Welcome to this site dedicated to the wonderful record album art of Harvey.  The purpose of this site is to post images of as many Harvey album jackets as we can locate, and share information about the artist.

Throughout the 1960's Harvey produced paintings for the covers of Savoy Records and their subsidiaries Sharp, Regent, and Gospel. Most were gospel albums, but there were also a few jazz and one blues cover. With the help of many friends, I've identified 197.

The record jackets are signed on the front, "Harvey", and on the back of many of the records Harvey is given credit for the album art. No other name. We have been unable to learn the identity of the mysterious Harvey, although a lot of thought and effort has gone into trying. We've asked record collectors around the world, searched the Internet, contacted Savoy Records, and even tried sending images to art dealers in New York to see if any could identify the artist. Nothing. Where did all these paintings go?

There are theories about Harvey. An early one was that he might have been Bill Harvey, long time art director at Elektra Records. But this theory has been pretty well debunked.

Scholar/collector Eric Majette, Jr. spoke with Rev. Lawrence Roberts, long-time producer for Savoy Records. Rev. Roberts said that they never knew the identity of Harvey. Harvey lived in New York, and was very secretive. They would send him a title or concept and he would produce the painting. The paintings were not expensive, and they paid him in cash.

Gospel historian/radio host/blogger Bob Marovich also interviewed Rev. Roberts, asked him about Harvey, and heard a similar but slightly different story. Rev. Roberts indicated that he actually met with Harvey to discuss the album concepts, that he was a young man at the time, and Bob had the distinct impression that they were discussing someone of the caucasion persuasion. Bob also came up with the ingenious idea of seeking information from the Modern Box Co. of Newark, that printed the Savoy album covers. Out of business and no records. Another dead end.

I exchanged email some time back with an unidentified gentleman who claimed; "It is believed by gospel music historians that Harvey was Herman Lubinsky, the original owner/producer of Savoy Records." He said that the Harvey covers stopped when Fred Mendelsohn bought out Mr. Lubinsky. He further stated; "A professional artist did analyze these pictures and determined they were not done by a professional artist but by a male over the age of 65 years old." I've never heard this theory advanced by other knowledgeable people, but there was a mention on the Intoxica website that in a Japanese book of jazz albums the Harvey painting adorning the Curtis Fuller album is attributed to "H. Lubinsky". 

At the beginning of the year Ken Walter alerted me to a Birka Jazz website, featuring Savoy jazz album covers. On that site there is a brief discussion of Harvey, including the lines, "On Art Pepper's album Surf Ride (MG-12089) the painting is signed Harvey Ragsdale. Could it be the same Harvey?" It doesn't look like the same artist, but then our Harvey certainly had the ability to work in a variety of styles. On the same site the unattributed cover of The Charlie Parker Story (MG-12079) looks like it could be another Harvey Ragsdale to me, but a bit more like our Harvey. There was a Harvey Ragsdale who played bass and vibes with Martin Denny, whose albums also sported some very exotic covers. But this Harvey Ragsdale was from Hawaii, and so probably drops off our list of suspects.

In December (2009), writer/lyricist/graphic artist Phil Thomson posted a WONDERFUL article on Harvey. Phil's thoughts, especially on the themes portrayed and the artwork itself, are an invaluable addition to the Harvey discussion. You can find the article here:

Harvey: The mysterious, cult-following designer of gospel album sleeves

Just recently Jean-Francois Villetard got in touch and identified three "undiscovered" Harvey covers. Two are for Charlie Parker albums, and both are fantastic (see Jazz/Blues Harvey's section)! It's hard to believe we overlooked these for so long, and it surely makes one wonder if there aren't several or even many more left to identify.

I've now uploaded images of all the Harvey covers of which I'm aware. There are 134 on the Savoy label (including the 8 jazz/blues albums), 46 on the Gospel label, 10 on Sharp and 7 on Regent. At the bottom of this page there images of three unsigned, uncredited, possible Harvey covers. If you are aware of others please let me know. If you have better quality scans I'd love to have them.

