Oz magazine no. 15, October 1968
I would imagine that in the late ‘60s it was the rare college dormitory or commune indeed that couldn’t boast at least a couple examples of the higgledy-piggledy masterpieces of Martin Sharp. In addition to designing the covers of Cream’s second and third albums, Disraeli Gears and Wheels of Fire, Sharp also produced many iconic psychedelic artworks featuring the images of Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Jimi Hendrix, and Donovan, among others. The cover for Disraeli Gears is routinely hailed as one of the finest album covers of all time—there can be little doubt that Sharp captured in visual terms the lysergic essence of one of the greatest psychedelic rock albums ever produced.
A native of Australia, Sharp was one of the people who established the legendary underground magazine Oz, contributing a great many memorable and cheeky covers. The magazine was founded in 1962, but in 1966 Sharp and editor-in-chief Richard Neville headed for London to start the U.K. version, which was considerably popular and influential. While in London, Sharp met a musician named Eric Clapton at The Speakeasy and ended up co-writing the Cream song “Tales of Brave Ulysses” with him. The song appeared on Disraeli Gears and was the B-side to “Strange Brew.” Sharp was flatmates in a sprawling London mansion with Clapton when he designed his Cream covers.
When one looks at his works, Sharp is one of the few psychedelic artists who doesn’t seem particularly hemmed in by the genre. His draftsmanship and artistic flexibility are impressive, as is his irreverent wit—just check out his treatment of the Mona Lisa for proof of that. His Cream album covers and his work for Oz seem like the work of the same person, and yet aren’t particularly alike.
Australian blogger Michael Organ has an excellent overview of his early career.
Martin Sharp, during the Oz years
Disraeli Gears
Wheels of Fire
Mister Tambourine Man, 1966
Max (The Birdman) Ernst, 1967
‘Exploding’ Jimi Hendrix poster, 1967
Below, Martin Sharp’s Street Of Dreams, a feature length impressionistic documentary on iconic weirdo Vaudevillian, Tiny Tim, and featuring Sharp’s designs at Australia’s Luna Park.
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
Rope Ladder to the Moon: Solo genius from Cream’s Jack Bruce
‘Rope Ladder to the Moon’: Jack Bruce creates his post-Cream masterpiece, ‘Song for a Tailor’