Artist: Weldon Irvine
Title: Sinbad
Label: RCA
Year: 1976
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Review
Back again with another holy grail piece from none other than the late great Weldon Irvine. This LP is very similar to Spirit Man, (in which you can read that review in the archived post on Brother Weldon). Similar in that they both have that cosmic sound, they both display Irvine’s versatility, and they both definitely bring a sound to the table that one can’t get from just any record of the time period. Something that I really like about Irvine’s sound is that it’s very dirty, and grainy in sound, but the music still pushes through strong.
Sinbad holds the original for “Music is the Key”, and anyone who knows their sh!—I mean their music, knows Bernard Wright, and if you know Bernard Wright, then you know about “Music is the Key”. Inquiring minds, seek that track!!! But as I was saying, the original of that song is on this album and it blows me away EVERY time, it’s much more intense than the Wright cover.
I don’t want to say too much because I really want you all to go out and seek this album, get it, drop the needle on it, take it in…experience it the way I was able to experience it!!! Be surprised…BUT FIRST…check out the snippets I’ve provided for you guys to give you a sense…
I Love You
Sinbad
Notable
Album features guest Don Blackman
Album features a cover of What’s Goin’ On?
Design
Now this cover…I LIKE!!! Why? because anybody who can make a dope watercolor painting is definitely getting my respect, everyday all day!!! This is the artists interpretation of Weldon Irvine as Sinbad the sailor!!! Instead of journeying through the east of Africa and the south of Asia, he takes us on a journey through music. The sea creatures and the costume painted on Irvine is cool too. Nothing out-weighs the signature blank stare that Irvine carries as tradition on all of his album covers. No expression…even going back to Liberated Brother.
I really like the font used here, it’s very 76′ish, it’s got that “groovy” look to it, but there’s something about it that says “the sea”. To me it evokes that feeling so it’s working.
The simple layout of type on the back is functional and it works also, less is more, doing its job. The painting calls enough attention to the cover so having all excess copy fall back, visually, was a great design decision, in my humble opinion…
posted by: Darien of flwrpt
One Comment
Its been ages, man! excellent record to come back with!