Elvis Presley Portrait

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Image Description

Color photograph of Elvis Presley on a gray backdrop. 

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Popularly known as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King," Elvis Presley was perhaps the most important popularizer of rockabilly music. His massive popularity was partially due to his performance style and television appearances. He had 20 number one albums, including 4 compilations, and 31 number one hits before his death in 1977. In addition to his music recordings, he also starred in several films. 

Sources

Elvis the Music. (n.d.). Films. https://www.elvisthemusic.com/films/ 

Elvis the Music. (n.d.). Music. https://www.elvisthemusic.com/discography/releases/ 

Graceland: The Home of Elvis Presley. (n.d.). Elvis Presley biography. https://www.graceland.com/biography 

Marsh, D. (2024). Elvis Presley. In Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elvis-Presley 

Catalog ID MU0008

Eagles Hotel California

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Text on Button Hotel California
Image Description

Color photograph of buildings and palm trees. White script-style text on lower right portion of button. 

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Founded in Los Angeles, California during the early 1970s, The Eagles are a soft rock band comprised of four musicians: Bernie Leadon, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Randy Meisner. Of the four, Don Henley is the only founding member that remains with the group. The Eagles are known to be one of the most top-selling rock groups of all-time. Their fifth recording album Hotel California is one of the albums that contributed to this musical acclaim. It debuted in December of 1976, climbing to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts with the success of these three singles: Hotel California, Life in the Fast Lane, and New Kid in Town. Of them, Hotel California and New Kid in Town reached number one and earned the Eagles Grammy recognition.

Sources

Riddell, J. (2022, August 25). A brief history of the Eagles 1971-present. Wine, Travel, and Song. https://winetravelandsong.com/classic-albums-bands/eagles-band-history-1971-present/ 

Catalog ID MU0065

Don Alvin And His Merry Mad Gang

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Text on Button DON ALVIN & HIS MERRY MAD GANG BRANFORD
Image Description

White image of a maniacal conductor with baton raised. White text curved along edges of button. Sky blue background. 

Back Paper / Back Info

THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO. BUTTONS, BADGES, NOVELTIES, and SIGNS NEWARK, N.J. ALLIED PRINTING TRADES COUNCIL UNION LABEL NEWARK

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Don Alvin and his Merry, Mad Gang first performed at the Branford Theatre in Newark, New Jersey in February 1927. The Jewish Chronicle advertised the upcoming act as "the biggest innovation in years" and "new entertainment thrills for Newark." Don Alvin was a violinist, composer, and "humorist" and the Merry, Mad Gang was said to be made up of 30 people "who dance, sing, and supply syncopation in abundance." Don Alvin and his Merry, Mad Gang performed at the Branford Theatre for seven weeks. The group's musical acts included "That Night in Araby," "Canadian Capers," "At Palm Beach," "Lady Luck's Return," "So This is Paris," "East Side, West Side," and "A Night in Venice." 

Sources

The Jewish Chronicle. (1927, February 18). https://jhsnj-archives.org/?a=d&d=tjch19270218-01 

The Jewish Chronicle. (1927, February 25). https://jhsnj-archives.org/?a=d&d=tjch19270225-01 

The Jewish Chronicle. (1927, March 11). https://jhsnj-archives.org/?a=d&d=tjch19270311-01 

The Jewish Chronicle. (1927, March 18). https://jhsnj-archives.org/?a=d&d=tjch19270318-01 

The Jewish Chronicle. (1927, March 25). https://jhsnj-archives.org/?a=d&d=tjch19270325-01 

The Jewish Chronicle. (1927, April 1). https://jhsnj-archives.org/?a=d&d=tjch19270401-01 

The Jewish Chronicle. (1927, April 8). https://jhsnj-archives.org/?a=d&d=tjch19270408-01 

Catalog ID MU0042

Oh No It's Devo

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Text on Button oh, no! it's DEVO
Image Description

Lenticular button alternates between two images: 1) Black and white image of a man's face with hands covering eyes and mouth open as if in fear or surprise. Black text curved along upper portion of button, red, green, yellow, and purple text curved along bottom portion. Light green background. 2) color images of the five members of Devo, heads superimposed on russet potatoes. Light blue background. 

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DEVO is a New Wave band from Kent and Akron Ohio. Their best-known song is 1980's "Whip It," which reached number 14 on the Billboard charts. The song appeared on the album Freedom of Choice. The band is made up of two sets of brothers: Gerald and Bob Casale and Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, as well as drummer Alan Myers on the original lineup. While the band's sound has changed somewhat over the years, they combine element of kitch, surrealism, science fiction, and social satire into their music and performances. 

Oh No! It's Devo is the band's fifth studio album, which de-emphasized the guitar sound in favor of synthesizers. The album is somewhat controversial: responding to criticism from Rolling Stone, who called them "fascists" and "clowns" on separate occasions, this Devo album attempts to capture the essence of fascist clowns. 

