Sunday, March 25, 2012

Fresh Record Albums on Display - Partying 60s Style

Well folks, I'm entering the home stretch in the great Uncle Atom kitchen cabinet strip 'n shellac event of 2012. I'm down to just six more cabinet doors to do, so hopefully within the next couple weeks I'll have some final pics for you all.  Next weekend we're going on a road trip to eastern Pa. to visit some old friends, and we'll be mixing in a visit to the antique mecca of Adamstown, Pa.  It's been years since I was there, so I'm really looking forward to scoring something good, maybe even a big gaudy shadowbox.

In the meantime, I thought I'd point the camera at the Rumpus Room wall, where I like to display a growing collection of old record albums.


I had the wall covered with Christmas albums over the holidays, so I needed to get something different up there next.  Lately I've been interested in album art that represents different slices of life from the 1950s and 60s, and with tonight being the premier of Mad Men season 5 (finally!), lets get in a mid century party mood.














The old Uncle is not an accomplished dancer, but when there's a twisting song on the record player, I like to get out there and shimmy, and I keep finding more twist-themed albums all the time.  Chubby Checker earned his teen-idlehood with The Twist.  And we've got a few other teen idols hanging out here in the Rumpus Room.





These old teen-related albums have some great cover art.  I've had this Prom one for a while...








On the other half of the wall I've got some college-related albums. It's amazing how many marching band albums keep turning up, and of course, you can't look back at the 1960s college music without thinking about Up With People!  Wholesomeness people, wholesomeness!

This album collecting is addictive - especially when albums usually sell for a buck.



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9 comments:

  1. Sara In AZMarch 25, 2012 at 7:19 PM

    ALL fingers and toes crossed for you scoring that gaudy shadowbox!!! :D Love all those album covers too!

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    1. Uncle AtomMarch 26, 2012 at 12:49 PM

      Thanks Sara, we both know persistence pays :-)

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  2. BeccalinaMarch 25, 2012 at 10:10 PM

    Very nice! I love the idea of albums as art! How are these hung?

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    1. Uncle AtomMarch 26, 2012 at 12:51 PM

      The records are hung on clear plastic Y-shaped LP holders I found a few years ago on eBay - seller is "dsmyser" and I've bought from him a few times over the past several years. They're not super cheap, but quality is good, made in USA, and they're less expensive than the frames you can buy lots of places.

      I like them because they're almost invisible. You have to be careful when hanging them - I recommend using a very light weight hammer like an upholsterers hammer because one hole for a nail or long tack is close to an upturned tab that will crack or break if hit by a hammer.

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  3. SusieQTMarch 26, 2012 at 2:28 PM

    I have some of those same albums. In many instances, the cover art is a lot better than the music! Have fun in Adamstown- we were there last fall and had a blast.

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  4. Nick KlausMarch 27, 2012 at 5:16 AM

    Every now and again I find a really cool record like that at the goodwill. I might have to start buying them now.

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  5. AnonymousApril 1, 2012 at 9:38 AM

    Great collection!

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  6. Amber Von FeltsApril 8, 2012 at 12:34 AM

    And how about that party on Mad Men! Wooowee, the Bijoux Bijoux song! I really like your Twist Albums. Isn't album cover art the best! I found one the other day called How to Strip for Your Husband! Va va voom. I bet ol' Don Draper & his new wifey would like that one!

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  7. Floyd LawsonMay 9, 2012 at 10:23 AM

    Thanks Uncle Atom – Love the album covers! Who knew that families could have so much fun sitting at home dressed up and singing ;)

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