All feedback welcome.

John Glassburner
July 2010
jbg@efn.org

                     Click on scans to view larger images:

SAVOY RECORDS

James Cleveland with The Gospel All-Stars OUT ON A HILL Savoy MG-14045 1961	The Famous Ward Singers A MERRY CHRISTMAS Savoy MG-14047	The Imperial Gospel Singers FOUNTAIN OF BLOOD Savoy MG-14048	THE ANGELIC GOSPEL CHOIR OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF NUTLEY, NJ Savoy MG-14049

THE GOSPEL HARMONETTES Savoy MG 14050	THE FAMOUS DAVIS SISTERS Savoy MG-14051	JAMES CLEVELAND AND THE GOSPEL CHIMES Savoy MG-14052 1962	THE GOSPEL CLEFS Savoy MG-14053
The Roberta Martin Singers IT WAS THE BLOOD Savoy MG-14054	The Gospel Chimes FATHER I STRETCH OUT MY HAND TO THEE Savoy MG-14055 (Thanks to Matt Starr)	LITTLE LUCY SMITH AT THE ORGAN PLAYS YOUR FAVORITE GOSPEL HYMNS Savoy MG-14056	JIMMY JONES AND THE SENSATIONALS Savoy MG-14057
James Cleveland and the Angelic Gospel Choir THIS SUNDAY IN PERSON Savoy MG-14059 1962	The Ward Singers JUST OVER THE HORIZON Savoy MG-14060	The Davis Sisters SOMEWHERE IN GLORY Savoy MG-14061	The Gospel Harmonettes MY FATHER'S CHILDREN Savoy MG-14062
JAMES CLEVELAND WITH THE ANGELIC CHOIR VOL. 2 Savoy MG-14063 1962	The Swindell Brothers THIS TROUBLE OF MINE Savoy MG-14064	Rev. Charles Watkins and the Pentecostal Mass Choir SHADY GREEN PASTURES Savoy MG-14065	The Roberta Martin Singers FROM OUT OF NOWHERE Savoy MG-14066
The Gospel Chimes LEARN HOW TO WAIT Savoy MG-14067	THE SOUL OF JAMES CLEVELAND Savoy MG-14068 1962	The Banks Brothers FOR MY  SAKE Savoy MG-14071
Ruth Davis and the Davis Singers ON THE RIGHT ROAD NOW Savoy MG-14072	Robert Anderson IN TIMES LIKE THESE Savoy MG-14073	MYRTLYE JACKSON SINGS SONGS OF HOPE AND INSPIRATION Savoy MG-14074	Jams Cleveland and the Angelic Choir Vol 3 PEACE BE STILL Savoy MG-14076
THE SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN STATE CHOIR Savoy MG-14077	The Raymond Rasberry Singers DELIVERANCE WILL COME Savoy MG-14080	Evangelist Rosie Wallace GOD CARES Savoy MG-14081	The Banks Brothers WONDEROUS CROSS Savoy MG-14082
The Dorothy Norwood Singers JOHNNY AND JESUS Savoy MG-14083 October 24, 1963	THE MAGNIFICANT VOICES OF THE A'CAPPELS Savoy MG-14084
James Cleveland and the Cleveland Singers THE SUN WILL SHINE AFTER AWHILE Savoy MG-14085 1963	The Jewel Gospel Singers THE HARVEST Savoy MG-14086	The Raymond Rasberry Singers PRAY WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG Savoy MG-14087	The Swindell Brothers and Rev. Johnnie Wilkerson HOLY TRAIN Savoy MG-14090
Big John and the Golden Echoes RIDE AWAY TO HEAVEN Savoy MG-14091	The Blendwrights OVER THE SUNSET MOUNTAIN Savoy MG-14092	The Dorothy Norwood Singers THE OLD LADY'S HOUSE Savoy MG-14093 March 18, 1964	The Barrett Sisters JESUS LOVES ME Savoy MG-14094
The Bradley Singers HE'LL ROLL BACK THOSE DARK CLOUDS Savoy MG-14095	James Cleveland and the Angelic Choir Vol. 4 I STOOD ON THE BANKS OF THE JORDAN Savoy MG-14096 1964
