record covers
August 29th 2007 02:18
Still, despite the thousand covers in Ochs' pictorial archives, that barely touches the tip of the iceberg. There are literally hundreds of thousands of record covers out there, most of which most of us will never see.
I love the record, so for me the cover is cool; Michael in a tuxedo with glowing white socks and a handsome face (he’d had one nose job by then, but that was it), posing against a brick wall. It was a gatefold and it was one of my record treasures until it was stolen from a mate’s DJ crate ten or so years ago. I was quietly devastated. I replaced it, but the new copy doesn’t hold quite the same posterity or nostalgic allure. Another gatefold cover I thought was very alluring was the Diana Ross album Diana. The image used is one of the best photos of her ever taken.
With the arrival of CDs, record cover artwork was diminished, literally. Sure, more room for sleeve notes, but less room for artwork that commanded your attention. Initially I refused to embrace CDs, and then I realised I was probably going to have to replace all my records. I started to, but to my profound relief found the disc jockey industry demand for vinyl meant they weren’t going to be made obsolete so soon.
The following selection represents my love of pure, classic iconographic imagery; the sensual, the fantastic, the witty, the minimal, faces and bodies, line and form, type and text.
It’s too hard to pick absolute favourites. I love Isaac Hayes' chrome dome bling, I love Blondie's bridge perspective, I love the dual dominance/submission of Carly Simon's pose, I love the moody elegance of Steely Dan, and I love the date stamp of New Order. There’ll definitely be a “mo’ record covers” post that’s fer sure!
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Comment by Chic Critique
I love the Herb Alpert cover, hadn't seen that one before.
Cheers
CC
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Wow, groovy ..thanks for the memories... this was an awesome trip into the past....
I left over two hundred of my albums with a 'friend' in 1988 to go traverse the globe (yet another time). Whilst I was away, they got hooked on dope, and sold the lot of them for more dope, by the time I got back, some two-years later.
Entire collections and collectors albums...gone in a blink... just .... like.... that!
*chuckle* I'm over it now... and looking forward to more of these past album posts in the future.
Lilla ...
Comment by Raoul Duke
Style of Eye
Lilla, my heart goes out to you (even though you say you're over it) ... I'd have been out for blood.