Album Cover Art-part One
In 1939, Alex Steinweiss was employed at Columbia Records as the first art director for the company and decided to spruce up and repackage vinyl records. We all know the result, 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 instance, 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 included cut out inserts and lyrics. The price one would pay for a copy of this album is influenced by whether or not it has the original contents and they are intact. There are many album covers that included posters of the band as well and other “perks” for the buyer and all these elements factor into the resale price and collectiblity.
There have been many dynamic and world-famous album covers. Consider the Beatles’ album “Yesterday…and Today” (1966), also called the “butcher block album” because the Beatles were pictured on the front cover wearing white butcher coats surrounded by bloody meat and cut up dolls. The album was quickly pulled by Capitol Records after the company received numerous complaints from reviewers and DJ’s. The company recalled the issue and ordered a new cover but did not want to waste the several hundred thousand that had already been printed. Capitol then hired part-time helpers to remove that photo from the cover and paste on the new photo for the cover. But, it seems that there were many lazy employees and to save time, they just pasted the new cover on top of the old cover and the one that was supposed to be removed. The result is three different versions of that particular album and a collector’s dream, the different versions of the album are worth several thousand dollars (prices vary-check a record price guide to ascertain exactly what album you may have to get the exact price).
Album cover art has also spawned numerous web sites in which to view famous covers and designs, readers’ favorites and top ten lists. One such site, www.superseventies.com offers a comprehensive 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. Additionally, www.superseventies.com offers their reader’s favorite seventies album covers (more than 300) with detailed descriptions and reviews of each specific release. This is a great way to spend a rainy day, as you discover some of the best album cover art of the 70’s.
Album cover design is an art form and allows the musicians greater control over the content and another important avenue in which to express themselves. In my humble opinion (and I share this opinion with countless others), with the advent of the CD, the music buying public lost a national treasure, album cover art. It is part of pop culture and recorded music in general. Sure, Cd’s offer you a “stripped down” version of the original cover art, but it certainly pales in comparison to the real thing. I am sure Mr. Steinweiss would totally agree with me.
About the Author
Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music, vinyl record collecting and operates www.collectingvinylrecords.com, where you can secure your copy of his ebook called “The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting.”
Robert can be contacted at robert@collectingvinylrecords.com.
Greyhound – Black And White – Vinyl
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Offs 1st Record/Basquiat 1984 WHITE VINYL 1st Pressing $375.99 |
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Kozik Dr. Bomb White Tower Records Limited Vinyl figure $300.00 |
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BEATLES Record (31) White Album WHITE VINYL & INSERTS $159.95 |
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Santogold Santi White Signed Autographed Vinyl Record $135.00 |
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John Lennon Happy Xmas White Vinyl PROMO LP Record 12″ $120.00 |
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7 x8.5″ Single EP Vinyl Record Divider Cards WHITE x400 $119.99 |
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2000 Heavy White White Record Sleeves 7″ 45 rpm Vinyl $119.98 |
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THIRD MAN RECORDS – 8″ VINYL SET OF 14 SXSW Jack White $103.66 |
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RECORD WHITE VINYL WASP W.A.S.P. ANIMAL F LIKE A BEAST $100.00 |
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ELLIOTT SMITH xo LP Record rare WHITE Vinyl #70 of 500 $100.00 |
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September Cyrus The White Rabbit 10” Vinyl Record $99.99 |
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BEATLES “White…” *SeaLeD* NeW UK Double ViNyL Record $83.89 |
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Record Vinyl Album White DIVIDERS CARDS 12″ x14.25″ 100 $77.99 |
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GARBAGE 12″ VINYL RECORD PUSH IT WHITE LABEL TEST PRESS $75.00 |
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ELIZABETH Self-Titled Vinyl LP Record WHITE LABEL PROMO $69.98 |
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1000 7″ 45 rpm White Paper Sleeves for Vinyl Records $54.99 |
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500 Heavy White Paper Record Sleeves 7″ 45 rpm Vinyl $37.48 |
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500 New 7″ 45 rpm White Paper Sleeves for Vinyl Record $37.00 |
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Paul McCartney / “Tug of War” white vinyl 12″ record $35.00 |
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‘BLACK’ BARRY WHITE For Your Luv Vinyl LP Record 33 RPM $22.99 |
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100 PAPER WHITE SLEEVES for VINYL ALBUM RECORDS 12 inch $22.00 |
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200ea 45 RPM Vinyl Record Sleeves White Acid-Free Paper $21.50 |
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200ea 45 RPM Vinyl Record Sleeves White Acid-Free Paper $21.50 |
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Garbage ‘Sex Is Not The Enemy’ 7″ White Vinyl Record $20.00 |
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100 PAPER WHITE SLEEVES for VINYL ALBUM RECORDS 12 inch $20.00 |
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100 PAPER WHITE SLEEVES for VINYL ALBUM RECORDS 12 inch $20.00 |
