Washburn Brings Worst Album Covers Ever to Fullerton Museum

A sampling of the worst album covers of all time.

​Jim Washburn--the Weekly's first executive editor, longtime "Lost in O.C." columnist and lead music critic to boot--parlayed his fantabulous "The Orange Groove" Orange County rock 'n' roll history exhibition at the Orange County Fair in the summer of 2003 into the fantabulous "The Orange Groove" exhibition at Fullerton Museum Center in the winter and spring of 2004-05.

Now, he's returning to the museum with another  visual "extravaganza": the worst album covers of all time.

"It's more fun than a barrel of monkeys," Washburn promises. "Whether you like kitsch, graphic hucksterism, cultural insensitivity, smut, disembodied heads or visual puns, there's no better place to be."

If I had a nickle for every time I heard that at the tent revival.

But that's not important right now. What is important is Washburn's exhibit, featuring 200 of the worst of the worstest, kicks off Saturday with an opening reception from 6-9 p.m. at Fullerton Museum Center.  
 
"I'll give a curator's address, which the experience of past exhibits has taught me should be no longer than four minutes--the museum hall has more echo than any five Mexican radio stations," Washburn jokes.

He'll have expertise on the topic because it's a good bet most of the exhibit pieces were culled from his personal collection. In fact, having just moved from his longtime home to another nearby, he could have re-discovered many of the worst album covers of all time while packing, perhaps in a dusty box in his garage mislabled "Sporks."

Of course, the only way to properly usher in something so bad is with good music. Orange County country songstress Jann Browne performs outdoors during the opening and "without a break if I have my say," Washburn vows.

Beer, wine and food will be served. The museum is located at , 301 N. Pomona Ave., Fullerton, (714) 738-6545. Cost for opening night is $8--or free if you have (or buy) a FMC membership.