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Pee Wee Russell Jazz Ensemble. side 1: I'd Climb the Highest Mountain; side 2: Red Hot Mama (Disc 5055), from the album, Pee Wee Russell Jazz Ensemble (Disc 632).
78 rpm.

Album cover illustration was by David Stone Martin (born David Livingstone Martin, 1913-1992). Martin was an American artist best known for his illustrations on jazz album covers for labels including Mercury, Asch, Disc, and Dial. Many of his commissions were from Martin’s longtime friend, American jazz record producer and concert promoter Norman Granz (1918-2001).

Original artwork, of page 6 and 7, for the book Let's Go Shopping with Peter and Penny, written and illustrated by Lenora Fees Combes and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1948.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1919, Lenora Fees Combes pursued a career in art and writing. She graduated from the Cleveland School of Art where she studied painting and illustration and her work was exhibited at the Chicago Museum of Art in 1940. In addition to illustrating children's books, she worked as an interior designer, painted murals and designed wallpaper. Combes also worked for a time with CBS and contributed stories to children's magazines.

side 1: Celeste Holm with Oklahoma Orchestra. I Can't Say No; side 2: Alfred Drake and Howard da Silva with Oklahoma Orchestra. Pore Jud Is Daid (Decca 23286), from the album, Oklahoma! (Decca A-359). 78 rpm.

This album is from the 1943 Broadway musical Oklahoma!, with book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and music by Richard Rogers. Oklahoma! opened on March 31, 1943 at the St. James Theatre and ran for 2,212 performances.

Original artwork, of page 38, for the book, Two Little Miners, written by Margaret Wise Brown with illustrations by Richard Scarry, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1949. Two Little Miners is part of the Little Golden Books Civic Series. These books introduced young children to the everyday working man, fundamental occupations and essential public service jobs such as policeman, fireman and postman.

Scarry's physical depiction of the two miners and some of the elements depicted in the home scenes are reminiscent of immigrants from southern Europe. According to the online resource, eWV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia, “individuals of Italian extraction constitute one of the most important ethnic groups in West Virginia’s population. Most of these Italian Americans date their connection with the state to ancestors who were recruited during the early years of the 20th century to serve the labor needs of West Virginia’s rapidly developing industrial economy. With more than 17,000 Italian immigrants in the state by 1910, they made up 30 percent of West Virginia’s foreign-born population.”

“The great majority of Italian immigrants were employed in the coal industry as pick-and-shovel miners. West Virginia mines were among the most mechanized in this country, but miners born in America or northern Europe generally operated the new machines and usually earned better money, while their counterparts from less favored regions did the handwork.”

Better known for his animal characters and the Busytown series, Richard Scarry (1919-1994) was one of the most prolific 20th-century authors and illustrators of children’s books. He attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston until he was drafted into the army during World War II. After the war, Scarry worked as a freelance artist and contracted with Simon & Schuster to work on the Little Golden Book series. His first illustrations appeared in Two Little Miners, a 1949 story written by Margaret Wise Brown. Scarry’s most popular Little Golden Book was Best Word Book Ever, published in 1963. He published more than 500 children’s books, most depicting animals who took on human characteristics.

Earl Hines. side 1: 57 Varieties; side 2: I Ain't Got Nobody (Columbia 35875), from the album, Hot Jazz Classics - Earl Hines (Columbia C-41).
78 rpm. Both tracks were originally recorded in 1928 and released on Okeh 8653. This album was released in 1944.

The cover art for this album was made by Alex Steinweiss. Alexander “Alex” Steinweiss (1917-2011) was an American artist and graphic designer. He was the first art director of Columbia Records, expanding the use of album covers and cover art. Steinweiss created album cover art from 1938 to 1973.

side 1: Will Bradley Trio. Down the Road a Piece; side 2: Will Bradley and his Orchestra featuring Ray McKinley. Celery Stalks At Midnight (Columbia 36958), from the album, Will Bradley and his Orchestra featuring Ray McKinley, (Columbia C-123).
78 rpm. Both tracks were originally recorded in 1940 and released on Columbia 35707. The album was released in 1947.

The album art and design was created by George Howard Maas (1910-1998), an American commercial artist, graphic artist and designer, and art director. Originally from Kansas City, Maas studied at the University of Kansas at Lawrence. In 1939, he was employed as a painter in the WPA (Works Project Administration). By the early 1940s, Maas had moved to New York City where he continued his career with much success creating cover art for albums, book design and illustrations, and poster art.

Teddy Wilson. side 1: Cheek to Cheek; side 2: You're My Favorite Memory (Musicraft 369), from the album, Teddy Wilson Plays (Musicraft N7).
78 rpm.

The cover art for this album was made by Art Seiden (1923-2004) an American artist and illustrator best known for his illustrations for children’s books. Seiden illustrated over 300 books and was author and artist for more than 20 children’s books.

Kid Rena's Delta Jazz Band. side 1: Panama; side 2: High Society Rag (Circle J-1037), from the album, Kid Rena's Delta Jazzband (Circle S-10).
78 rpm. These recordings were made at the Hotel Roosevelt and recorded by local radio station WWL on August 21, 1940.

Album design and typography was by Jimmy Ernst (born Hans-Ulrich Ernst, 1920-1984), a German-born American painter.

side 1: South Pacific Orchestra. Overture: side 2: Mary Martin, Ezio Pinza, and Barbara Luna with South Pacific Orchestra. Finale (Columbia 4556-M), from the album, South Pacific (Columbia MM-850).
78 rpm.

This recording is of the Original Broadway cast for the 1949 musicalSouth Pacific, composed by Richard Rogers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. South Pacific opened at the Majestic Theatre on April 7, 1949, running for 1,925 performances. It received ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Libretto, including awards in all four acting categories for Mary Martin, Ezio Pinza, Juanita Hall, and Myron McCormick. In 1950, the musical won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.