Primitive Cover Artwork
Welcome to a gallery of glorious roughness. Primitive Cover Artwork celebrates the raw, the hand-drawn, the awkwardly charming visuals that graced some of Canada’s most obscure and endearing releases. From crayon scrawls to cut-and-paste photocopy jobs, these covers are pure outsider art—bold, DIY, and bursting with personality. They may not be polished, but they’re unforgettable. Sometimes ugly, often beautiful, always authentic.
Original label from LP
Papa Bears Medicine Show Jacket back
Marlo Lutia 1984 handbill from New Brunswick
Marlo Lutia 1984 handbill foldout from New Brunswick
Original Bones Jacket BACK
Original Bones Liner Notes SIDE 01
Lawn - Peace in the Valley insert 01
Lawn - Peace in the Valley insert 02
Joker's Memory - ST
Joker's Memory - label (one-sided)
David Scott Markel - ST
No Exit - ST
Tracks
| Artist | Track | Title | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blind Owl | Nova Scotia Morning | ST | 04:27 | |
| Blind Owl | Happy To Be Alive | ST | 03:16 | |
| Blind Owl | Spring Rain | ST | 05:05 | |
| Blind Owl | Hooked On You | ST | 03:02 | |
| Blind Owl | Open Your Window | ST | 04:08 | |
| Blind Owl | The Old Man | ST | 03:33 | |
| Blind Owl | Roads | ST | 05:11 | |
| Blind Owl | Some Tears You Have To Cry | ST | 03:01 | |
| Blind Owl | Song To the Wind | ST | 03:06 | |
| Blind Owl | Lingering Dreams | ST | 04:38 | |
| Da Slyme | squeeze my blackhead | ST | 02:35 | |
| Da Slyme | Defacation On The Nation | ST | 01:10 | |
| Da Slyme | Trudeau Sucks | ST | 00:58 | |
| Garden Bower | Folsom Prison Blues | Etc. w/ Trains | 02:27 | |
| Garden Bower | You’ve Got Me On Fire | Etc. w/ Trains | 02:29 | |
| Garden Bower | Lord I’m Tired | Etc. w/ Trains | 02:36 | |
| Garden Bower | O Pretty Angela Pretty Angela | Etc. w/ Trains | 04:03 | |
| Garden Bower | Gord’s Dream | Etc. w/ Trains | 06:39 | |
| Garden Bower | 18 Bricker | Etc. w/ Trains | 02:47 | |
| Garden Bower | This Woman (live) | Etc. w/ Trains | 03:29 | |
| Garden Bower | Lonesome Bill’s Blues | Etc. w/ Trains | 02:40 | |
| Joker's Memory | A Jokers Memory Part One | ST | 08:29 | |
| Joker's Memory | A Jokers Memory Part Two | ST | 07:14 | |
| Joker's Memory | A Jokers Memory Part Three | ST | 03:35 | |
| Lauzon, Marlo & Lutia | Ticky Tock | ST | 00:57 | |
| Lauzon, Marlo & Lutia | Sweet Summer Day | ST | 02:19 | |
| Lauzon, Marlo & Lutia | Bird Woman of Bath | ST | 03:25 | |
| Lauzon, Marlo & Lutia | Café Symphony | ST | 03:22 | |
| Lauzon, Marlo & Lutia | Modigliani | ST | 03:06 | |
| Lauzon, Marlo & Lutia | The Undertaker's Ball | ST | 02:54 | |
| Lauzon, Marlo & Lutia | O Come | ST | 01:47 | |
| Lauzon, Marlo & Lutia | Doctor Norman Bethune | ST | 07:19 | |
| Lauzon, Marlo & Lutia | Silhouette | ST | 03:07 | |
| Lauzon, Marlo & Lutia | Bird She Fly Low | ST | 03:50 | |
| Lauzon, Marlo & Lutia | Madonna | ST | 02:59 | |
| Lauzon, Marlo & Lutia | Rainbow | ST | 03:32 | |
| Lewin, Philip John | Unusual Day | Am I Really Here All Alone? | 04:36 | |
| Lewin, Philip John | King of Queens | Am I Really Here All Alone? | 01:20 | |
| Lewin, Philip John | Watercolours | Am I Really Here All Alone? | 03:27 | |
| Lewin, Philip John | Back Home, To You | Am I Really Here All Alone? | 05:06 | |
| Lewin, Philip John | The Magic Within You | Am I Really Here All Alone? | 04:11 | |
| Lewin, Philip John | Touch | Am I Really Here All Alone? | 06:31 | |
| Lewin, Philip John | Sweet Georgia's Got to be Home Tonight | Am I Really Here All Alone? | 04:40 | |
| Lewin, Philip John | Soul of the Lady | Am I Really Here All Alone? | 03:13 | |
| Lewin, Philip John | The Momentary Lie | Am I Really Here All Alone? | 01:43 | |
| Lewin, Philip John | Time is Passing | Am I Really Here All Alone? | 02:48 | |
| Lewin, Philip John | Am I Really Here All Alone? | Am I Really Here All Alone? | 02:18 | |
| Lyle, John and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats | Rivers of Stone | Bootleg Powerhead | 03:38 | |
| Lyle, John and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats | Fric Chic | Bootleg Powerhead | 02:25 | |
