More of the Best of Jerry Butler: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A 33 1/3 rpm promotional copy of a record album titled, More of the Best of Jerry Butler, by Jerry Butler and featuring Betty Everett. This object is comprised of a vinyl disc (a) of the long-playing record, an album cover (b), and a paper sleeve (c).

2015.172.65a: The vinyl record has a white and blue circular label at the center with black and blue text and a graphic. At the top of the label is the album title, [MORE OF THE BEST OF / JERRY BUTLER], followed by the catalog number, [VJLP-1119], the side number, and the text [Long Playing – Microgroove]. To the left and right of the center hole are identical blue logos for Vee-Jay records: the text [VJ / VEE-JAY / RECORDS] inside blue brackets. Above and below the center hole are the track listings. The tracks on Side 1 include: [I Stand Accused], [I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore], [Giving Up On Love], [Need To Belong], [Strawberries], and [Let It Be Me]. Side 1 is identical to Side 2. The tracks on Side 2 include: [Just A Little Bit], [Smile], [Message To Martha], [Motherless Child], [Just Be True], and [Ain't That Loving You Baby].

2015.172.65b: The front of the album cover features a full sized photograph of Butler seated on a large rock. He is depicted in profile, facing the left edge of the image. His proper right leg is extended in front of him, and he is seated upright with his arms wrapped around his proper left knee, which is slightly raised. Butler is wearing dark pants and an olive green sweater over a white dress shirt. He has a pipe in his mouth, and he is looking into the distance. In the background are four skyscrapers set against a clear blue sky. Printed inside a black band at the top, center of the cover is the album title, [MORE OF THE BEST OF / JERRY BUTLER], printed in white and light blue text. The title is framed on either side with blue semicircles. Printed below on the left is a thin black outlined box with black text inside that reads [WITH SPECIAL GUEST / APPEARANCE OF / BETTY EVERETT]. Printed in black text along the left edge of the cover are the album’s track listings. Along the top right edge is the blue logo for Vee-Jay records: the text [VJ / VEE-JAY / RECORDS] inside blue brackets. In the top right corner is a white adhesive price sticker with [4 15 / 3.99] printed on it. The back of the album is white with black text and black-and-white photographs. Large text printed at the top of the album reads [THE GREAT SOUND OF POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT ARE ON] followed by the Vee-Jay Records logo. Printed inside two large brackets below are liner notes on the left and track listings on the right. Below, additional text that reads [OTHER FINE RECORDSING THAT WILL ENTERTAIN YOU], are small images of four other Jerry Butler album covers with the title, artists’ names, and track listings below. Printed in small text at the bottom of the cover is a mailing address to obtain a Vee-Jay Records picture catalog.

2015.172.65c: A red and white paper sleeve with advertisement for Vee-Jay Records.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1965
• Published by: Vee-Jay Records, American, founded 1950
• Recorded by: Jerry Butler Jr., American, born 1939
• Recorded by: Betty Everett, American, 1939 - 2001
• Designed by: George S. Whiteman, American
• Type: record covers
• Type: long-playing records
• Medium: (2015.172.65a): vinyl with ink on paper
• Medium: (2015.172.65b): ink on cardboard
• Medium: (2015.172.65c): ink on paper
• Dimensions: Diameter (a. vinyl disc): 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (b. cardboard jacket): 4 7/8 × 5 1/16 in. (12.3 × 12.8 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (c. paper sleeve): 4 3/4 × 4 3/4 in. (12 × 12 cm)
• Place collected: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place made: Jamaica, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Funk (Music)
• Topic: Music
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Topic: Soul (Music)
• Object number: 2015.172.65abc
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Concord Music Group, Inc Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.