In 1939, Alex Steinweiss was employed at Columbia Records as the first art director for the company and chose to spruce up and repackage vinyl records. We all know the outcome, album cover art has become an important part of music and pop culture. (Prior to Steinweiss's creative influences, records were generally stored in plain, undecorated packaging).
For collectors, album cover art can sometimes be as valuable as the vinyl record it holds. For example, one of the most famous album covers of all time, the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" cover was one of the most inventive at the time and integrated cut out inserts and lyrics. The cost one would purchase a copy of the album is influenced by whether or not or not it's the original contents and they are intact. There are lots of album addresses that integrated posters of the band also along with other "perks" for the buyer and all these elements factor into the resale cost and collectiblity.
There have been numerous dynamic and world-famous album covers. Consider the Beatles' album "Yesterday...and Today" (1966), also known as the "butcher block album" since the Beatles were pictured on the front cover wearing white butcher coats surrounded by bloody meat and cut up dolls. The album was rapidly pulled by Capitol Records after the company received several complaints from reviewers and DJ's. The company recalled the issue and ordered a new cover but didn't wish to waste the several hundred thousand that had already been printed. Capitol then hired part-time helpers to get rid of that picture from the cover and paste on the new picture for the cover. But, it seems that there were many sluggish employees and to save time, they simply pasted the brand new cover on top of the old cover and the one that was meant to become removed. The outcome is three different versions of that particular album along with a collector's dream, the different versions of the album are really worth several thousand dollars (prices vary-check a record price guide to ascertain just what album you might have to get the exact cost).
Album cover art has also spawned several websites in which to see famous covers and designs, readers' favorites and top ten lists. 1 such website, www.superseventies.com offers a complete look at some of the most famous covers from the 1970's including the Sex Pistols "Never Mind The Bollocks," the Eagles "Hotel California," Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of the Moon" and the Rolling Stones' "Sticky Fingers" among others. In addition, www.superseventies.com offers their reader's favorite seventies album covers (more than 300) with comprehensive descriptions and critiques of every specific release. This is a great way to spend a rainy day, as you discover a few of the greatest album cover art of the 70's.
Album cover design is definitely an art form and allows the musicians greater control over the content material and another important avenue through which to express themselves. In my humble viewpoint (and I share this viewpoint with countless others), with the advent of the CD, the music buying public lost a national treasure, album cover art. It's part of pop culture and recorded music generally. Sure, Cd's provide you a "stripped down" edition of the first cover art, but it certainly pales in comparison to the real thing. I am sure Mr. Steinweiss would completely agree with me.
For collectors, album cover art can sometimes be as valuable as the vinyl record it holds. For example, one of the most famous album covers of all time, the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" cover was one of the most inventive at the time and integrated cut out inserts and lyrics. The cost one would purchase a copy of the album is influenced by whether or not or not it's the original contents and they are intact. There are lots of album addresses that integrated posters of the band also along with other "perks" for the buyer and all these elements factor into the resale cost and collectiblity.
There have been numerous dynamic and world-famous album covers. Consider the Beatles' album "Yesterday...and Today" (1966), also known as the "butcher block album" since the Beatles were pictured on the front cover wearing white butcher coats surrounded by bloody meat and cut up dolls. The album was rapidly pulled by Capitol Records after the company received several complaints from reviewers and DJ's. The company recalled the issue and ordered a new cover but didn't wish to waste the several hundred thousand that had already been printed. Capitol then hired part-time helpers to get rid of that picture from the cover and paste on the new picture for the cover. But, it seems that there were many sluggish employees and to save time, they simply pasted the brand new cover on top of the old cover and the one that was meant to become removed. The outcome is three different versions of that particular album along with a collector's dream, the different versions of the album are really worth several thousand dollars (prices vary-check a record price guide to ascertain just what album you might have to get the exact cost).
Album cover art has also spawned several websites in which to see famous covers and designs, readers' favorites and top ten lists. 1 such website, www.superseventies.com offers a complete look at some of the most famous covers from the 1970's including the Sex Pistols "Never Mind The Bollocks," the Eagles "Hotel California," Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of the Moon" and the Rolling Stones' "Sticky Fingers" among others. In addition, www.superseventies.com offers their reader's favorite seventies album covers (more than 300) with comprehensive descriptions and critiques of every specific release. This is a great way to spend a rainy day, as you discover a few of the greatest album cover art of the 70's.
Album cover design is definitely an art form and allows the musicians greater control over the content material and another important avenue through which to express themselves. In my humble viewpoint (and I share this viewpoint with countless others), with the advent of the CD, the music buying public lost a national treasure, album cover art. It's part of pop culture and recorded music generally. Sure, Cd's provide you a "stripped down" edition of the first cover art, but it certainly pales in comparison to the real thing. I am sure Mr. Steinweiss would completely agree with me.
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