Original Album Cover Art

Alice Cooper, Billion Dollar Babies - Carl Ramsey

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:44:06 -0700

In the 70’s there was a trend in custom album cover themes that was of a “Pop Art” nature. This album package is the benchmark of that trend. As an oversized 12” airbrushed snakeskin wallet, complete with inserted rendered gold coins, a “Billion Dollar Bill” pull-out poster and a hidden stash under the bands wallet size photos, this album was Carl Ramsey's finest hour! - Ernie Cefalu

Modern Jazz Quartet, In Memorium - Drew Struzan

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:43:18 -0700

Over the last 50 years these four incredible musicians have become living treasures to the jazz world. I first met them in a private concert for Monty Kay, President and co founder of Little David Records. The place was a small Jazz club in Santa Monica California and their performance was unbelievable. Milt Jackson, Connie Kay and I bonded immediately, they conveyed what they were saying with the new album “In Memoriam” and how critical it was that we capture that messaging in the cover.

At that moment there was no question
that Drew Struzan should do the finish and the piece speaks for itself… its Iconic. - Ernie Cefalu

Open Your Eyes, Earth, Wind and Fire - Drew Struzan

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:42:19 -0700

This logo is a perfect example of the ability to create an iconic image that is simple, clean and memorable. This painting also happened at a time when the art department was looking for cooler ways to execute final art. This particular piece was one of the first that Drew did by creating a clear line art overlaying trapping a rendered base painting, inspired the final art. As you can see Drew really hadn’t developed a style yet. - Ernie Cefalu

Tony Orlando and Dawn - Drew Struzan

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:41:29 -0700

The interesting thing about this final painting is that, there are two of them, with one subtle difference. When Tony saw the first finish he was unhappy because Drew had painted him as the same size as Dawn. So Drew had to do a completely new illustration where Tony was twice the size of the girls. The cool thing here was that Drew did the second one, twice as fast! - Drew Struzan

Jesus Christ Superstar - Ernie Cefalu

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:40:30 -0700

The package was the challenge, Decca Records the prize. When I went to work for the agency that I did this logo and album package for, it was with their hope that I could save the Decca Records account in an agency shootout. The two art directors that were leaving to start their own agency had befriended the client and were hoping to take his business with them. - Ernie Cefalu

Alice Cooper, Greatest Hits - Drew Struzan

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:39:56 -0700

This album is 1 of only 2 albums that Drew collaborated on with another illustrator. He and Bill Garland did these final illustrations together. The Saint Valentines Day Massacre theme proved to be more than we bargained for as both final illustrations had to be changed to exclude 13 stars who were still living. To meet the deadline we decided to use stars who were dead and had similar heights to the stars they replaced, so the new heads would fit on existing bodies in the illustration. - Ernie Cefalu

Jefferson Airplane, Baron Von Toll Booth - Drew Struzan

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:44:20 -0700

This is the first album cover that Drew and I did together. The albums working title was “FAT” and Drew did one charcoal comp to show Grace Slick. She loved it and the way Drew was able to draw the human form. When the title changed Graces love for what she had seen in the original drawing, inspired the final Art. As you can see Drew really hadn’t developed a style yet. - Ernie Cefalu

Alice Cooper, Welcome To My Nightmare - Drew Struzan

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:37:19 -0700

This painting is hands down my favorite Drew Struzan painting of all time and It was an amazing experience to watch him paint it. This piece in particular features the beginnings of a strong J.C Leyendecker / Norman Rockwell style influence that Drew was developing at that time which eventually evolved into the style that made him famous in the movie poster industry. - Ernie Cefalu

Teac Corporation, What's Cooking - Laurence Drieband

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:26:15 -0700

Laurence Drieband, who was at that time an up and coming fine arts “Photo Realist’s” painter, (who later became very famous and teaches at Art Center) did this piece. He loved the assignment and the money I paid him to do it, but he refused to sign it because he was afraid it would come back to hurt him in the fine arts community. This painting really “Rocks! - Ernie Cefalu

Black Sabbath, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - Drew Struzan

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:27:19 -0700

My concept for this album was based on two color illustrations that were given to me on my confirmation day in 1955, that I still have to this day. They are from the 1700’s and depict an evil man and a good man both at the split second of their death. When I showed them to Drew and explained the idea - well these pieces speak for themselves. - Drew Struzan

Aerosmith, Toys In The Attic - Ingrid Haenke

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:24:43 -0700

After a 3 day meeting with Joe Perry and Stephen Tyler on this cover, there was only one illustrator in my mind that could give the band what they wanted, fashion and children’s book illustrator, Ingrid Haenke. She is a beautiful person and a great artist and In the end this piece is one of Areosmith’s biggest and most recognized albums of all time. - Ernie Cefalu

Iron Butterfly, Scorching Beauty - Drew Struzan

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:25:32 -0700

Iron Butterfly, Scorching Beauty is Drew Struzan's first attempt at adding airbrush to his repertoire. Because of his lack of confidence in using this difficult tool, Drew’s usage was limited to the large blended background, relying on his comfort level with color pencils and acrylic for the butterfly figure. The figure was influenced by the female robot in Fritz Langs "Metropolis." - Ernie Cefalu

The Golden Age Of Custom Album Packaging 1970 to 1984 - Original Album Cover Art

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:09:23 -0700

The Golden Age Of Custom Album Packaging 1970 to 1984 - Original Album Cover Art Featuring Some Of The Top Illustrators In The Country; Drew Struzan, Ernie Cefalu, Bill Garland and Ingrid Haenke.