The Roberta Martin Singers THE FAILURE IS NOT IN GOD IT'S IN ME Savoy MG-14097	The Gospel Chimes WE SERVE A MERCIFUL GOD Savoy MG-14098	The Southwest Michigan State Choir directed by Mattie Moss Clark NONE BUT THE PURE IN HEART Savoy MG-14099	The Mighty Gospel Giants HEAVENLY FATHER Savoy MG-14101
The Banks Brothers and the Greater Harvest Church Choir of Newark, NJ IT TOOK A MIRACLE Savoy MG-14102	James Cleveland and the Cleveland Singers HEAVEN, THAT WILL BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME Savoy MG-14103 1964	Evangelist Rosie Wallace and the Choir of the First Church of Love, Faith and Deliverance WAKE UP IN GLORY Savoy MG-14106 (Thanks to Matt Starr)	Dorothy Norwood and the Combined Choirs of Atlanta, GA THE BELL DIDN'T TOLL Savoy MG-14107 February 10, 1965
The Gospel Clefs THE PRECIOUS NAME Savoy MG-14108	Bill Moss and the Celestials GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD Savoy MG-14109
The Jewel Gospel Singers LET'S HAVE CHURCH Savoy MG-14110	The Gospel Lords of Harmony IF GOD GAVE US EVERYTHING WE NEED...WE WOULDN'T HAVE NEED TO PRAY Savoy MG-14111	The Epps Gospel Singers JUST TRY JESUS Savoy MG-14112 1965	Dolores Barrett and the Barrett Sisters I'LL FLY AWAY Savoy MG-14114
The Harold Bailey Singers LORD, I'LL GO Savoy MG-14115	Robert Anderson ONLY BY GRACE Savoy MG-14116	The Roberta Martin Singers HE HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR ME Savoy MG-14199	The Southwest Michigan State Choir with Mattie Moss Clark SALVATION IS FREE Savoy MG-14120 (Thanks to Matt Starr)
Rev. Cleophus Robinson HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY GOD Savoy MG-14121	The Golden Crowns of Charlotte, NC HAVE YOU GOT OIL IN YOUR VESSEL Savoy MG-14123	THE ANGELIC CHOIR SINGING SONGS OF FAITH AND INSPIRATION Savoy MG-14124
DR. C.J. JOHNSON IN AN OLD TIME SONG SERVICE Savoy MG-14126 (Thanks to Matt Starr)	Dorothy  Norwood HE WILL NEVER LET GO MY HAND Savoy MG-14127 July 11, 1965	HARRISON SMITH PRESENTS THE OLD TIME PRAYER MEETING Savoy MG-14128	The Gospel Lords of Harmony GOD'S LOVE WILL NEVER DIE Savoy MG-14129
The Magnificent Male Choir of Atlanta, GA AT THE THRONE OF GRACE Savoy MG-14130	James Cleveland and the Cleveland Singers HE LEADETH ME Savoy MG-14131	The Raymond Raspberry Singers I COULDN'T FIND NO SATISFACTION Savoy MG-14132	Bill Moss and the Celestials MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE UNTO THE LORD Savoy MG-14133
James Cleveland and the Angelic Choir Vol 6 THE GRACE OF GOD Savoy MG-14134 C. 1966	DR. C.J. JOHNSON PRESENTS THE OLD TIME SONG SERVICE Savoy MG-14135	Dr. William Hawkins A CONTRACT WITH GOD Savoy MG-14136 (Sermon)	Robert Anderson IF YOU DENY YOURSELF Savoy MG-14137
Dolores Barrett and the Barrett Sisters CARRY ME BACK Savoy MG-14138	Evangelist Rosie Wallace NO ONE BUT JESUS Savoy MG-14139 c. 1966	Dorothy Norwoodand the Combined Choirs of Atlanta, GA A DENIED MOTHER Savoy MG-14140	The Harold Bailey Singers ADOPTED IN THE ROYAL FAMILY Savoy MG-14141
