They fold, they open, they arise, they reveal.
Those hinged bits of a record sleeve that give you something to study—or play with—while the disc spins.
Here are some favourites.
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US rockers Grin featured Neil Young collaborator and (later) Bruce Springsteen guitar slinger Nils Lofgren.
What’s behind the toothy smile? Why gums, of course.
Grin — All Out [Epic UK, 1973]
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UK band Free were much loved in the early 70s. Their live LP was released in 1971 with a cover depicting an envelope. The portrait/mugshot stamps are a neat idea. Not so much Airmail as Hairmail.
What made this letter a special delivery was that it had a working flap on the back. All right now!
Free — Free Live! [Island USA, 1971]
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One of the earliest ‘lift and look’ cover I could think of was by soul-rock psychedelic outfit Albino Gorilla. When you break the perforations and fold the great blonde ape out of his apocalyptic background, several affectionate couples are revealed. Some kind of reference to the Kama Sutra label, perhaps? What does it all mean?
Albino Gorilla — Detroit 1984 [Kama Sutra 1970]
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Vinyl Connection’s love of album packaging is long standing. Here is one of my all time favourites.
A record mailer which, when you open the flap, reveals an insert plus an inner sleeve with a cautionary tale for seamen. What more could a sailor possibly want?
Alice Cooper — Muscle Of Love [WB USA, 1973]
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For many years I’ve owned a CD re-issue of the debut by experimental psych band Annexus Quam which I picked up during my time in Germany. Very happy with the cheapish CD I was too, as vinyl originals on the Ohr label went for simply ridiculous money. When Wah Wah pressed the album on coloured vinyl in 2010 I wasted no time in slapping down my cash. (i.e. Clicking on ‘Buy Now’.)
One of the most mind-bending covers in the entire VC collection.
Annexus Quam — Osmose [Ohr Germany 1970 / Wah Wah Spain, 2010]
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Staying in Germany, but with a more meditative focus, is a 1972 album by composer, conductor, arranger and keyboard player Eberhard Schoener. An ambient classic, way before the term was coined, you can stare at the mandala/globe and absolutely go on an inner voyage. Ommmm…
Eberhard Schoener — Meditation [Ariola Germany, 1974]
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When I re-listened to Walls and Bridges for the 74 FROM ’74 series, I commented how the LP was housed “in a fascinatingly fragmented album cover that perhaps reflects John’s state of mind all too clearly”. I’m not quite sure that nails this package, which seems to reflect John’s sense of fun, his love of silliness, perhaps a bit juvenile sometimes… but he looks healthy and happy, too.
John Lennon — Walls and Bridges [Apple Australia 1974]
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Favourites here? Or flaps I overlooked? Do share!
vinylconnection.com.au 
Some beauties there Bruce, that Lennon one can tear easily if you’re not careful. A couple of foldouts I love are Hawkwind’s ‘Warrior on the Edge of Time’ shield foldout and their ‘Space Ritual’ album which unfolds into a wonderfully useful spliff maker. Not sure if ‘Lotus’ by Santana fits the criteria but that mutha is sure hard to fold back into its original state, including the posters. Finally, though I know I’ll think of more, is ‘School’s Out’ with its pop up desk and panties (if you’re lucky).
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Love the associations that immediately popped into your head, Chris. Now (clears throat to foreshadow pedantic quibble) if we were doing fold-outs, Warrior and Lotus would be certain inclusions. Both, in fact have featured here.
The other two — Search and School’s Out are both (a) absolutely in the wheelhouse, and (b) absolutely in the collection. So keep ’em coming. There could be a Part Two. 🙂
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I remember the Alice Cooper cover.
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Lennon – quite memorable for something that might look like it’s just thrown together.
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Spot on, DD. I think that is what I have always thought. Kind of a collage of childhood drawings (self-indulgence!) and a silly photo shoot (off the cuff!). But as I prepared new photos for this post I changed my view, with the result I like it even more.
