Album Covers That Look Like Other Album Covers

Some are blatant parodies, tributes, or ripoffs. Others are more vaguely reminiscent of each other in comparison. Let's check some out:

 Wow, looka all that. I think it all started with Elvis and his debut album. Personally I think Elvis is severely overrated and not even close to being the 'King of Rock and Roll'.  Yet his influence and part played in rock history cannot be denied. A partial testament to that fact is these ripoff album covers. The ones shown above are only a FEW of the many out there. Who are some of these others? Hasil Adkins was probably born around the same time as Elvis, give or take a few years. His style was very rockabilly too. Yet he was backwoods and did not shake his pelvis or wear fancy outfits, and sang songs about mutilating chickens. He was usually a one man band, playing many instruments at the same time!  You could say he was from the weirder darker side of early rock and roll, and nowhere near as commercial. The Haze (as he is sometimes known) helped pave the way for some of the future punks and psychobilly folks.

Speaking of punk, let's move along to The Clash and Sylvain Sylvain (of the New York Dolls).  WHY would these punkers be influenced by Elvis? As tame as he seems now, he was seen as rebellious then, since people were a bunch of super squares back in that day. When you listen to the Clash or New York Dolls, you'll hear that early boogie-woogie rock and roll sound in a lot of their tunes, I mean they grew up at least partially listening to Elvis. Joe Strummer (lead singer of the Clash) was known to be a big Elvis fan, his favorite song being "Crawfish". It wasn't just the Clash's London Calling that the 'Elvis visual theme' was used, it was also used for the Train In Vain single. 

Strummer even styled his hair sorta like Elvis! But I digress...

 

 Let's talk about some divas now. In 1988 Madonna was all the rage and Sonic Youth and alternative/punk legend Mike Watt (see my earlier post of him at :http://fox-actors.blogspot.com/2011/08/high-wattage.html) did a sort of fun side project called the Whitey Album, under the name Ciccone Youth. Ciccone is Madonna's original surname and the album was a sort of avant garde 'Madonna tribute' poking fun weirdo fest that included corny drum machine beats and even two Madonna cover songs.  I always thought the album image was SY bassist Kim Gordon pretending to be Madonna herself, but the pic is actually OF Madonna. A couple of years later, Madonna released her Erotica album with a strangely similar cover. Check out the two:

 Just as I find Elvis overrated, but love the Clash and many others influenced by him, I think Madonna is overrated but love Sonic Youth/Ciccone Youth! Speaking of diva, Annie Lennox's Diva reminds me quite a bit of the Stone Temple Pilots album Shangri La Dee Da. I'm not so sure about influence visually or musically between the two at ALL, it could just be sheer coincidence the covers remind me of each other. Either way it's not as obvious of a resemblance as others:

What next? The Japanese experimental genre-jumping group Boris have an album called Akuma No Uta, which is a total parody of English folksinger Nick Drake's Bryter Layter:

 

 Boris also have an album (featuring the Doomriders as well) called 'Long Hair and Tights'..which  is loosely stylized after classic British metal band Judas Priest's 'Screaming For Vengeance' :

 Then there's yet another album cover influenced by  Screaming For Vengeance. It's by a band called Hatebeak, which is death metal whose 'singer' is a 19 year old Congo African Grey Parrot. That's right, a parrot singing death metal. Pig Destroyer fans should note the band also includes Blake Harrison. 

There's a really great retro revival garage-psych group called the Lyres who were around since the late 70's practically. They did a total ripoff of The Rolling Stones' 'Some Girls'. At least their music is very original:

 Hasil Atkins (who I mentioned earlier) seems to have something in common with Social Distortion here:

 Dig it. The band Ladytron (named after the Roxy Music song) recently released an album called 'Gravity the Seducer'. I haven't really heard much Ladytron and I'm not sure I'd be that into them, but the name of this album is so awesome, as well as the cover art. It seemed curiously similar to Tangerine Dream's 'Stratosfear' :

 Not so sure if I'm so down with the Bedouin Soundclash either, though I've noticed their 'Sounding a Mosaic' album cover reminds me a ton of the Stooges 'Funhouse'...one of the best punk albums EVER:

I mean, is it just me or is there a lot of similarity there? 

Then there's Brand New's album 'The Devil & God Are Raging Inside Of Me'...which reminds me of the Violent Femmes' 1983 self titled debut, which is another really classic album from the vaults of quirky alternative rock:

I love the surrealism of it all. Little girls and paint flaking off seems so ordinary yet at the same time you say- 'what's the story behind this?'

 I'll finish this post with some Beatles and some funny parodies of their covers. There's Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention doing 'We're Only In It For The Money'...which was a parody of the Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' :

Both are must have albums! For some more obscure Sgt. Pepper's knock-offs,check this:

 

The first depicts  'St. Captain Freak Out and the Magic Bamboo Request' by Acid Mothers Temple, a crazy experimental psychedelic Japanese group. The second is the Rutles'  'Sgt. Rutters Only Darts Club Band.' The Rutles are a hilarious Beatles spoof group. The third is the Easy Star All Stars' 'Easy Stars Lonely Hearts Dub Band.' If you hadn't guessed by the picture, they a bunch rasta dub ganga rascals.  There are SO many Sgt. Peppers ripoff covers out there.

