Entertainment For Lively Minds
Album Sleeves - A Lost Art Form
Posted by Baskerville Old Face on 4 September 2009 - 3:54pm.
In the days of vinyl, the album sleeve was a key part of the listening experience; I've heard a few people (including Roger Daltrey) describe it as a lost art form. The record sleeve helped sell records - we took chances on the music because the cover was interesting. This is particularly true of prog rock lovers. The symbiotic relationship between Yes and Roger Dean spoke (and sold) volumes. Punters grabbed ELP's 'Brain Salad Surgery' because the cover was so cool. How many of you out there have bought an album on the strength of the cover? Do you still feel the same urge with CDs?
- More from Baskerville Old Face.
- Login or register to post comments
-
Who needs Britney Spears
when Bunk Dogger has an LP sleeve like this? I just had to have this in my collection...
Agreed
The only band that I have consistently followed for about 30 years used to have sumptuous, well-photographed, well-designed sleeves. Lots of detail, lots of effort put in. Since the mid-1990s the artwork has been more minimalist with broader, simpler lines. I think an image on a great big 12" vinyl record sleeve will always be more striking.
Nick Cave, the Auteurs, Eels
- I was tempted to buy my first cds by all the above as a result of the cd sleeve art/package. There is some good stuff out there - it's just that we - well most of us - were spoiled by the larger canvases afforded by 7 and 12 inch sleeves, not to mention the gatefold. Just as paperbacks or postage stamps can be striking, effective or memorable (or the opposite), so can cds. It's a shame that most aren't.
The digital download renders the discussion somewhat moot.
Velvet Crush
Teenage Symphonies to God.
Purchased purely because of the cover.
Set me on to a new world of music from which I have never looked back.
I suppose I also started listening to Eloy as a teenager because of the Rodney Matthews UK covers.
Eloy.. there's a band which has yet to crop up here..
I feel a thread coming on.
I wonder
how many Yes fans got turned onto Ghanaian high-life merchants Osibisa because they had Roger Dean do their logo?