| Lyle, John and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats | Kath Ross | Bootleg Powerhead | 03:06 | |
| Lyle, John and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats | Lies are Only Letters | Bootleg Powerhead | 02:17 | |
| Lyle, John and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats | Waves of Love | Bootleg Powerhead | 01:39 | |
| Lyle, John and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats | Come All Over | Bootleg Powerhead | 03:58 | |
| Lyle, John and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats | Keep the Banners Flying | Bootleg Powerhead | 02:01 | |
| Lyle, John and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats | Hello Buddy (recorded stoned - out live at "zero test") | Bootleg Powerhead | 06:12 | |
| Lyle, John and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats | Deathless Song | Bootleg Powerhead | 02:28 | |
| Lyle, John and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats | The Showdown Might be Tragedy | Bootleg Powerhead | 03:45 | |
| Lyle, John and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats | Lose | Bootleg Powerhead | 05:28 | |
| Lyle, John and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats | Lost in the Dream | Bootleg Powerhead | 02:58 | |
| Moore, Jeff & Friends | Both Sides (Jeff Moore) | The Youngest Son | 02:52 | |
| Moore, Jeff & Friends | For You (Jeff Moore) | The Youngest Son | 02:59 | |
| Moore, Jeff & Friends | Blind Man (Christina Becker) | The Youngest Son | 02:25 | |
| Moore, Jeff & Friends | Is It You (Jeff Moore) | The Youngest Son | 01:59 | |
| Moore, Jeff & Friends | Flying So High (Christina Becker) | The Youngest Son | 04:46 | |
| Moore, Jeff & Friends | Sandy's Song (Jeff Moore) | The Youngest Son | 03:34 | |
| Moore, Jeff & Friends | Call Me When It's Over (Jeff Moore) | The Youngest Son | 06:04 | |
| Moosetracks | Lost In A Southern Town | ST | 02:57 | |
| Moosetracks | Judith Wills | ST | 02:28 | |
| Moosetracks | Someone on the Line | ST | 04:40 | |
| Moosetracks | Happily Day Is Done | ST | 02:57 | |
| Moosetracks | Down Young Street | ST | 04:26 | |
| Moosetracks | Hangman | ST | 02:53 | |
| Moosetracks | Cry A Little Tear | ST | 03:26 | |
| Moosetracks | This Place is No Place to be Happy | ST | 04:06 | |
| Moosetracks | Lest We Forget | ST | 03:50 | |
| Moosetracks | Airplane Over the Rockies | ST | 01:21 | |
| Moosetracks | Sophie | ST | 02:05 | |
| No Exit | Downtown Weekend | ST | 02:14 | |
| No Exit | No Exit | ST | 02:41 | |
| No Exit | When Will They Learn? | ST | 01:28 | |
| No Exit | Energy Crisis | ST | 01:40 | |
| No Exit | Parliament Swindle | ST | 01:30 | |
| No Exit | Decisions | ST | 01:29 | |
| No Exit | Do You Wanna Join? | ST | 02:01 | |
| No Exit | Bureaucracy | ST | 01:46 | |
| No Exit | They'll Never Know | ST | 02:26 | |
| No Exit | Decisions | ST | 22:40 | |
| Original Bones | Drop Down Mama | ST | 03:22 | |
| Original Bones | Say it With gentle | ST | 03:38 | |
| Original Bones | I Went Walkin' | ST | 03:43 | |
| Original Bones | One More Night | ST | 02:05 | |
| Original Bones | Sit Down | ST | 03:24 | |
| Original Bones | Rollin' Over | ST | 03:09 | |
| Original Bones | Friend of the Devil | ST | 03:28 | |
| Original Bones | Lady Anne | ST | 03:05 | |
| Original Bones | The Verses of the Fool | ST | 02:14 | |
| Original Bones | Steamboat Whistle Blues | ST | 03:03 | |
| Original Bones | Song for Pierre Laporte | ST | 03:53 | |
| Original Bones | Tom Greene County Fair | ST | 02:21 | |
| Original Bones | Itchy Blues | ST | 03:33 | |
| Papa Bears Medicine Show | Wait and See | ST | 04:00 | |
| Papa Bears Medicine Show | O.K. | ST | 03:41 | |
| Papa Bears Medicine Show | Golden Girl | ST | 03:56 | |
| Papa Bears Medicine Show | Taking My Time | ST | 02:13 | |
| Papa Bears Medicine Show | Baroque | ST | 02:50 | |