 The Residents are one of the weirdest groups out there, preferring to wear masks (usually giant eyeballs) and remain anonymous. Their music is strange too. I love their 1974 debut, 'Meet the Residents'..which features a defaced cover of 'Meet the Beatles'. They might've got in some shit for it I think, not sure.

 Another real laugh is the 'Abbey Road EP' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers...taking inspiration from the Abbey Road of the Beatles-->

HAhaha. Now that's probably enough for now. I'll post some others sometime in the future....

High Wattage

This is going to be a section on Mike Watt. Who is Mike Watt, if you don't know? He's an alternative/punk rock legend who plays bass (or as he puts it, the 'thud staff '.) He has been rockin' ever since the 70's. Watt grew up in San Pedro California and in his early teens met his good guitarist friend D.Boon there. They found themselves in a punk band called the Reactionaries, and then after that they took the Reactionaries' drummer George Hurley to form the Minutemen. The Minutemen tended to have a sound a bit more quirky, eclectic and humorous than many of the contemporary hardcore punk bands of the nearby scene at the time. They had a certain kinship with noted and rightly notorious L.A. band Black Flag, who duly respected them. Watt even ended up getting into a romantic relationship with one of Black Flag's bassists, Kira Roessler. The output of the band was quite prolific for the time they existed (from 1980-1985), with the 1984 album 'Double Nickels on the Dime' being the standout for most, with the original release featuring 45 songs!   

The sad demise of the Minutemen came about when D. Boon was killed in a van accident heading to Arizona December 22, 1985. Mike Watt and George Hurley grew too depressed and disillusioned to really give too much thought to continuing with music. Yet somehow they still did, at the coaxing of some friends. First Watt was invited to guest star on some songs with Sonic Youth (the 'Ciccone Youth-Whitey Album' project and some work off of 'EVOL').  A chap named Ed Crawford brought the remaining Minutemen together and he essentially replaced D.Boon for guitar/vocal duties, yet the band was now called fIREHOSE. As well, Mike slowly formed a band with Kira Roessler called 'Dos', which is essentially just the two playing bass. Kira had made some contribution to the Minutemen's final album ('3 Way Tie For Last') also got had a bit of involvement with fIREHOSE. The pair ended up marrying in '87, though divorced not too long after fIREHOSE disbanded in '94. The divorce was on good terms however, and Dos continues to exist as a here and there project (as it always has).

The weirdass cover art to 'Ball Hog or Tugboat?'

In 1995, Mike Watt went solo and a landmark first album was released, 'Ball Hog or Tugboat?'. This album should be considered very important in the annals or true alternative/underground rock. A gazillion special names in the genre were invited as guest stars on the record, including: Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr's J. Mascis, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Cris and Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets, Pat Smear (once in the Germs, once a touring guitarist for Nirvana, now in the Foo Fighters with Dave Grohl), Gary Lee Conner and Mark Lanegan of the Screaming Trees, Henry Rollins (sang in Black Flag, went solo, punk GOD), Frank Black (the Pixies, solo), Soul Asylum's Dave Pirner, Sonic Youth (minus Kim Gordon), Jane's Addiction drummer Steven Perkins, RHCP bassist Flea, Evan Dando of the Lemonheads, Kira Roessler's brother Paul on piano, punk producer Spot, P-funk legend Bernie Worrell on B3 organ, some Beastie Boys, and so forth. Now, just the fact that all these people agreed to appear on this album is a testimony to the influence and genius of Mike Watt and his own bands. You could just picture the one scenario-- "Mike who? Who wants me on his record?" No, the thing that now stands is if you didn't know who he was before, it's good you are reading this because the man is legend in rock and roll history. The Red Hot Chili Peppers dedicated their entire epic album 'BloodSugarSexMagic' to Mike Watt. Oh and before I forget, besides all those guest appearances, the music itself on 'Ball hog' was quite nifty. 

After this album, Watt would go on to release more solo work plus collaborate on a trillion other projects. He has been a very busy man! In more recent times, the most notable thing he'd be up to would be layin' down bass for the revived line up of Iggy and the Stooges!

In his lustred career Watt has worked with (aside from the many already mentioned): Saccharine Trust, Stan Ridgeway, Juliana Hatfield, Nels Cline, Banyan, Porno for Pyros, Burning Brides, and a whole bunch more I am now getting too lazy to mention (har har).

