A quick update for Bizarre sleeve fans. Firstly, to publicise the book, a new sleeve gallery on Simon's own album art site. This has been put together for a bit of seasonal fun, rounding up ten of his personal worst Christmas album themed sleeves. Needless to say there are lots of them out there, but this gallery has been properly researched so we know these are all actual releases from the 1960s through to just a few years ago. So do take a look and pass the link on the friends! We have also selected a few extra seasonal covers to liven up this mail...
[1] Jul med Yngve Stoor - this crazy sleeve looks like something from the Fifties but actually came out in the 1970s. Yngve was a Swedish steel guitar player who had his biggest success before the Second World War but remained a local hero for years. The naff illustration must have looked very vintage even at the time but they liked it so much Yngve pushed out two more Xmas albums with the same illustration! So if you search hard enough you could have this in three different colourways....
Steve's latest exhibition is currently wowing everyone at the Warrington Art Gallery and Museum and Radio 6 DJ Mark Radcliffe went over for a look and mentioned it to Stuart Maconie on their weekend breakfast show the other day as a must see (and showed him his phone snaps). "Honestly, it's lovely because the room is full of people HOWLING with laughter..." Exactly what we all want! This generated a lot of extra interest and as a result the gallery will be extending the end date, so although their website still shows it finishing on January 19th 2025 they will announce the new date very soon. So you have no excuse not to treat yourselves (and as we have said before, Steve swops and updates the covers each time so always something new to see). As the Stoke Sentinel summed it up in their review: “It’s not often that a museum exhibition leaves you snorting with laughter and tittering to yourself for the rest of the day, but I defy anyone to visit the world’s worst record covers without laughing out loud.”
The book is also on sale at their gift shop. If anyone is still short of a present for a vinyl loving friend or family member, it can still be ordered direct through the publisher's on-line shop in time for Christmas last posting dates.
[2] Kenny and Korky - Nuttin' For Christmas. I guess this much the same as us going on about Pinky and Perky to Americans. Searching about, it turns out the song (about a boy on Santa's naughty list) was a novelty record released in December 1955 by FIVE different artists! None of those were as awful as this puppet duo who covered it in 1959. As far as I know this was their only venture into pop stardom. Here's a link to the original promo video; Gerry Anderson, look away now. You can find our version of this at https://www.youtube.com/@EasyOnTheEyeBooks - just look for Nuttin For Xmas! (you may have to cut'n paste the url as YouTube doesn't like me linking direct).
Steve and Simon are also booked for the
Leicester Comedy Festival in February 2025 (which coincidentally hosts Stewart Lee - though he has wisely managed to avoid the dates clashing!). Steve plans to have some of his Worst Album Covers collection on display throughout the event (5th to 22nd Feb 2025), and Simon will present an illustrated talk on the best of the worst as it were at noon on Feb 22nd. These two events will be on at the Big Difference, 68 High Street, Leicester. Entry is free but you do need to book in advance as capacity is limited. Be happy to chat and answer questions after. Leicester comedy festival site -
https://comedy-festival.co.uk/
[3] The Six Million Dollar Man – 4 Exciting Christmas Adventures. Issued in 1978, this was an unashamed Christmas cash-in featuring exactly NONE of the original TV series actors! Still if you know the show, and want to imagine Steve Austin using is bionic powers to put down the Elves Revolt, look no further! The label, Peter Pan, did zillions of children's Christmas singles early doors but in the 1970s latched on to the idea of licensing comic and TV characters, everything from Batman to Star Wars, to front pacey short stories. But this is the only one with the star stripping off on the front cover and the phallic rocket taking off! Lucky Mrs. Austin.
Finally, there is a full exhibition booked at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery 4 May – 22 June 2025 [northamptonmuseums.com]. More details will follow. Steve also tells us he is working on a London booking for March, which we will let you know the whereabouts of as soon as it it confirmed, plus events at Buxton and Edinburgh. Updates as and when, or keep checking his Instagram feed (links below)
Thanks to everyone for their interest
Simon and Ann. Easy On The Eye Books
SMALL PRINT •
NEWSLETTERS - You can check out previous Bizarre Sleeves newsletters on the publisher's web site, plenty to read and follow up on:
PROMO VIDEO - The promo video for the book is on the publisher's YouTube channel, and we are working on a special video for the new year (you need to cut'n paste as YouTube doesn't like me linking direct) : https://www.youtube.com/@EasyOnTheEyeBooks
