S E X

Released on October 21, 1992, to accompany Madonna’s fifth studio album Erotica (released a day earlier), Sex is a coffee table book like no other. Filled with soft-core pornographic images, she wrote the book as a character named “Mistress Dita”, inspired by the 1930’s film actress Dita Parlo. Shot  in New York City and Miami, the locations ranged from hotels and burlesque theaters, to the streets of Miami. The photographs were even stolen before publishing, but were quickly recovered. In spite mass controversy related to its release,  it was a commercial success with over 150,000 copies sold on the first day. Warner Bros was reluctant to allow Madonna to publish such a book, but gave in after forcing Madonna to sign a contract that forbade her from showing child pornography, bestiality and religious imagery.  Much to their surprise, Madonna founded the entertainment company, “Maverick” shortly there after, giving her total artistic control over any of the work released by Maverick, thus making the agreement she signed with Warner Bros obsolete. This is still one of the most sought after, out of print books, and Cloud 8 Records is proud to sell this mint condition copy here in the store.   Here is a small sample of one of the greatest post-feminist art pieces of our time.

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Happy Memorial Day

Today is the holiday that kicks off summer! Here are some great classics we have to offer. Perfect soundtracks for your poolside shenanigans!

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We Laughed and Laughed

If you haven’t enjoyed comedy via vinyl, you’re missing out! Some of our favorite, raunchiest, comedies from the vaults of Cloud 8.

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(Top Left) Lenny Bruce’s American is a must have for Bill Hicks fans.  Lenny, who was put on trial in 1964 for his obscene methods of social critique and satire, was forced into bankruptcy, and died from morphine overdose in 1966.  Known for his performances to be at their best when he was at his worst, by the time he passed, he had been blacklisted by nearly every nightclub in the United States.  On December 23, 2003, 37 years after his death, New York Governor George Pataki, granted Lenny Bruce a posthumous pardon for his obscenity conviction.

(Bottom Left) The third album released by Richard Pryor, “That Nigger’s Crazy” was recorded live at Don Cornelius’ Soul Train nightclub in 1974.  It won him a Grammy for Best Comedy Album and maintained a spot at #1 on Billboard music charts for four weeks.

(Top Right) Brother Dave Gardner, Kick Thy Own Self, released in 1960 on RCA, after being discovered by Chet Atkins.  Gardner was known for his “beatnik” style comedy and one-liner zings…  “folks used to pray to God for rain, and now they call Washington,”, “Say, a Democrat is somebody who expects somethin’ fer nothin’, and a Republican is somebody who expects nothin’ fer somethin’, an’ a Independent is a cat that greases his own car,” and “If I were bound by either party, well then, I might ferget America,”

(Bottom Right) A spin off from National Lampoon Magazine, “That’s Not Funny That’s Sick!” was released in 1977 on vinyl and is a collection of sketches from National Lampoon Radio Hour running Nov. 17, 1973 to Dec. 28, 1974.  Performers include Richard Belzer, Christopher Guest, Bill Murray, Mel Brooks, and Paul Shaffer.