When the Vinyl Connection collection finally moved into its new post-renovation space I was certain there was room enough to house at least five years of acquisitions. After all I was periodically doing a little weeding and pruning and the rate of purchasing had dropped substantially from an average of five LPs per week to twenty LPs in a month. Restraint was, and is, my middle name. So to find that I’ve run out of shelf space is surprising and inexplicable. Well, perhaps not the latter.
Anyway, one of my pleasures in record collecting has been finding a different cover on an album already in the collection. If I can justify it in terms of visual interest or some other flimsy pretext, the new version ends up nestling beside its sibling. This has happened more than a few times, as demonstrated here and here, and I’m wondering if it’s time to harden the old coronary muscle and kill off the spare.
So I need input. For the albums below, would you keep one (which one?) or both?
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EASY RIDER (MUSIC FROM THE SOUNDTRACK) (1969)
The sombre blue sleeve is the one familiar to Australian and UK fans. The juxtaposition of the uban gloom versus the open road is striking. Meanwhile, there is something incongruously sunny about the US cover.
It’s a great soundtrack album, but which cover gets your motor running?
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TEN YEARS AFTER — Stonedhenge (1969)
Many (though not all) of the variations are Europe vs US. The third album by British blues-rockers Ten Years After is no exception. I think one needs the full gatefold experience to make an informed choice.
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LARRY CORYELL — Fairyland (1971)
Despite some of his large output being a little, shall we say, variable, I’m very fond of American jazz-rock guitarist Larry Coryell. If only he wouldn’t sing.
Fairyland originally came out on Mega Records, a tiny US label who put out a couple of hundred LPs mostly between 1969 and 1975. After that label folded, some artists/releases went to the even shorter-lived Zodiac label. They re-issued Fairyland with this puzzling cover. Was the plugged in lady a cousin of Uncle Fester?
When this brief but enjoyable live set was re-issued for RSD 2022 they wisely chose the top version.
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FOCUS — Focus 3 (1972)
The rather mundane brownish one is the Australian cover and the one I’ve had for decades. So there is a sentimental attachment. But how does that stack up against a die-cut version from the USA boasting a rainbow hologram title that changes colour when you move it?
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DAVID BOWIE — David Bowie (1969)
AKA Man Of Words / Man Of Music, AKA Space Oddity
The first release of Bowie’s early hippy/folk/troubador LP was in the UK in 1969. The American version added a clunky title but kept the artwork more-or-less the same. The 1972 re-issue, however, not only found much greater commercial success but boasted an updated image of the artist, chosen to reflect the excitement generated by Ziggy Stardust. The latter cover dominated throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s until Simply Vinyl’s 2000 re-issue reminded us of the curly blonde days of yore.
Which version did you meet?
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Title Footnote
For those unfamiliar with Mary MacGregor’s timeless ballad, you can enjoy it here.
vinylconnection.com.au 
OK, for “Easy Rider” you have to go with the Peter Fonda cover. The other one looks like an image of New York City and they don’t come within several hundred miles of there in the movie!
I’ve been looking for a copy of “Stonedhenge” and would probably find the one with their faces on it here in the States, though the top one is a little cooler.
I have the die-cut version of “Focus 3” and much prefer it.
Do you know what artist did the top one of the Larry Correyel covers. I seem to recognize the artist but can’t place it.
Cheers, Rick
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The yellow ‘Easy Rider’ cover is a nice design, isn’t it?
The ‘Fairyland’ cover uses a painting by ‘visionary’ artist Gage Taylor. Seems he did half a dozen album covers, but the only other artist I’ve heard of is New Riders Of the Purple Sage.
Thanks for weighing in, Rick!
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I just flicked through the cover pics during half time at the footy.. #1 son next to me agrees on all counts. Details to follow after the game and when I’ve read the text.
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Look forward to hearing the results when the polls close. Enjoy the game!
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Easy Rider – B
Ten Years After – A
Larry Coryell – A
Focus – 1
Bowie – 2
But I am sure some of the covers look better in the flesh.
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Thank you DD and Son. Of course, I’ll keep them all (except perhaps the Fan Fairyland!).
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Definitely keep the Peter Fonda ER cover, as well as the flashy US Focus album. Keep absolutely everything else!
(Taking advice on culling LPs from someone who recently had a window taken out and filled in to allow for more shelving is probably not the best choice)
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I must disagree. Anyone who fills in a window, especially in the dim and gloomy United Kingdom, in order to store more records is exactly the kind of advisor I need. I will follow your advice to the letter.
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I agree with the others, it’s the Peter Fonda cover. But the best part about this post, besides seeing that hologram Focus album again? It’s seeing the band name “Electric Prunes” again. Patiently waiting for the revival! – Marty
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Lovin’ all of them is breakin’ all the rules. Go for it!
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Excellent!
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Second, first, first, second. Not sure with Bowie – Iike the second more, but the first seems more canonical.
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