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Tiki Central / Tiki Music / The Little Black & White Drawings on the Back of Record Albums Thread

Post #493008 by Sabu The Coconut Boy on Tue, Nov 10, 2009 12:56 AM

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This thread is devoted to the artwork relegated to the back covers of our favorite records. Exotica, Hawaiian, & Lounge LPs are famous for having showy, colorful photos (usually of pretty girls) on the front covers, and then a cheap, simple black & white drawing on the back to frame the song titles.

But it's these throwaway drawings that I find are often the most charming in their simplicity. They are modernist, impressionist masterpieces of 50s and 60s ad-art at its best. A lot of them remind me of the concept art that Disney artists did for their upcoming rides and movies. They're often paired with great, custom fonts.

Here are a few from my record collection. Please add your own and let's discuss theories as to why this particular type of art ended up on the backs of records and who did it.


:up: Webley Edwards - "Hawaii"


:up: Yma Sumac - "Fuego Del Ande"


:up: Rene Paulo - "Black Coral"


:up: Bobby Hackett - "Hawaii Swings"


:up: Hal Aloma - "Lure of The Islands"


:up: Webley Edwards - "The Hawaii Calls Show"


:up: Speedy West - "West of Hawaii"

Lush Jungles & Palms

:up: Haunani - "Trade Wind Islands"


:up: Alfred Apaka - "South Seas Island Magic" & "Aloha Serenades"


:up: Webley Edwards - "Fire Goddess"

Hula Girls:

:up: Ferrante & Teicher - "Pianos In Paradise"


:up: Hawaii Calls - "Exotic Instrumentals"


:up: Ahh. The Mystery-Bowl girl in her natural habitat.


:up: Webley Edwards - "Na Mele O Hawaii"


:up: Harry Kaapuni - "Aloha Hawaii"


:up: Harry Owens - "Polynesian Holiday"

Drums & Percussion:

:up: Elizabeth Waldo - "Maracatu"


:up: Martin Denny - "Silver Screen"


:up: Martin Denny - "Afro-Desia"


:up: Jack Costanzo - "Bongo Fever"


:up: Les Baxter - "Tamboo"


:up: "Drums of Bora Bora"

Masks & Tikis

:up: Martin Denny - "In Person at Duke Kahanamoku's"


:up: Les Baxter - "Ritual of the Savage"


:up: Webley Edwards - "Hawaii"


:up: Augie Goupil - "Tahitian Rhythms, Jungle Drums"

Other good themes to add to this thread might include; Cocktails, Space Exotica, Cowboys & Western, Guitars, Foreign Lands, etc.