| Papa Bears Medicine Show | Soul Kitchen | ST | 13:55 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | The Circle is Changin' Around | ST | 01:55 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Could She Fly | ST | 04:01 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | To Whisper Out Your Name | ST | 02:35 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Southern Lady | ST | 02:24 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Goin' Thru the Town | ST | 02:03 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Hey Hoe | ST | 02:40 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Livin' Love | ST | 03:11 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | A Better Way | ST | 01:39 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Could it Be | ST | 03:03 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | House Song | ST | 03:38 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Daddy's 100 Proof | ST | 01:13 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | I Don't Know For Certain | ST | 01:56 | |
| Huckle | April | Upon a Once Time (hand-painted cover) | 02:11 | |
| Huckle | Flowers | Upon a Once Time (hand-painted cover) | 03:09 | |
| Huckle | Get Down | Upon a Once Time (hand-painted cover) | 04:11 | |
| Huckle | Beyonder | Upon a Once Time (hand-painted cover) | 04:25 | |
| Huckle | The Sunshine Shuffle | Upon a Once Time (hand-painted cover) | 03:32 | |
| Huckle | Hello Sunshine | Upon a Once Time (hand-painted cover) | 02:27 | |
| Huckle | Good Morning | Upon a Once Time (hand-painted cover) | 02:53 | |
| Huckle | Lady Goldberry | Upon a Once Time (hand-painted cover) | 02:31 | |
| Huckle | Gabriola Day | Upon a Once Time (hand-painted cover) | 05:23 | |
| Huckle | Minstrel Song | Upon a Once Time (hand-painted cover) | 03:26 | |
| Huckle | Ocean | Upon a Once Time (hand-painted cover) | 03:42 | |
| Quite Ridiculous Nonsense | General Attitude | A Failure… (picture sleeve) | 02:26 | |
| Quite Ridiculous Nonsense | Appropriate Blocks | A Failure… (picture sleeve) | 03:02 | |
| Quite Ridiculous Nonsense | Boredom | A Failure… (picture sleeve) | 03:09 | |
| Quite Ridiculous Nonsense | Identity Crisis | A Failure… (picture sleeve) | 01:45 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | Small Man | Toad | 03:21 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | Apple Annie | Toad | 02:31 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | Believe Me | Toad | 03:20 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | Who Do You Love | Toad | 03:22 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | October Morning | Toad | 02:20 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | Suzanne | Toad | 04:52 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | I Need a Friend | Toad | 02:12 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | By the Way | Toad | 02:59 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | Sometimes You Ain't Got Nothin Boy | Toad | 02:34 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | Just to Hear the Bells | Toad | 03:28 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | Portrait for Marianne | Toad | 02:13 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | High Flying Bird | Toad | 02:27 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | Young Face | Toad | 01:53 | |
| Jeremy Dormouse | Baby Blue | Toad | 03:31 | |
| Intersystems | track 06 (entire side 2) | Free Psychadelic Poster Inside | 22:24 | |
| Intersystems | track 01 (entire side 1) | Free Psychadelic Poster Inside | 27:30 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Daddy's 100 Proof | ST | 01:13 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | I Don't Know For Certain | ST | 01:56 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | House Song | ST | 03:38 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Could it Be | ST | 03:03 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | A Better Way | ST | 01:39 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Livin' Love | ST | 03:11 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Hey Hoe | ST | 02:40 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Goin' Thru the Town | ST | 02:03 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Southern Lady | ST | 02:24 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | To Whisper Out Your Name | ST | 02:35 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | Could She Fly | ST | 04:01 | |
