Cover Art Of The Month - March 2001
Ralph Marterie and his Marlboro Men - Music For A Private Eye LP
Dig this moody noir cover. When I bought this LP, there was a receipt still inside from the original purchase at a Sacramento record store in 1960. The owner paid $3.47 for it, so I guess it wasn't all that great an investment in terms of return on the dollar. But it's got all the elements of a fine package - cool lettering, sultry gals, and a swingin' Ralph Marterie in a Marlowe getup. As the liner notes say, "All the evidence points to one thing in this album: GREAT LISTENING!" Indeed, the music is worth noting too - Pete Rugolo contributes strong arrangements of undercover tunes like M Squad, The Thin Man, 77 Sunset Strip, and Peter Gunn.