Artifact BB0002: Lake Side of the Loon Album Artwork (1972)

The Beginning of a Northern Ontario Classic

Among the earliest artwork catalogued from the Bud Bungalow Recording Studio archives was this completed album design for Lake Side of the Loon, the 1972 debut release by Link Lloyd.

The illustration captures the quiet character of Northern Ontario through its hand-drawn artwork and understated design, reflecting the studio's tradition of creating distinctive album covers that were as memorable as the music they represented. Preserved in remarkable condition, the artwork offers an authentic glimpse into the creative process that defined Bud Bungalow during the early 1970s.

Today, it stands as one of the cornerstone pieces in the growing Bud Bungalow Recording Studio Archives and marks the first catalogued artifact documenting the visual history of Link Lloyd.

Archive Record

  • Archive ID: BB0002
  • Discovery: 002
  • Classification: Original Album Artwork
  • Artist: Link Lloyd
  • Album: Lake Side of the Loon
  • Year Created: 1972
  • Physical Condition: Excellent
  • Catalogued: 2026
  • Collection: The Bud Bungalow Recording Studio Archives
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CONCEPT ARTWORK

Recovered from the Bud Bungalow Recording Studio Archives, this preliminary concept drawing documents one of the earliest known design explorations for Lake Side of the Loon, Link Lloyd's 1972 debut album.

The annotated sketch captures the creative direction before production began, detailing the intended composition, lighting, colour palette, and overall visual balance. Handwritten notes identify the placement of the prism, the loon, the reflected spectrum, and the minimalist design philosophy that would ultimately define the finished album cover. Together, they provide a rare glimpse into the design process behind one of Bud Bungalow's most recognizable releases.

Unlike the finished artwork, this working drawing preserves the decisions, revisions, and planning that transformed an initial idea into a completed album cover. It stands as an important record of the studio's creative process and the craftsmanship behind every Bud Bungalow release.

EARLY ARTIST CONCEPT

An Early Vision Takes Shape

Recovered from the Bud Bungalow Recording Studio Archives, this preliminary concept drawing represents one of the earliest known visual explorations for The Loon: A Northern Song Cycle. Created before the final album artwork was developed, the sketch focuses on mood, setting, and identity rather than finished graphic design.

Handwritten production notes reveal the original creative direction: a solitary loon on calm Northern Ontario waters, the Bud Bungalow cabin overlooking the shoreline, and an intentionally restrained palette built around earth tones and natural textures. The annotations emphasize an organic, handcrafted aesthetic intended to reflect the quiet character of the North rather than the bold visual style adopted later in development.

Although many of these ideas evolved before production, this concept sheet provides a rare glimpse into the early creative process behind the project. It documents the moment when the album's visual identity was still being discovered, making it an important record of the artistic decisions that shaped one of the Bud Bungalow archives' most recognizable designs.