Chances are, when the conversation turns to record album covers, those under 20 will ask “What’s a record?”

But those of us who grew up listening to our favorite singers or bands on those large vinyl discs called “records,” the album covers that accompanied the discs often were as coveted as their contents.  They were the visual art of the analog audio age, and reading the liner notes became an important part of the “album experience.”

Yet, for every “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” by the Beatles there were some real clunkers, such as Donnie Osmond’s “Disco Train” or “Space Escapade” by Les Baxter.

It’s those covers – the funny and the just plain bad - that will be the focus of ”The 100 Worst Album Covers,” a new exhibit opening Aug. 1 at the Fullerton Museum Center.

A preview reception for the exhibit will be held from 6-9 p.m. opening night, and will include refreshments, a tour of the exhibit, a curator’s talk, and entertainment.

The exhibit, which the museum staff mounted, “is all about humor and bad taste,” said Dannielle Mauk, museum director.  “The museum staff has collected a gallery of album art gone awry – the 100 covers we deem to be the worst in the world.”

Guest curator for the exhibit is Jim Washburn, an authority on many facets of popular culture, as well as a music critic, musician and record collector.  His columns have appeared in the “Orange County Register,” “The Los Angeles Times” and “OC Weekly.”

The exhibit will run through Oct. 18.

Admission to the preview reception is $8 per person for the general public and free to members of the Fullerton Museum Center. 

The Fullerton Museum Center is located at 301 N. Pomona Ave., east of Harbor Blvd., in downtown Fullerton.  Hours are noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday, and noon – 8 p.m. Thursday.

Museum admission is $4 for adults, $3 for students with student identification and senior citizens 65 and older, $1 for children 6 to 12, and free to children under 5 and to members of the Fullerton Museum Center.  Admission is $2 for all visitors from 4-8 p.m. the first Thursday of each month.

Further information about exhibit may be obtained by calling the Fullerton Museum Center at (714) 738-6545.