Thanks for that perceptive comment, coz.
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I bought sa second hand copy of Muscle of Love in the 1980’s it was so battered. I’d love a mint one.
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It’s a corker, right? I sold my mint one during the mid-80s vinyl cull (emoji of revolver to head).
This copy was a gift from my friend Steven, whose collection I am almost finished liquidating. Funny old thing, life.
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Ain’t it though? I just watched my fourth Ozzy Osbourne farewell show. The first time I went to one I was still in High School. Now I’m in my 50’s.
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Yeah. We’re younger than our icons, but catching up fast. Have you read the 33 ⅓ monograph on Master of Reality?
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Some real obscurities here, Bruce. Annexus Quam looks appropriately psychedelic, Schoener very tasteful…Albino Gorilla? Uhh. A few flap sleeves that come to my mind are Small Faces’ circular Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake, Tull’s Stand Up, and Airplane’s Long John Silver.
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I’ve never seen the Jefferson Airplane in ‘real life’. It’s amazing. A build-your-own cigar box! Large (six panel) fold-outs and pop-up covers are both fabulous categories. I have a list of fold-outs (including the Small Faces) but not quite enough for a post. Same with pop-ups (only three, or four if you count a sneaky CD). Probably could feature them anyway, I guess!
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I don’t have any vinyl anymore – looks like I’m missing a lot of fun.
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Never too late to recant, G!
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Great call Bruce. I would add Alice Cooper From The Inside, Badger s/t and a recent Aphex Twin one that you could further bring to life with your phone. That Annexus Quam one is pretty insane!
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The Annexus Quam is deliciously OTT, isn’t it? Yes, I remember Alice – centre opening flaps. The Badger is an all time favourite cover but in my universe a pop-up is not a flat. Sorry, but the Oracle at Delphi told me so.
Will search out the Aphex Twin. Thanks Joe!
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I’ve always liked the Grin choice. Regret not picking it up. ‘Greetings From Asbury Park’ was the first of these offerings that I acquired.
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oooh… thanks, CB. Bruce has just tipped us over into a Part 2!
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I did a little brain scan and off the top of my head would Stage Fright qualify ? A couple family albums, Fearless and Bandstand? I could do more research but this is your baby. I like these Bruce ventures.
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Sadly, I don’t have Stagefright on vinyl and couldn’t find a decent photo. 😦
Family did some great covers, didn’t they? And Bandstand is a corker. When I’m done flapping about, I’m planning a post featuring interesting or unusual die-cut covers. I reckon the Bandstand could make a return appearance there, don’t you think?
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You know your stuff. You’re my trivia partner on the next world cruise.
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Sounds great, CB! Cruise to the Edge, perhaps?
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YES fella, we’re going over the “Edge” where the fun is.
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[…] were a couple of leftovers from the first “Flaps” album cover post. Add in some suggestions from the Wordiverse with a special shoutout to CB for the first entry […]
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I’m strangely drawn to the ‘balloony’ font of the Grin title, and to the gorgeous sans serif of Meditation. The smiling pic of Lennon in the Walls and Bridges assembly is so poignant. What would he make of the world we’re in now, were he still with us?
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Love the details that catch your eye, JDB.
That’s a thought experiment, isn’t it? One thing for sure, he wouldn’t have stayed silent. I’m imagining John joining Bruce onstage for some serious Seniors rabble rousing.
Hope you are well, my friend, and thanks for dropping by.
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He *absolutely* wouldn’t have stayed silent. Fun to imagine how he might have let it rip.
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The cover for Somewhere I’ve Never Travelled by Ambosia (1976) unfolded into a pyramid – very mystical at the time. Art Direction by David Larkham, the man who created the cover for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
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Some beauties there. Well laid-out and presented. Another top-notch article. These albums do not fare very well to father time, or repeated fiddling. I have the Lennon album on CD thankfully.
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