Sources

Discogs. (n.d.). Devo- Oh, no! It's Devo. https://www.discogs.com/master/52741-Devo-Oh-No-Its-Devo 

Scully, Alan. (2010, June 30). Devo Is Like the House Band on the Titanic. Express Milwaukee. https://shepherdexpress.com/music/music-feature/devo-like-house-band-titanic/ 

Catalog ID MU0047

Devo

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Text on Button DEVO
Image Description

Lenticular button switches between two images: 1) A girl in a red jumper, arms oustretched, with an orange balloon above each hand. 2) Close up image of the same girl with balloons held in from of chest. Purple text on balloons. Red outer rim. 

Back Paper / Back Info

TM MUSIDOR B.V.

Vari-Vue by Pictoral Productions, INC. Mt. Vernon, N.Y., U.S.A. PAT NO. 2,815,310

ALMAGAMATED LITHORAPHERS OF AMERICA LOCAL NO.1 NEW YORK UNION LABEL

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Additional Information

DEVO is a New Wave band from Kent and Akron Ohio. Their best-known song is 1980's "Whip It," which reached number 14 on the Billboard charts. The song appeared on the album Freedom of Choice. The band is made up of two sets of brothers: Gerald and Bob Casale and Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, as well as drummer Alan Myers on the original lineup. While the band's sound has changed somewhat over the years, they combine elements of kitsch, surrealism, science fiction, and social satire into their music and performances. 

Sources

Devo. (2024, October 18). In Wikipedia. Retrieved November 2, 2024 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo 

Discogs. (n.d.). Devo- Freedom of choice. https://www.discogs.com/master/52677-Devo-Freedom-Of-Choice 

Catalog ID MU0064

Devo Freedom of Choice

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Text on Button Freedom of choice Devo
Image Description

Image of "Freedom of Choice" album cover: five band members wearing red conical hats against a blue background. 

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DEVO is a New Wave band from Kent and Akron Ohio. Their best-known song is 1980's "Whip It," which reached number 14 on the Billboard charts. The song appeared on the album Freedom of Choice. The band is made up of two sets of brothers: Gerald and Bob Casale and Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, as well as drummer Alan Myers on the original lineup. While the band's sound has changed somewhat over the years, they combine elements of kitsch, surrealism, science fiction, and social satire into their music and performances. 

Sources

Devo. (2024, October 18). In Wikipedia. Retrieved November 2, 2024 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo 

Discogs. (n.d.). Devo- Freedom of choice. https://www.discogs.com/master/52677-Devo-Freedom-Of-Choice 

Catalog ID MU0044

Def Leppard Blue and White

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Text on Button DEF LEPPARD
Image Description

Def Leppard triangle logo in white on a sky blue background. 

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Def Leppard is a British heavy metal/hair metal band formed in 1977. Their most successful album was 1987's Hysteria, which topped both the US and UK charts. The band's lead singer is Joe Elliot, but the most notable member is Rick Allen, who continued his role as drummer even after losing his arm in a car crash in 1984. 

Sources

Clash, J. (2021, November 21). Def Leppard's Rick Allen on the 1984 Corvette accident that took his arm. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/2021/11/21/def-leppards-rick-allen-on-the-1984-corvette-accident-that-took-his-arm/ 

Def Leppard. (n.d.). Band. https://defleppard.com/band/ 

 

Catalog ID MU0041

Bowie

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Text on Button BOWIE
Image Description

Black line image of David Bowie on a cream background. Faded red or pink text curved along lower right edge of button. 

Curl Text Made In Canada
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While best known for his music, David Bowie was also an actor and record producer. His career began in 1969 with the album Space Oddity, but he became most popular after 1972 when his glam-rock style and alter-ego Ziggy Stardust emerged. In 1976, he introduced a new persona, the Thin White Duke. Hit songs from his career include "Space Oddity," "Ashes to Ashes" and his work with Queen, "Under Pressure." Bowie passed away in 2016 at the age of 69 after an 18-month battle with cancer. 

Sources

David Bowie. (n.d.). About. https://www.davidbowie.com/about 

Catalog ID MU0053

David Bowie Eyes

Category
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Text on Button David Bowie
Image Description

Small oval color image of eyes centered on a black background. White text above image. 

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While best known for his music, David Bowie was also an actor and record producer. His career began in 1969 with the album Space Oddity, but he became most popular after 1972 when his glam-rock style and alter-ego Ziggy Stardust emerged. In 1976, he introduced a new persona, the Thin White Duke. Hit songs from his career include "Space Oddity," "Ashes to Ashes" and his work with Queen, "Under Pressure."

Sources

David Bowie. (n.d.). About. https://www.davidbowie.com/about

Catalog ID MU0015

David Bowie

Category
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Text on Button David Bowie
Image Description

Illustration of David Bowie in pastel tones with silhouette of a woman in background. Black text aligned at bottom center, all on white background. 

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While best known for his music, David Bowie was also an actor and record producer. His career began in 1969 with the album Space Oddity, but he became most popular after 1972 when his glam-rock style and alter-ego Ziggy Stardust emerged. In 1976, he introduced a new persona, the Thin White Duke. Hit songs from his career include "Space Oddity," "Ashes to Ashes" and his work with Queen, "Under Pressure." The image on this button is taken from his 1980 album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps).

Sources

David Bowie. (n.d.). About. https://www.davidbowie.com/about 

Discogs. (n.d.). David Bowie— Scary Monsters. https://www.discogs.com/master/30425-David-Bowie-Scary-Monsters 

Catalog ID MU0017