Ralph Steadman record covers

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Informal Jazz (1956) by Elmo Hope Sextet.

Yesterday’s post made me realise I’d never looked to see how many album covers Ralph Steadman might have designed or illustrated. A quick delve into Discogs revealed the following haul, a couple of which I own on CD. Steadman has worked in a wide range of media but I didn’t know his album work went back into the 1950s. The style of the early sleeves is markedly different to the angry, splattery creations that made his name, and without a signature you’d be unlikely to recognise the artist.

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Conception (1956) by Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, Sonny Rollins, Zoot Sims.

Artists known for their work outside the music world tend to have pre-existing art used on record sleeves but Steadman is unusual in creating so much cover art afresh. In light of this I’ve omitted the CD insert for a dramatisation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas which repeats the drawing familiar from many of the paperback editions.

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4 Altos (1957) by Phil Woods, Gene Quill, Sahib Shihab, Hal Stein.

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Back Country Suite For Piano, Bass And Drums (1959) by Mose Allison.

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Happy Jack/I’ve Been Away (1966) by The Who.

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Streetnoise (1969) by Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity.

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Phoenix Future (1975) by Paul Brett.

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Remember Russia (1979) by Fischer-Z.

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Miniatures (A Sequence Of Fifty-One Tiny Masterpieces Edited by Morgan-Fisher) (1980) by Various Artists.

A collection of one-minute songs, readings or musical works. Among the many artists there’s Steadman himself singing a song in his garden.

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Road Island (1982) by Ambrosia.

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John Arlott Talks Cricket (1982) by John Arlott.

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Peter O’Sullevan Talks Turf (1983) by Peter O’Sullevan.

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Dowie (1983) by John Dowie.

A video release on the Factory label.

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Juvenile Delinquent (1984) by Alexis Korner.

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A Well Kept Secret (1984) by Beaver Harris – Don Pullen 360° Experience.

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Beirut (1984) by Alexis Korner.

A 7-inch single with fold-out sleeve (unfolded below).

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The Last Nightingale (1984) by Various Artists.

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Abuse: Artists For Animals (1986) by Various Artists.

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Force Of Habit (1992) by Exodus.

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Closed On Account Of Rabies: Poems And Tales Of Edgar Allan Poe (1997) by Various Artists.

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Have I Offended Someone? (1997) by Frank Zappa.

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Split 7 Inch (1997) by Remingtin/Balm In Gilead.

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The Gonzo Tapes: The Life And Work Of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008) by Hunter S. Thompson.

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Slash (2010) by Slash.

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The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent And Depraved (2012) by Hunter S. Thompson.

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