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100 PAPER WHITE SLEEVES for VINYL ALBUM RECORDS 12 inch $20.00 |
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100 PAPER WHITE SLEEVES for VINYL ALBUM RECORDS 12 inch $20.00 |
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100 PAPER WHITE SLEEVES for VINYL ALBUM RECORDS 12 inch $20.00 |
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100 PAPER WHITE SLEEVES for VINYL ALBUM RECORDS 12 inch $20.00 |
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100 PAPER WHITE SLEEVES for VINYL ALBUM RECORDS 12 inch $20.00 |
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BRIGHT EYES / Neva Dinova 10″ Record Ltd Ed WHITE Vinyl $19.99 |
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White Magic: New Egypt 12″ VINYL LP RECORD NEW $19.99 |
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Ween: White Pepper 12″ VINYL LP RECORD NEW $19.99 |
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The Beatles ‘White Album’ Original Vinyl Record (1970) $19.99 |
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BRIGHT EYES / Neva Dinova 10″ Record Ltd Ed WHITE Vinyl $19.98 |
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TURNTABLE DIAGRAM T-SHIRT RECORDS VINYL RARE 12″ COOL $19.95 |
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CLASSIC TURNTABLE T-SHIRT HIP-HOP RARE RECORD VINYL $19.95 |
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2 VINTAGE MARCH & Child WHITE VINYL Spear 78RPM Records $19.95 |
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Plain White T’s: Big Bad World 12″ VINYL LP NEW RECORD $19.50 |
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200 Heavy White Paper Record Sleeves 7″ 45 rpm Vinyl $19.00 |
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100 White Paper Inner Sleeves for 12 Vinyl Record Albums LPs #12IW (Innersleeves) $18.99 These are BRAND NEW 12″ standard weight paper inner sleeves with square corners. Use these to replace your old worn and torn vinyl record inner sleeves and help keep the vinyl clean! The sleeves measure 12-1/8″ x 12″ (307.97mm x 304.8mm) and are made of 16# paper with square corners. Perfect for cleaning up ones personal collection of written on, stained, and ripped up sleeves – or for replacing … |
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100 White Paper Innersleeves With a Hole for 7 (45rpm) Vinyl Records #07IW – 7 1/8 x 7 1/8 (Inner Sleeves / 45 rpm / 45s) $14.99 [7-1/8" x 7-1/8" or 180.98mm x 180.98mm] These are 7″ 45rpm paper inner sleeves with a hole. The inner sleeves have square corners and are made from standard-weight paper. Replace your worn out or torn innersleeves and freshen up your collection. These are what we use in our own retail store! (These go over the naked vinyl record and slide into a jacket or outersleeve.)… |
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25 x White Plastic Lined Paper Innersleeves with Window for 12 Vinyl Records #12IA – Prevent Paper Scratches & Protect Against Dust! (Albums / Inner Sleeves) $11.25 PROTECT AGAINST DUST!! These are plastic-lined paper innersleeves (paper on the outside, plastic on the inside) and measure 12″ x 12 1/8″. The plastic protects against dust better then the plain paper innersleeeves, and eliminates paper scratches on your precious vinyl. They have a hole in the plastic so you can view the label of the record, just like the regular paper innersleeves! OTHER QUANT… |
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The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection $4.48 Limited edition holiday collection features six songs, including “Silent Night”, “Last Christmas” and “Christmases When You Were Mine”! Track listing: 1. Last Christmas 2. Christmases When You Were Mine 3. Santa Baby 4. Silent Night 5. Christmas Must Be Something More 6. White Christmas… |
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Country Is As Country Does (W/Dvd) $9.98 Country Is As Country Does features six new Colt Ford songs and a DVD if the making of the “Ride Through The Country” album! Track listing: CD 1. Buck ‘Em 2. Huntin’ The World 3. Big White Redneck 4. Day In The Life (featuring Andy Griggs) 5. Left Ya’ll In The Dust (NASCAR Song) 6. Dirt Road Anthem (live) (featuring The Brantey Gilbert Band) DVD 1. Intro 2. Colt Ford Tells It 3. Behind The Scenes … |
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Encores $21.97 Encores features 22 live tracks on 2 CDs from his 2008 and 2009 tours. Track listing: Disc 1 1. Come Monday 2. Tin Cup Chalice 3. Growing Older But Not Up 4. Coast Of Carolina 5. Paradise 6. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans 7. Nautical Wheelers 8. Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season 9. Banana Republics 10. He Went To Paris 11. Last Mango In Paris Disc 2 1. L’air De La Lo… |
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Frank Kozik DR. BOMB White Tower Records Exclusive 8 Vinyl Figure Ultra-Rare Frank Kozik Dr. Bomb 8 inch Tower Exclusive figure by Toyr2. This is from the (Phantastagorical, Plastical, Pharmaceutical, Pachyderm) Smorkin’ Doctor Bomb line. The figure is from a Limited Production run of only 200 figures. Long Sold Out and Highly Collectible. Packaged in a colorful window box…. |
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500 White Paper Inner Sleeves for 12 Vinyl Record Albums LPs #12IW (Innersleeves) $62.99 These are BRAND NEW 12″ standard weight paper inner sleeves with square corners. Use these to replace your old worn and torn vinyl record inner sleeves and help keep the vinyl clean! The sleeves measure 12-1/8″ x 12″ (307.97mm x 304.8mm) and are made of 16# paper with square corners. Perfect for cleaning up ones personal collection of written on, stained, and ripped up sleeves – or for replacing … |
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White Lies Guitar Pick Chain Necklace Festival Wear + Free Pick $9.99 This listing is for a double sided, printed guitar pick on a 30inch ball chain You also get an extra loose pick for FREE! The picks are real plastic with the image imprinted onto them Both sides of the pick feature the same great image… |
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got vinyl? Men’s Tee Shirt in 12 colors Small thru 6XL … |