Since the 1960s the covers of long-playing records have undergone many changes.
Before the Beatles and Stones most records were just simple photographic images of the band leaders or crooners of the period.
During the 1960s when the counter-culture movement arrived albums underwent a major alteration.
The new artists had album covers that were more than just their mugs in close-up.
Before I continue let me be clear about what the cover of a record means to me.
I think covers are a canvas to be used to draw in would be listeners. It does not have to be literal or easy to understand.
After decades of releases before the internet we have thousands of covers to gawk at in pleasure and disgust.
The images can excite, enlighten, and become stand alone pieces of art.
In some cases they can also offend certain sensibilities.
The Beatles’ infamous butcher cover was censored by their record company upon release.
Guns N Roses biggest seller, “Appetite For Destruction” had its cover banned.
It featured a cartoon image of a flower girl being raped by a robot.
The aforementioned covers became highly valued on the market for collectors.
Their rarity increased the value of original prints. Digital representation of album art will never be valuable.
Many classic (old) rock groups hired artists to paint, photograph, and collage their cover art.
Roger Dean, Derek Riggs, and the firm Hipgnosis are good examples of why artists commission painters, graphic designers and illustrators.
The progressive rock group Yes compiled a catalog of music along with covers by Roger Dean.
His dreamscapes were colorful, fantastic, and surreal. This fit well with Yes’ music.
Derek Riggs painted the first 8 Iron Maiden album covers.
His art became instantly part of the band’s image.
Each cover features the mascot Eddie, a decaying corpse reanimated back to life.
R: Insert within the Seventh Son album; Eddie as Seer. All of Mr. Riggs’ images are seen on T-shirts and posters too.
The art collective Hipgnosis was hired by British art rock icons Pink Floyd.
The indelible photographic elements are imprinted on the memory of any classic rock fan forever.
Their cover images include a cow for Atom Mother, a flying pig for Animals, and a prism for Dark Side of the Moon.
Def Leppard’s High N Dry used collage.
Bottom L-R: Styx’s Pieces of Eight, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.
The records pictured above included extras you cannot enjoy digitally.
Styx and Pink Floyd had posters within their sleeves.
One more artist I want to mention is Michael Doret a designer, lettering artist, and illustrator based in Los Angeles, California.
He has created logos, album covers, magazine covers, and art for various brands in media, advertising, and sports.
The illustration he created for Kiss in 1978 was so eye catching the band worked with him again in the 21st Century!
Rock N Roll Over by Kiss was the last album in which all four original members performed. Ace Frehley had no writing credit.
Sonic Boom was released in 2009. The art is sort of a follow up to its 1970s predecessor.
On vinyl the album was issued with vinyl platters in six different colors.
The Rock N Roll Over album was reissued in 2015, complete with a sheet of full color stickers replicating the cover art.
The art is the original size meant for public view when it’s on a physical item.
Digital cannot transmit how vivid these covers actually appear.
Many albums have gatefold sleeves. This means they open up to show a two panel artwork.
Queen used an image by scifi illustrator Frank Kelly for News of the World in 1977. A two panel gatefold is featured.
The two panel gatefold opens:
L-R: the inside with concert goers and the outside with Frank the robot attacking the band with song and album credits.
Today album frames are sold as a means to display album cover art.
There are many examples of art for record covers. I have covered a few of my favorites for this article.
Keep in mind none of this art looks great in digital form. In physical presence you must stop and stare.
Record albums are cherished items. The extra goodies inside like posters are really cool too.
To be fair, digital music files can show the art. It’s tiny and trapped under the glass of your smart device.
MP3 files can become corrupted. I have had to stop my PC many times due to bad playback.
Records force you to take better care of your music.
It is much more of an experience to play an album on a turntable. You value it more. And the art is for keeps!
Evan's Gate 
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