick – Jethro Tull
Argus – Wishbone Ash
Paranoid – Black Sabbath
New Boots and Panties – Ian Dury and The Blockheads.

What would you choose? I’d be really interested to find out. British only, please; will do a US follow-up on my next blog.

3 comments:

  1. Off the top of my head here are some
    Bongos over Balham -Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers
    Disreali Gears- Cream
    Who's Next-The Who
    Looking In -Savoy Brown
    Land of Grey and Pink-Caravan
    H to He-Van der Graff Generator
    Never Never Land-Pink Fairies
    Madcap Laughs-Syd Barrett
    Harmony Row-Jack Bruce
    Jack Orion-Bert jansch

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  2. Some of these I don't even like, and I've never even heard the Strummer album but all boast striking artwork:

    Jesus Of Cool - Nick Lowe
    Earthquake Weather - Joe Strummer
    In The Court Of The Crimson King - King Crimson
    Broken English - Marianne Faithfull
    Teenage Depression - Eddie & The Hot Rods
    Space Ritual - Hawkwind
    Brain Salad Surgery - Freeman Hardy & Willis
    Ogden's Nut Gone Flake - Small Faces
    Drukqs - Aphex Twin
    The Clash - The Clash

    (Is it just me or is the Royal Mail exercise rather diminished by the clunking great Queen's head on every picture, especially over one of the focal points of London Calling – the body of Simonon's bass?)

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  3. Perhaps interesting to note that most of my selections are from the blasted heath that was the seventies. Staring at album covers and rolling on them, much better than CD. All the best for the year also

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