Ask “Mr. Music”
Jerry Osborne



FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 12, 2001

DEAR JERRY: I have a Blind Faith album from the late '70s, that my friends seem to think is extremely rare.

It pictures a prepubescent girl on the cover, nude from the waist up. She's got reddish, frizzy hair and freckles, and is holding an extremely phallic model of a spaceship or plane.

My friends think this album was pulled from the shelves and replaced with a less offensive cover.

I personally don't remember rushing out to purchase this album within days of its release, so I'm doubtful that it was only on sale for a very limited time.

Do you know anything about its value or colorful history?
—Floragirl (floragirls@aol.com)

DEAR FLORAGIRL: Technically, your music loving friends are right; however, so are you. Confused? Let me explain.

When first issued, in the summer of 1969, the cover photo of this self-titled LP (Atco 304) is exactly as you describe — the nude young girl, pictured from the navel up, and her intriguing toy airplane. In what was an uncommon marketing move at the time, there is no text whatsoever on the front cover, not even the name of the band. Only the topless maiden, who, as you have surely noticed, was chosen neither for her attractiveness nor for her winning smile.

Naturally the cover caused a stir with the media, and probably the PTA, so Atco rush-reissued it with a complaisant photo of the band.

In spite of the negative publicity — or perhaps, in part, because of it — “Blind Faith” soon became the No. 1 selling album in the country.

In late 1976, RSO decided to reissue the LP with the original cover art. Since you indicate you bought your copy in the late '70s, it is most likely this edition (RSO 3016) that you own. This issue also charted, but just barely (pun intended).

Copies with a 1969 first issue cover sell for around $50.00; ones that picture the band, about $20.00; and those on RSO, just $8.00.


DEAR JERRY: I have a question about a lyric in John Lennon's “#9 Dream.” I refer specifically to the refrain that sounds like “I have become a simple song.”

I draw that inference from all the associated lyrics associates with music, but I'm not sure. What language is he singing and what are the whispers heard in the background?
—Dave Nicandri, Tumwater, Wa.

DEAR DAVE: I posed your interesting question to Beatles author and all around Fab Four expert, Perry Cox, and this is his reply:

“I'm not really sure what the foreign language is than John (and Yoko) are singing, but the whispering you hear is “NHOJ”

“Nhoj is of course, is John played (and spelled) backwards.

“As you know, with John, what appears to be a foreign language may just be his famous musical gibberish. He did that from time to time.”

DEAR JERRY: It is great to have you available to settle so many music debates and mysteries. Here is our contribution to your docket:

On the Teresa Brewer hit, “You'll Never Get Away,” there is a male singer. Who is he?

It sounds a bit like Alan Dale, but that's just a guess.
—Ruth Shauer, Tampa, Fla.

DEAR RUTH: For this Top 20 hit, from 1952 (Coral 60829), Tessie teams with fellow Coral stable mate, Don Cornell.

Coincidentally, Don Cornell does sing with Alan Dale, and Johnny Desmond, on a Top 10 hit the following year (1953): “Heart of My Heart.” Perhaps a fragment of this fact lodged in your memory.

No you know the truth, Ruth.

IZ ZAT SO? Britain's Blind Faith band remained together long enough to record one album, and that was about it. However, their members are all rock legends. They are: Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood, and Rick Grech.






Return to "Mr. Music" Home Page