K Tel Records Appraisal

K-Tel's Block Buster 20 Original Hits Original Stars

The item is a vintage K-Tel's 'Block Buster' compilation album, likely a vinyl LP given its square shape and size, typical of record covers. The cover art features a vibrant design with a red background fading to yellow at the bottom, overlaid with large, bold white text that reads 'BLOCK BUSTER' and smaller yellow text '20 original hits original stars'. The prominent K-Tel logo is visible in the top right corner, and 'A Peterandalb.tv Album' is visible at the top left. The album cover features several circular inset images of various musical artists from the era, including what appears to be rock bands and solo artists, consistent with a compilation of 'original stars'. A list of featured artists is partially visible along the left and bottom edges, including names like War, Average White Band, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Alice Cooper, Hollies, David Loggins, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Sammy Johns, Frankie Valli, and Kool & The Gang, indicating a diverse selection of genres from the 1970s. This suggests the album dates to the mid-to-late 1970s. The physical condition shows visible signs of wear, including creasing, edge wear, and corner damage, particularly in the top left corner, which is bent and shows a tear or fraying. There are also scuffs and discoloration on the surface, consistent with age and typical handling of record albums. The glossy finish of the cover, if originally present, appears to be diminished in areas. No specific manufacturing details or unique markings beyond the K-Tel branding are clearly discernible from the single image, but K-Tel was known for its ubiquitous television-advertised compilation albums. The craftsmanship is typical of mass-produced records from the era, focusing on vibrant, eye-catching cover art to attract buyers rather than intricate artistic detail in the physical construction. Despite the wear, the album cover largely retains its original colors and theme, which defines its aesthetic and historical context as a significant piece of popular music merchandising from the 1970s.