| Scott Markle, Derek | The Circle is Changin' Around | ST | 01:55 | |
| Bishop, Randy | Tragi-Comedy in Four Acts: Act 1) In Honour of a Dissonant Triad; Act 1) A Tale Told By An Idiot; Act 3) Who Was That Unmasked Man?; Act 4) Morning | I Sing A Soft Song | 13:40 | |
| Bishop, Randy | Childhood Song to Christopher Robin | I Sing A Soft Song | 03:45 | |
| Bishop, Randy | Wonderful Angel | I Sing A Soft Song | 02:35 | |
| Bishop, Randy | Two Jugglers | I Sing A Soft Song | 02:55 | |
| Bishop, Randy | I Sing a Soft Song | I Sing A Soft Song | 03:04 | |
| Bishop, Randy | Lillipads | I Sing A Soft Song | 03:11 | |
| Bishop, Randy | (A World of) Black And Brown | I Sing A Soft Song | 02:57 | |
| Bishop, Randy | Felicitas | I Sing A Soft Song | 04:26 | |
| Nébu | Sibylle | Motus… | 06:00 | |
| Nébu | Morceau en forme de Pierre | Motus… | 07:22 | |
| Nébu | Abaque | Motus… | 04:03 | |
| Nébu | Motus | Motus… | 10:17 | |
| Nébu | Eboulements | Motus… | 07:49 | |
| Nébu | Quatre a quatre | Motus… | 08:26 | |
| Hadley, Bob | The First Snowfall | Raven | 02:44 | |
| Hadley, Bob | Chorale From Beethoven's Ninth Symphony | Raven | 02:13 | |
| Hadley, Bob | Wreck of the Last Steam Engine Train | Raven | 03:05 | |
| Hadley, Bob | Reflections on English Bay | Raven | 03:22 | |
| Hadley, Bob | Summer and Fall | Raven | 02:45 | |
| Hadley, Bob | Sue | Raven | 02:15 | |
| Hadley, Bob | Blackberry Picking | Raven | 03:54 | |
| Hadley, Bob | Harvest Time | Raven | 02:17 | |
| Hadley, Bob | Come All Ye Fair and Tender Maidens | Raven | 02:38 | |
| Hadley, Bob | Day After Pay Day | Raven | 03:15 | |
| Ragtime Ralph | The Going Away Song | Volume 4 | 03:48 | |
| Ragtime Ralph | Radiation from the Station | Volume 4 | 03:12 | |
| Ragtime Ralph | Walking on the Tracks | Volume 4 | 03:58 | |
| Ragtime Ralph | Ragtime Piece in G | Volume 4 | 02:24 | |
| Ragtime Ralph | The Serpentine - Nico Mekl Rivers Flood Plain Blues | Volume 4 | 03:36 | |
| Ragtime Ralph | Travis McGee on the Ice Road | Volume 4 | 03:50 | |
| Ragtime Ralph | White Christmas | Volume 4 | 03:49 | |
| Ragtime Ralph | Cloudburst | Volume 4 | 03:18 | |
| Ragtime Ralph | Cast Your Fate to the Wind | Volume 4 | 02:14 | |
| Ragtime Ralph | Desert Rat Blues | Volume 4 | 04:03 | |
| Ragtime Ralph | Texas Tomatoes | Volume 4 | 03:04 | |
| Ragtime Ralph | Badlands Blake | Volume 4 | 03:03 | |
| Gargoyle | Doug Watters - Five Poems (instrumentation by Paul Lang) | ST | 01:43 | |
| Gargoyle | Ian Young - A Childhood in South Africa: The Veld Near Ladybrand | ST | 01:53 | |
| Gargoyle | Ian Young - 8th and 25th of December 1969 | ST | 01:00 | |
| Gargoyle | Barry Hunter - I Got That Feeling | ST | 02:14 | |
| Gargoyle | George Dawber - Remembering Morris | ST | 01:55 | |
| Gargoyle | Larry Smith - I'm Gonna Love You | ST | 02:41 | |
| Gargoyle | Bill Reach - The Journey Home (Doug Hamilton, guitar; Tim Inkster, bongos) | ST | 03:06 | |
| Gargoyle | Barry Hunter - Learning How to Love | ST | 02:14 | |
| Gargoyle | Brian Dunfield - Too Late | ST | 01:45 | |
| Gargoyle | Ron Puschak - Ballad of Simon Legree | ST | 04:39 | |
| Gargoyle | Ian Young - Child of the Sea | ST | 01:21 | |
| Gargoyle | Jon Craneman Karsemeyer- What Is (read by Doug Watters) | ST | 01:27 | |
| Gargoyle | John Naslen - Varsity Blues (background by David King, Rick Williams, and John King) | ST | 02:39 | |
| Gargoyle | Doug Watters and Paul Lang - History of the World (occasional percussion by Tim Inkster) | ST | 09:11 | |
| Lawn | Shady Street | Peace in the Valley | 03:59 | |
| Lawn | As Yet | Peace in the Valley | 02:58 | |
| Lawn | Over the Top | Peace in the Valley | 03:00 | |
| Lawn | Peace in the Valley | Peace in the Valley | 03:37 | |
| Lawn | Jet Pack | Peace in the Valley | 05:41 | |
| Lawn | Catwalk Slip | Peace in the Valley | 03:24 | |
| Lawn | Don`t Ask | Peace in the Valley | 03:43 | |
| Lawn | Reconsider Baby | Peace in the Valley | 03:58 | |
| Lawn | Beluger | Peace in the Valley | 03:46 | |
| Lawn | Rites | Peace in the Valley | 03:48 |
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