Recently, I predicted that Cover Flow is poised to revitalize cover art design in the music industry. While I suspect that digital music has lessened the visual aspect of music and only a few really memorable album covers have come along in recent years but I believe that Apple’s Cover Flow UI is going to cause far-reaching ripples that will, among other things, revitalize the importance of graphic design as it pertains to music.
Coincidentally, a couple of days later, I ran across Chris Smith’s cool article 23 Album Covers that Changed Everything! on Mental Floss. I don’t necessarily agree with all of Chris’ choices but there are certainly a bunch of excellent, unforgettable records mentioned that helped shape a whole generation’s tastes in music and popular art!
That article made me think back about some of the first records I owned. Music was a tactile thing back then — you held the LP in your hands, placed the record player needle ever-so-carefully on the outer ring of that big ol’ slab of vinyl, and marveled at the creativity of the album cover & liner notes design while the music seeped into your soul. Okay, okay, maybe that seems a little deep but music was a truly special thing back in my formative teens. I still love music now, but it just seemed more substantial & eventful back in the analog days of vinyl. Records weren’t just something you listened to — they were something you escaped into.
Here are just a few of the memorable LPs that Dede & I listened to that changed our worlds:
What’re some of the LPs that left an indelible mark on you, both for their memorable artwork and music? Or do you recall what your first record album was? Post a comment & share your story!