Category Archives: editorial

WTF Album Covers: Top Dog Slam Dunk’n Hoes

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I was browsing the design site Creative Meat when lo and behold, what do I find but a collection of top WTF moments of album cover design genius. My favorite wrong-headed cover (and in this case just plain misogynistic to boot) has to be courtesy of a gent calling himself Top Dog. Just look at the liberal, forward-thinking mentality at work on this record, Slam Dunk’n Hoes:

One of the biggest criticisms leveled at hip-hop is that a rather uncomfortable number of the artists involved seem to be all about freedom, equality and the right to be what you are…as long as you are male. Album covers like Top Dog’s don’t really do much to counter that argument, no?

But never mind all that, after all, Top Dog clearly doesn’t care about any of that and we’re wasting our breath trying to convince him that his attitudes are, well, crap. Let’s address the pressing issue of eye pollution here. Top Dog looks like he just stepped away from his segment on The View, talking about a new high colonic regimen and juice-only health plan. He really could be on tour with Joel Osteen here instead of, well, slam dunking “hoes”.

And one thing that is ALWAYS priceless about these kinds of projects is the list of “guest stars” on the album cover. Hey look! This album features a whole laundry list of people YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF! Isn’t that AWESOME that Icey Hott is on this record?

You’d never buy a record by Icey Hott all by itself–I mean, REALLY–who wants to hear songs about sports cream? But here these people all are, most likely hanging out in the studio agreeing with everything Top Dog says for like, 12 hours at a time JUST IN CASE they can throw their voices on one of these tracks.

I hate to draw comparisons here, but much of hip hop has become the new country music, in that there are about five themes endlessly recycled on all records, plus about seven standard costumes for all performers. I think hip hop and country really SHOULD team up the way gangsta rap and heavy metal did back in the 90s–wouldn’t THAT be a riot?

Can you see a Dirty South/Southern Fried music movement blending all the cliches of country and hip hop together to make one big empty musical statement about truck drivin’ playas who slam dunk hoes and love their dogs? I would pay to see that.

But I’m getting ranty. Suffice it to say Top Dog won’t be invited to speak at any NOW conventions any time soon. Top Dog, if you had at least put this album cover in, say, outer space, it wouldn’t be so cringe inducing. Then at least the viewer would be completely bewildered even as you were scratching your head at the whole disrespect to women thing. Confusion is sex.

Vinyl Records For Sale at Turntabling

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I’ve been off the online vinyl record sales for a while–owing mostly to conventions wiping out my supply of LPs for sale, but Turntabling has restocked and I’m selling titles here once again.

I’ve got plenty of cool rarities on vinyl and CD coming up for sale here–watch the posts and you’ll see a steady stream of lust-worthy titles. I’ll be adding items for sale in the sidebars once again, too. Everything goes on back up for sale Friday April 8, 2011.

Everything is NOW AVAILABLE for sale as listed here. Supplies are limited in many cases–if we are sold out of something, we’ll let you know.

I’m taking a new approach with Turntabling which should make the whole experience much easier to manage–every album for sale here is listed individually–one album, one listing. While I do have multiple copies of some titles, some of those are slated to be sold at conventions like Flashback Weekend or Horrorhound.

If you want to buy a title that you discover is out of stock, please drop me an e-mail to see if I have any additional copies. I’d be happy to hook you up with one when the are available. I also have record collector friends who may have copies to sell and I can pass you on to them if I’m currently out of stock on anything.

All vinyl and CD sales directly support Turntabling, so when you buy here you are helping to keep the site running. Many thanks to everyone who has been purchasing and supporting the site in the last couple of years–your love for this music is greatly appreciated.

And as usual, Turntabling continues to blog about all things related to enjoying records, collecting, playing and performing with them. I’ve never wanted this site to be a purely commerce-driven thing, which is why the record sales posts are interspersed with WTF album covers, gear reviews and writeups and other relevant posts.

Thanks, as always, for reading and supporting Turntabling.

WTF Album Covers: Coup Party Music

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Staggeringly poor taste? Misguided attempt at controversy? Or bad timing? According to several sources, this album cover for Party Music by Coup was accomplished before September 11, but that didn’t stop the FBI from taking a look. Coup were cleared of any perceived wrongdoing, but the mere existence of this imagery is enough to send Tea Party rebel flag flyers into a fit of apoplexy. To me, it’s just another cheesy album cover–but what POORLY TIMED CHEESE indeed. The story goes that this artwork was accomplished only a few months before September 11. Creepy.

This is not the official artwork for the album–the image above was yanked after 9/11, but it’s still what comes up when you shop for Party Music by Coup on Amazon.com. And that makes it a bona fide WTF moment for me, at least.

But according to the blog Whole Lotta Album Covers, the official album art is much more clever–and more subversive. The subtlety on THIS album cover puts 99% of their peers to shame. In an era filled with excessive goofiness on hip-hop & rap covers, the official cover for Party Music is definitely a breath of fresh air:

UPDATE: Not more than three hours after I posted this, magically Amazon has the official album art on display now instead of the controversial 9/11 cover that was originally designed, then pulled. Did I have anything to do with that? Who knows, but I AM amused…greatly amused.

Join Turntabling at Cinema Wasteland April 1-3 Strongsville, Ohio

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Join Turntabling at Cinema Wasteland, one of THE best movie-related conventions in the USA. The Turntabling booth will be running full steam ahead with a huge pile of vinyl and CD obscurities, rare titles, and lustworthy releases. Looking for Skinny Puppy’s Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse? There will be ONE COPY available at the show. Do you need some Boris Karloff on vinyl? How about Vincent Price? Peter Lorre? All there waiting for you in VERY limited quantities.

Cinema Wasteland is three days of cinema (non-stop screenings!) and nostalgia in a monster-sized show with some of the best vendors and collectibles you’ll find at any show, anywhere. This is Turntabling’s first appearance at the show as a vendor so we are very excited to be taking part and bringing the vinyl finds to you.

Once Wasteland is over, Turntabling resumes its online sales in a major way–stay tuned for more information on that and much more. See you at the show–which is at the Holiday Inn in Strongsville,  minutes from Cleveland. As the Cinema Wasteland site says, it’s located off the Ohio Turnpike (I-80/90) & I-71.