Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band – Gorilla album art
Liberty Records LBL 83056 mono (UK, 1967)
“GORILLA – Dedicated to Kong who must have been a great bloke”. First studio album of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, also known as the Bonzo Dog Band.
The cover from 1967 either represents an early use of Epic / Hollywood aka Cinema, or it is lettering and might have inspired these typefaces — Epic was around at least since 1968. In any case, the perspective shadow effect is custom. In both typefaces, the long shade is to the left side for all letters. None of the scarce showings of Hollywood/ Cinema or Epic that I’ve seen includes a wide low-waisted A or a G without top serif as featured here. Then again, those are quick-to-make modifications for a lettering artist. The iconic wordmark was maintained for several reissues. While its position and colors were adjusted over and over—and the band name inside the O was shortened at some point—, the shaded letterforms stayed the same.
The fat ultra-contrasted Art Deco style used for the band name might likewise be custom drawn or derived from an obscure predigital typeface. The album art was designed by band member Vivian Stanshall.
Imperial Records LP 12370 Stereo (USA, 1968)
Band logo on inner sleeve, Imperial. It’s not clear whether this is a typeface or lettering.
Sunset Records SLS 50160 (UK, 1970)
United Artists reissue in “The Pop File” series (UK, 1980)