The Neoplitan Spirtual Church Choir HE'S THERE Savoy MG-14142	The Famous Boyer Brothers TAKE YOUR TROUBLES TO JESUS Savoy MG-14143	The Flying Clouds of Montgomery, AL THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT Savoy MG-14144	The Sunrising Kings RING OUT THE NAME OF JESUS Savoy MG-14145
The Roberta Martin Singers ONE STEP AWAY Savoy MG-14147	The Howard Lemon Singers of Detroit, Michigan USE WHAT YOU HAVE FOR GOD Savoy MG-14149	Elder Hightower and Sister Massey IT'S A LONG LONG WAY Savoy MG-14150
The Southwest Michigan State Choir A CITY CALLED HEAVEN Savoy MG-14151	The Morning Stars of Savannah, GA THE ADOPTED CHILD Savoy MG-14152	The Majestic Male Choir THE TIME IS NOW Savoy MG-14154	The Famous Boyer Brothers STEP BY STEP Savoy MG-14155
DR. C.J. JOHNSON PRESENTS THE OLD TIME SONG SERVICE Savoy MG-14156 (Thanks to Kevin Kiley)	Dorothy Norwood and the Combined Choirs of Atlanta, Georgia THE SOLDIER FROM VIET NAM Savoy MG-14157 c. 1966	The Gospel Lords of Harmony GRANT ME THIS DAY Savoy MG-14158	Prof. Herman Stevens THE POET OF THE GOSPEL ORGAN PLAYS YOUR FAVORITE HYMNS Savoy MG-14160
The Jewel Gospel Singers I KNOW THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY Savoy MG-14161	Bill Moss and the Celestials MY CHILD CAME HOME Savoy MG-14162 (Thanks  to  Matt Starr)
Rev. Charles Watkins and the Pentecostal Singers THE LOST SHEEP Savoy MG-14164	UNITED SINGING CONVENTION BIBLEWAY CHURCH Savoy MG-14170	The Morning Stars of Savannah, GA THIS TRAIN Savoy MG-14174 c. 1967	Dorothy Norwood and the Combined Choirs of Baltimore, MD THE SINGING SLAVE Savoy MG-14175
JAMES CLEVELAND SINGS SONGS OUR MOTHER TAUGHT US Savoy MG-14176	The Magnificant Male Majestic Choir ASK HIM TO GUIDE YOU Savoy MG-14179 (Thanks to Kevin Kiley)	DYNAMIC GOSPEL DUETS BY DOROTHY NORWOOD AND JAMES HERNDON Savoy MG-14182	THE BANKS BROTHERS WITH THE GREATER HARVEST BAPTIST CHURCH Savoy MG-14184 (Thanks to Matt Starr)
JAMES CLEVELAND AND THE CLEVELAND SINGERS Savoy MG-14188 c. 1967	PROF. HERMAN STEVENS SINGS AND PLAYS YOUR FAVORITE HYMNS Savoy MG-14189
Dorothy Norwood and the Dorothy Norwood Singers A BEREAVED CHILD Savoy MG-14190 c. 1967	James Cleveland and the Angelic Choir MERRY CHRISTMAS Savoy MG-14195 c. 1968	The Roberta Martin Singers PRAISE GOD Savoy MG-14197	The Famous Davis Sisters THEY THAT WAIT ON THE LORD Savoy MG-14199
Harrison Johnson and his Los Angeles Community Choir BECAUSE Savoy MG-14210	Dorothy Norwood and the Dorothy Norwood Singers THE STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS Savoy MG-14212 (Thanks to Matt Starr)	Southwest Michigan State Choir with the Church of Christ Mattie Moss Clark Director I'LL TAKE JESUS FOR MINE Savoy MG-14215
THE BANKS BROTHERS AND THE GREATER HARVEST BACK HOME CHOIR Savoy MG-14216	The Flying Clouds of Montgomery, Alabama SINCE I LAID MY BURDEN DOWN Savoy MG-14219 (Thanks to Howard Robinson)
