BYG Actuel Jazz LP Covers

So I’m in a bit of a purging phase, going through the stacks of records and books here trying to determine what’s essential and what can be parted with. When confronted with the small collection of BYG Actuel LPs I accumulated a while ago I had to balance their hipness factor (high) with the number of times I’ve listened to them in, say, the last five years (low). BYG was the Parisian home for a number of adventurous artists from the US and elsewhere in the late 60s, issuing a string of records that only the bravest of American labels (Impulse, for a minute, was approaching there; Blue Note, for a second) would contemplate releasing. Known for their striking, semi-uniform front covers, I’d forgotten how great the back covers were, often a dramatic full-bleed shot of the artist in question. So here’s a little salute to them. (I’m holding on to Don Cherry’s Mu parts 1 & 2 – brilliant minimalism that still sounds fine today.) (And if you need any of these for YOUR collection, you can place a bid on eBay until April 7 at 7 PM PST!)

(related posts: Vintage Jazz Record Covers, More Vintage Jazz Record Covers, Brazilian LP Covers, More Brazilian LP Covers, Reggae 45s, Reggae 45s Part 2, LP Cover Bonanza, Record Covers: Global Tour)