Thank you so much for the gift of your company as we concluded our Crazy Halloween, Parts 1 and 2 on "The Block Party". As promised, here is the video of my fun chat with award winning, creative director and designer, Ernie Cefalu and the full story of the design of Alice Cooper's "From the Inside" LP. You are about to walk through the doors of a place where you will be greeted by a cast of characters that will blow your mind. Don't worry, Ernie, Alice and I will rescue you. Then again....!! HA HA HA
Thank you for your support of "The Block Party". Halloween is always a fun time. Last night, award winning creative director and designer, Ernie Cefalu shared another great backstory about Alice Cooper on "Ernie's Corner" and the design of Alice's "Teenage Frankenstein" and "The Man Behind the Mask". If you think Jason of the "Friday the 13th" movies was not scared of anyone. Guess again. By the way, we are continuing our Crazy Halloween - Part II on "The Block Party" next week. Have fun and be safe!!
Last night on "The Block Party" and "Ernie's Corner", award winning creative director and designer, Ernie Cefalu of Pacific Eye and Ear and I had a fun chat about the design of Burns & Schreiber's LP "Pure B.S.". The design was based on those eye catching "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" stories and Ernie placed Avery and Jack in that unique narrative by using the album cuts. You also get to see my personal copy of the LP that was filed at radio station WKTK (The Rock of Baltimore) in 1973. Listening to the cuts and knowing that the design was done by Ernie and Pacific Eye and Ear has made this LP even more endearing. Oh, and you get to see Ernie modeling the jester's hat that you could make out of the album sleeve. Laughter is the best medicine. God bless the memory of Jack and Avery. They brought humor to the world and Ernie, you brought that artistic creation making it even more fun and memorable. Have a blessed Sunday. Enjoy!
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. Yesterday on "The Block Party" and "Ernie's Corner", award winning creative director and designer, Ernie Cefalu of Pacific Eye and Ear shared about the contribution of Richie Havens. Richie's performance at Woodstock was not only moving, but he made history as the first solo performer to take the stage. Richie was an artist who didn't need flashing lights or gimmicks. A guy and his guitar moved the world in 1969 and he continued to do so long after that historic appearance. Ernie Cefalu captured that vision so beautifully on the Mixed Bag II LP. Thank you Ernie and all who support music and the arts.
Thank you for your kind support of "The Block Party" and "Ernie's Corner". We are so grateful for the views to the accompanying videos that go along with our "Block Party" radio chat. Last night, award winning creative director and designer, Ernie Cefalu of Pacific Eye and Ear shared about the album cover design for the groundbreaking improvisational comedy group "The Committee" and their LP "Wide Wide World of War". Ernie designed a beautiful collage that captured the changing of both comedy and music during the late 60's and early 70's. Ernie went all out in digging the design of the collage on the LP and it went well beyond the beatnik vernacular in every sense of the word. Enjoy and make sure you hand Ernie a shovel for good measure.
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. It was fun sharing about the band "l" on last night's "Ernie's Corner" and "The Block Party". "1" was signed to the Jefferson Airplane's "Grunt" record label and unfortunately the label was uncertain as to how to promote the band; however, their lead singer, Reality D. Blipcrotch had ideas for promotion that were off the wall and not feasible. The label asked Ernie Cefalu and Pacific Eye and Ear to take charge and talk about a stellar design that pleased both the label and band. To our knowledge, the band did not garner a following outside of the San Francisco Bay area, but they are truly a part of the "Grunt" record history and their music was very unique. Enjoy!
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. It is always fun chatting with award winning creative director and designer, Ernie Cefalu on "Ernie's Corner." which is a weekly feature on "The Block Party|". In addition to a Tesla Coil, there is a great backstory behind comedian and actor, Franklyn Ajaye's "Don't Smoke Dope, Fry Your Hair" album that will open your eyes and maybe your ears too.. It sure did it for Franklyn! And.....another Frank is part of the electrical connection. Have fun and enjoy!
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. Here is the chat of last night's "Ernie's Corner" with our special guest, Al Staehely. Al is a fabulous singer, songwriter, bass player and in addition to being a great storyteller (just like Ernie Cefalu), he was so easy to speak with. I felt as if I had known him for many years (just like Ernie). Al has a great story about the evolution of the band "Spirit", a special appearance by respected British drummer, Cozy Powell and you will hear all about the design of the LP "Sta-Hay-Lee" that Ernie and Pacific Eye and ear designed for Al and his brother, John. By the way, I will be featuring cuts from Al's new CD"Somewhere In West Texas" on a future show. Enjoy!
NOTE: THE IMAGE FEATURED IN THE ENCLOSED VIDEO IS DISPLAYED FOR CREATIVE AND HISTORICAL PURPOSES IN THE AREA OF MUSIC HISTORY AND ARTISTIC DESIGN AND IS NOT INTENDED TO VIOLATE COMMUNITY STANDARDS.
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. Thank you so much for your support of "The Block Party" and "Ernie's Corner". Here is the video of my chat with award winning creative director and designer, Ernie Cefalu last night on the design of the debut album for The Incredible Simon Stokes and the Black Whip Thrill Band.