Rev. Charles Watkins and the Pentecostal Singers BAPTIZED Savoy MG-14223	Sister Rosetta Tharpe SINGING IN MY SOUL Savoy MG-14224	Rev. Charles Watkins PORTRAIT OF A GOSPEL SINGER Savoy MG-14235	DR. C.J. JOHNSON PRESENTS THE OLD TIME SONG SERVICE LIVE IN ATLANTA, GA Savoy MG-14251 (Thanks to Kevin Kiley)
THE ANGELIC CHOIR OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF NUTLEY, NJ Savoy MG-14254 Thanks to Scott Schillo	THE DYNAMIC O'NEAL TWINS Savoy MG-14255 c. 1970	DOROTHY NORWOOD AND THE O.L.B YOUTH CHOIR OF ATLANTA, GA Savoy MG-14259 c. 1970	DR. C.J. JOHNSON PRESENTS THE OLD TIME SONG SERVICE RECORDED LIVE AT THE ROCKY MOUNT BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH Savoy MG-14273
The Morning Stars of Savannah, GA I'VE BEEN BLESSED BY THE HAND OF GOD Savoy MG-14518	THE BEST OF ROSETTA SISTER THARPE Savoy SGL 7029 (Thanks to Matt Starr)
GOSPEL RECORDS
THE VOICES OF JORDAN Gospel MG-3011	The Blind Boys of Alabama GOD'S PROMISE Gospel MG-3013	The Tommy Brown Singers UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN Gospel MG-3014	The Imperial Gospel Singers THE SOWER Gospel MG-3015
The Caravans I WON'T BE BACK Gospel MG-3016	THE VICTORY CHORAL UNION OF PHILADELPHIA, PA Gospel MG-3017	The Bibletones of Buffalo, NY YOU KNOW MY HEART Gospel MG-3018	Rev. Charles Craig and His Tabernacle Chorale HEAVEN Gospel MG-3020
The Southern Echoes of Chicago, IL HAVE YOU BEEN WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE Gospel MG-3022	Esther Ford and the Exodus Singers I WILL GO Gospel MG-3023
The Meditation Singers SANCTIFIED LORD Gospel MG-3024	The Imperial Gospel Singers STAY IN HIS WILL Gospel MG-3025	The Original Victory Choral Union HE'LL WELCOME YOU Gospel MG-3026	The Sensational Six JUST BEYOND THE RIVER Gospel MG-3027 (Thanks to Cornelius Beale)
The Meditation Singers GOD'S GOING TO TROUBLE THE WATER Gospel MG-3028	The Young Adult Choir of Saint Luke Community Christian Church WHAT WE NEED Gospel MG-3029	JESSY DIXON AND THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY CHOIR   Gospel MG-3030	The Anna Murell Singers THE LIGHTHOUSE Gospel MG-3031
The Imperial Gospel Singers THE LORD WILL SEE YOU THROUGH Gospel MG-3032	The Birds of Harmony JESUS IS A FRIEND Gospel MG-3033	THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE CHOIR OF THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIS Gospel MG-3034
Jessy Dixon and the Chicago Community Choir I CANNOT FAIL THE LORD Gospel MG-3036	THE ORIGINAL CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST RADIO CHOIR Gospel MG-3037	The Meditation Singers I'M HOLDING ON Gospel MG-3038 (Thanks to Jean-Francois Villetard)	The Gospel Wonders AS LONG AS I'VE GOT JESUS Gospel MG-3039
Jessy Dixon and the Chicago Community Choir A CHILD OF GOD Gospel MG-3040	The Drayton Gospel Singers COME UP TO MOUNT ZION Gospel MG-3042	The Original Church of God In Christ Radio Choir HAVE YOU BEEN WASHED IN THE BLOOD Gospel MG-3043	The Solid Rock Choir UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN Gospel MG-3044