Watt's home site is http://hootpage.com/
As a bonus, below is a 'Glossary of Pedrospeak', which is the peculiar dialect Watt likes to speak:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
b
 bail – see out.
 ball bust  – major hell-ride.
 ball-hog  – rude bogart.
 ball swell  – tour wound.
 ball tick  – scene fixture.
 bam bam  – has to get going in order to complete
                     soundcheck.
 be great or be gone – tape rolling (see “ding-ding-ding!”).
 bean-spill  – accidental self spiel.
 Bell – gut pack, as in “bellin' it.”
 bellig –  as in belligerent, major tude.
 binga  – one lost sometimes.
 blow by  – prequel to loop.
 bofus –  literally, “I found it!”
 bogart  – bumrush.
 bomb pop –  watt on the 'loose nut' tour.
 bones  – see government art collection.
 boom stick –  see thunder broom.
 boss  – see him/her who deals.
 bout  – tunes.
 broister  – swelter pad.
 brother  – invaluable.
 butt snicker  – georgism, see floater/bottom fish.

c
 cave  – empty gig, ton of reverb.
 chick-ching  – the transferring of many bones.
 ching-kwon-dough  – more than one bone, as in “beaucoup
                                    dinero.”
 choad  – one who is hesitant.
 choke  – a fan at the plate.
 chopless –  lack of chops.
 chow  – major part of experience.
 clams –  chokes, usually on stage in front of people.
 coiler  – expression sculpted in a “coiling booth.”
 concussion pad  – tour van seat prop.
 corporate pawn  – obvious palooka.
 cuda  – tour mode that promotes heavy chowing.
 cut  – big scissors.

d
 davein' it  – christening the pad.
 “ding-ding-ding!”  – sound of tape beginning to roll.
 dumper  – chow purge.

e
 econo  – a way or life.
 elbow pop –  behind a motorhome shit drain/breakage on
                       freeway.

f
 first engineer scott  – crew member on Watt's phone
                                    machine.
 flick –  georgism, off the back of a motorcycle.
 floater  – if you're really healthy (“bottom fish” if you're
                 not).
 flow –  float the trip.
 frap  – george's wake-up greeting.
 fully blown  – georgism, all the way live.
 fuego  – required by mota.

g
 georgism  – that which is coined by George [Minutemen
                     drummer George Hurley]
 gordo  – bloat.
 government art collection – them little green paintings.

h
 hambone  – solo.
 hand puppet  – someone seen butt-pickin' themselves.
 headslap  – alarm clock-like.
 head pop  – right off the knee.
 hell-ride  – tour, big ride in van.

i
 ...ian  – turning a vowel into a verb.

k
 kind  – just right.
 knee pop  – critical Watt injury/weakness.
 knobman  – sound engineer.
 koa  – as in hahd/your spirit.
 konk  – sleepytown.

l
 load dodge  – tradin' the rambler for a dodge.
 loop  – sequel to blow-dry.

m
 machinery  – plumbing.
 mackin'  – georgism, tongue wrangle.
 major nobody –  has-been that never was, average mersh.
 mat –  recording studio floor.
 mersh  – commercial.
 mota  – puff.
 mouse  – minion.
 mulehead  – stench breath.

n
 nolaning it – bap bap bap.
 nut sack  – scrotum.

o
 one-on-one tug-o-war  – solo record.
 out  – adios.
 out of the race  – passing a disabled vehicle.
 “over the ropes”  – out of the picture (see “scissors”).

p
 pad  – establishment.
 paralytic  – the manity's (as in hugh manity of orlando, fla)
                    puff.
 petri dish  – see ring.
 phone jock  – typical booking agent.
 piss bottle  – life saver.
 pomp  – Daltrey stage pose.
 pop  – sound made by my knee breaking.
 prac  – getting ready for the gig – in no way a “rehearsal”.
 practice pad  – where one pracs.
 pretendo  – mtv spiel.
 pucks – burgers.
 pull toy – little truck.
 pushbroom  – bass.
 push cart –  vw (see pull toy).

q
 q –  pedro chow down.

r
 rehearsal – for actors & actresses, not band people.
 ring – the recording studio, as in “get in the ring.”
 rope trick –  stage holding banter, have to fold it.
 round – tune.

s
 sailor – militant band member.
 salmo-bloat – see short stay.
 shtick – endeavor.
 scissors – cut.
 shadow box – see davein' it.
 shelf life – there is no life beyond shelf life.
 short stay – quick dumper after weak chow.
 shovel – chow.
 sidemouse – one who does your chow while waiting for
                      theirs.
 slackjaw – alert and at attention.
 sour – certain look that says something.
 spiel – pitch (see “shtick”).
 sploogie boy – martin gig.
 splorch wart – big mug zit.
 springboard – to flow for others.
 spunk pad – run down joint.
 square john – (your name here)
 star of the show – least valuable player.
 stuff – chow.
 swim team – nut sack crew.

t
 team motto – “when you ain't playin' you're payin'.”
 thunder broom – bottom tool.
 tired – clone soldier stance.
 tour-spiel – old sea yarn.
 trainwreck – ensemble playing.
 tub – brain.
 tude – as in pomp.
 tug – persuade.
 tugboat – nurturer.
 twitch fire – georgism, “a looker.”
 twofer – duet.
 tymp – express instantly.

u
 unit – hair piece.
 utensil – mota device.

w
 wao – pipe filter.
 wail – freedom song.
 wang – clever person.
 wang towel – clean up crew (see sploogie boy).
 wigger – a go-off, as in heidi.
 wind baggin' – on the phone forever.

y
 yank – see cut.
 yard dog – liar.
 yard trophy – disabled ride.
 “you fuckin' bahstid!”  – sweet endearment.