Simon and his band were signed to the Spindizzy Record label and Ernie shares how oftentimes an artist like Simon will have a vision for their music that is often not understood nor does it reflect their real life persona. For Simon's debut album, Ernie and Pacific Eye and Ear honored that vision although it was deemed controversial and it was the first album cover to be banned in the United States. Let me add that the music I have listened too is really great and I am glad to have given Simon and his band a chance to be heard. Artists like Alice Cooper, Screamin Lord Sutch, KISS, Black Sabbath and others were banned in many markets as was rock and roll in the early days.
Wishing all a wonderful Labor Day weekend. Thank you so much for your support of "The Block Party" and "Ernie's Corner". Talk about a fun backstory that Ernie shared about the design of Black Oak Arkansas' LP "Raunch N Roll". Whenever I listen to their songs, I always think of good ole down home fun and it does not matter what area you are from. Ernie Cefalu and Pacific Eye and Ear once again captured the feel of making you a part of the audience even if you never had the chance to see Black Oak Arkansas in concert. Love ya Ernie and Block Party family.
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. Here is the video chat from last night's "Ernie's Corner". Award winning creative director and designer, Ernie Cefalu and renown illustrator, Drew Struzan were up to the challenge of designing an album cover that incorporated over 20 fab British acts and giving them equal display in addition to a beautiful and distinctive logo on "The History of British Rock. Vol. 2". As you will see and hear, concept, creativity and design all came together plus love of the music. Enjoy!
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. Thank you Ernie Cefalu for sharing another great backstory and for bringing an amazing band to the forefront especially with "Glass Harp". Ernie shares about the music scene that was unfolding during the turbulent times at Kent State University and around our nation during the late 60's and early 70's. "Glass Harp" was a major part of the music history of the Buckeye State. Ernie also had quite the challenge to create a studio feel from three separate photos, but judging by the album cover, he did not disappoint. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for your support of "The Block Party" and "Ernie's Corner". The album cover design that Ernie Cefalu and Pacific Eye and Ear created for the band "Five Dollar Shoes" brings back so many memories and like the band, the design was truly ahead of its time. Ernie and Pacific Eye and Ear received a most honorable recognition and taking creative risks involves courage and vision. I invite you to listen to the chat with me and Ernie Cefalu to learn about the many connections when it comes to the band and the "chutzpah" that made this album special. Enjoy!
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. Thank you for your kind support of "The Block Party" over the years. It is an honor to have award winning creative director and designer, Ernie Cefalu as part of the show. Ernie would have us laughing on Facebook and it is wonderful that he has another outlet to share the work that he and Pacific Eye and Ear have accomplished. The backstory to the design of Burton Cummings' |Woman Love" LP is so funny. Well, maybe not for Burton at the time, but the concept behind the LP was so creative and innovative, that all I can say is "Burton, you are a trouper". Enjoy! Maybe I should play the song "Cherry, Cherry". Well, maybe not.
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. Here is the video of my chat last night with Ernie Cefalu on the design of John Mayall's LP "Down the Line". John has been a key figure in the British Blues movement and it was through John and so many others who played with The Bluesbreakers like Eric Clapton and Peter Green where we came to respect those great blues singers whose music was a major component in the roots of rock and roll. Thank you Ernie Cefalu and Pacific Eye and Ear for being a part of John's vision and to all of you who buy and support music. Enjoy! P.S. I wore my studious glasses for the occasion.
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. Last night on "The Block Party" and "Ernie's Corner", Ernie Cefalu brought out the kid in us by sharing about the interactive and fun design of the first "Sesame Street Live" LP. Ernie's mission was to have the buyer (and it did not matter what age) fully involved and in the design of the "Sesame Street Live" LP, Ernie and the team at Pacific Eye and Ear made you feel like you were on the stage with Big Bird and the Cookie Monster. Hey, hang on and we will show you how to get to "Sesame Street" and may the child in you always remain.
Thank you so much for your support of "The Block Party". It was fun taking that trip back in time to remember those fun television shows and better yet, we explored how music and television influenced each other. Here is the full chat with Ernie Cefalu on the cleaver design that he and Pacific Eye and Ear made happen for The Brady Bunch Kids LP and you would never guess that a veteran jazz player was part of it. Enjoy!
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. Last night on "The Block Party" and "Ernie's Corner", Ernie Cefalu and Pacific Eye and Ear designed this beautiful array of color and vivid pulsation that reflected the Climax Blues Band's vision for their LP "Sense of Direction". They were so much more than "Couldn't Get It Right". The Climax Blues Band is bluesy, straight to the heart and as Ernie described when you hear one song, you want more. Enjoy!
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. Just returned from a lovely event with our church and finally a chance to post the video portion of my chat with award winning creative director and designer, Ernie Cefalu on "The Block Party". Last night on "Ernie's Corner", it was so much fun hearing the back story of a phone call that Ernie thought was a prank by his team at Pacific Eye and Ear, but it turned out to be some cat whose real name was David Jones and he was interested in recruiting Ernie for his "Serious Moonlight" project. Major Tom knew what he was doing. Enjoy!
Wishing all a blessed Sunday. Returned from two wonderful events today, but wanted to make sure you had a chance to view the fun chat that Ernie Cefalu and I had last night on "The Block Party" on the design of Peter Kaukonen's LP "Black Kangaroo". Like his brother, Jorma (Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna), Peter is extremely talented and a great singer-songwriter. Ernie also shares how he made the connection to meet and work on the design of the Jefferson Airplane's "Long John Silver" LP. Enjoy!