Charles Fold and the Gospel Messengers of Cinncinati, OH I'M GOING TO MAKE IT Gospel MG-3045	The Imperial Gospel Singers LET US SING TOGETHER Gospel MG-3046	St James Young Adult Choir CHILD OF THE KING Gospel MG-3047 (Thanks to Jeff Garbus - The Record Graveyard)
Liz and the Gospelettes I MUST TELL JESUS Gospel MG-3048	The Caravans CHOOSE YE THIS DAY Gospel MG-3049
The Heavenly Tones I LOVE THE LORD Gospel MG-3050	The Gospel Wonders HOLD ON, HE'S COMING Gospel MG-3052	Jessy Dixon and the Dixon Singers THESE HEAVY BURDENS WON'T LAST ALWAYS Gospel MG-3055	REV. OWEN ROGERS AND THE MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH OF BOONTON, N.J. Gospel MG-3060
Jessy Dixon and the Chicago Community Choir WHEN WILL I STOP LOVING GOD Gospel MG-3062	The Caravans HELP IS ON THE WAY Gospel MG-3064	The Bonnet Harmonizers of Washington, DC THE STORM IS PASSING OVER Gospel MG-3065	JESSY DIXON AND THE DIXON SINGERS Gospel MG-3068
The Famous Caravans IF YOU EVER NEEDED THE LORD Gospel MG-3071	JESSY DIXON AND THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY CHOIR Gospel MG-3073	The Gospel All Stars I LOVE THE LORD Gospel MG-3074 (Thanks to Matt Starr)	Jessy Dixon and the Chicago Community Choir BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART Gospel MG-3099
SHARP RECORDS
The Harmonizing Five THE HANDS OF THE LORD Sharp SMG 2009	REV. H.B. CRUM AND THE GOLDEN KEYS Sharp MG-2010	The Corinthian Gospel Singers A CITY CALLED HEAVEN Sharp 2011 (Thanks to Matt Starr)	The Murie Singers JEWELS Sharp MG 2012 (Thanks to Robert Termorshuizen)
The North Philadelphia Juniors IN THE BUILDING Sharp MG 2013	The Ellison Singers HE'S HOLDING ME Sharp 2014	The Sally Jenkins Singers HELP ME TO RUN THIS RACE Sharp 2015
THE GREATER HARVEST BAPIST CHURCH CHOIR OF CHICAGO, IL Sharp 2016	The Gospel Messengers HIS LOVE   Sharp 2017	The Gospel Cavaliers THIS IS THE MOMENT Sharp 2019
REGENT RECORDS
The Smith Sisters LORD SEND THE RAIN Regent 6109 (Thanks to Matt Starr)	The Gospel Redeemers THE LORD IS THE MASTER Regent 6110 (Thanks to Matt Starr)	Prof. Alex Bradford and the Bradford Singers I'M GOING TO WORK TILL THE DAY IS DONE Regent 6111 (Thanks to Matt Starr)	The Royal Silvertones JESUS, I LOVE YOUR NAME Regent MG-6112
The Gospel Redeemers JUDGEMENT DAY Regent MG-6116	Prof. Alex Bradford and the Bradford Singers I FOUND THE ANSWER Regent MG-6117	Rev. Robert J. Lucas and the Christian Choir HE'S A SHELTER IN THE TIME OF STORM Regent MG-6118
POSSIBLE HARVEY'S
Here are some covers that look like Harvey's but aren't signed or credited to him.
	The Voices of Christ of Berkeley, CA FILL MY CUP Savoy MG-14274	The Bibleway Radio Choir STAY WITH ME Savoy MG-14409	THE ORIGINAL CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST RADIO CHOIR Gospel MG-3082 (Thanks to Jean-Francois Villetard)