Bizarre Records

Precious Metal
“Right Here Right Now”
1985, Polygram

Ozz
“No Prisoners”
1980, Epic # NJE 36198

Ozz – Potential rock and roll superstars doomed by the album cover design department. No self-respecting 80′s rocker would be caught dead buying an album with this cover photo.  It  looks like the dude snuck up on stage during an Earth, Wind, & Fire Show in a circus tent.

The music is actually not bad.  A bit dated, but certainly not what you’d expect from the cover.  Apparently, modern metalheads have come to consider this album a bit of a “lost gem”.  Check it out:

Vision
s/t
1985, Heartland Records

I’ve never seen a record with such a difference in the band’s look between the front and back covers.  The front cover looks like a band that might have opened up for The Fixx on their “One Thing Leads to Another” tour.  The back cover looks like the band that played your weird drunk uncle’s second wedding.

  Facebook, like everyone else.

Rogue Male “First Visit”
cover art: Peter Gudynas
1985, Elektra/Asylum

A relic of the days when metal was a lot like punk, only with longer hair, more leather, and wider-legged guitar stances.

Peter Gudynas is actually a very talented Sci-Fi book cover artist.  Some of his work is beautiful.  All I can think of is maybe the band ASKED for the “retarded Terminator” look.

Still rockin it, sans the band & mullet.

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Wenchin
“Wenchin”
1975, Buddah #BDS 5642

WE’RE THE BAND

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Thor
“Keep The Dogs Away”
1978, Midsong #MCA-2337

Jon Mikl Thor was a former Mr. USA & Mr. Canada who turned to heavy metal in the mid-70s.  This was his band’s first album.  In recent years the band has reformed and still tours.

Poster that came with the record

Still rocking

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various artists
“Rock Fantasy”
1981, Columbia House #1P7230
Illustration:  Richard Fuggetta

Stay tuned this week for more crappy rock & roll album covers!

Cover artist Richard Fuggetta is a talented creator of pinup-style art.

Larry Carlton
“Strikes Twice”
1980, Warner Bros.

  Same guitar, less hair.

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Michael Quatro Jam Band
“Look Deeply Into the Mirror”
1973, Evolution #3021

Far from being the guy-alone-in-his-room performer that this cover suggests, Michael Quatro was a classical music prodigy (performing with the Detroit Symphony at age 7), a Detroit rock producer, and million-selling recording artist.  He’s the brother of Patti & Suzi Quatro, the original female rock stars of the 60′s.

This track features Ted Nugent on guitar.  Nowadays, I think it would be more likely to find Ted Nugent chasing hippies like Michael Quatro off his land with a shotgun in one hand and a rack of beef ribs in the other.

  Michael recently had his own recording and promotion company, but as the website hasn’t been updated since 2004, I don’t think it went much of anywhere.

Sniff’n the Tears
“The Game’s Up”
1980, Atlantic records

From the “Strangest Band Names” file comes these one-hit-wonders from the UK, who had an international hit with “Driver’s Seat” in 1978. Singer Paul Roberts paints the band’s album covers.

Still Sniff’n