Before vinyl became fodder for the retro revolution- album covers were justifyable coming into their own as ‘art’.
The 70′s in particular were a dynamic era in rock art where the marketing needs of the record industry and the aesthetics of rock & roll came together in an often spectacular visual marriage.
OK – so the purists will point to cover design - especially in the jazz field as being the ‘real deal’ as far as pioneers in thei field in the album art – which preceeds even efforts such as The Beatles and their Sgt Peppers or Abbey Road covers.
In fact, Rolling Stone magazine surveyed a panel of distinguished art directors, designers, photographers and editors for what can only be described as a highly subjective list of the 100 greatest album covers of all time – with a number of suprises.
The twelve-inch album cover may be (in the main) dead and buried – but its artistic legacy endures to this day even if it is in miniature on compact disc.
For the record – some of my personal favourites include
Hotel California – The Eagles
Breakfast In America – Supertramp
Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd
Candy-O – The Cars and
. . . and the definitive Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album by Elton John.
Would love to hear if you have any personal favs?
I am a child of the seventie’s so of course I think our decade was the best.
some of the best covers I think were
House of the holy – Led Zepplin
Sirens – Roxy Music
Pinups – David Bowie
Ooh La La – The Faces
Hejira – Joni Mitchell
Hey Gaye
Have to admit – I’m a disciple of music and have favs from all eras – but a real soft spot for the 70′s – particularly the super groups – Eagles, Doobies et al and of course those one hit wonders we all adore.
Fortunately I also have a litle radio show (89.9FM) in Sydney – which you can tune into every Tuesday night between 7 and 10 via the web (www.hawkradio.org.au). If you manage to catch the show one night – and there is a webcam in the studio as well – so you can see the good doctor in action – send me an email to my music site – themusicguy.com.au and I’ll send you a cherio and play a few of your favourites.
Stay well