Other credits · Performance

Cal Schenkel

real name Calvin Schenkel

Cal Schenkel is credited on 1,512 releases across 105 albums tracked on Gatefold, active 1968–2025 — the collector-built map of who actually made the music.

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1,512

Credits

105

Albums

Decades active

1,056

In collections

Biography

source

Born: 27th January 1947, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, USA.
American graphic artist renowned for his sleeve art for Zappa albums and productions. His anarchic montages, compositional style and cryptic lettering was much a precursor of the punk-art look that would later emerge as 'the norm' on many album sleeves.
At one point, Schenkel occupied part of the basement in Zappa's 'Log Cabin' address at 2401* Laurel Canyon, which he used as a self-contained studio. See center spread of "Just Another Band From L.A."
One of his early major works for Zappa was "We're Only In It For The Money" and one of his most iconic was the cover of Beefheart's "Trout Mask Replica". Schenkel was later commissioned by Rhino in the repackaging of Zappa releases on CD.
Additionally, Schenkel is credited as songwriter of the track "The Spell That Comes After" from Vanilla Fudge's album Renaissance (US 1968) (opens in a new tab).
Schenkel had a daughter, Raven, by artist.
*2401 As per the song on Blues From Laurel Canyon

Bio from Discogs