The hectic cultural and political upheavals occurring in the 1960s marked a divide between the relatively stable cultural environment of the previous decade and what is now regarded as the golden age of pop music and youth culture. Flourishing alternative cultures in the latter part of the decade laid many of the foundations of later trends and subcultures and this influence is nowhere more apparent than in record packaging, with classic graphic design and layouts reappearing again and again. This newly reformatted edition of Classic Album Covers of the 60s is a collection of over 200 of the very best (and in some cases worst) that designers had to offer throughout the decade. Representative designs from each period are illustrated in full colour, taking the reader on a journey from the wholesome joviality of the Very Merry Macs and Muscle Beach Party, through stylish and understated jazz cover designs, to the best psychedelic designs of the late 60s such as the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper and the Incredible String Band’s The 5000 Spirits. The changing style of album cover design illustrated in Classic Album Covers of the 60s provides a fascinating reflection of changing cultural trends during a decade whose ideas and artistic expressions sought to break the prevailing rules and, so doing, laid the foundations for cover design today.

A stunning collection of over 200 essential and influential album covers of the decade A visual reflection of psychedelia-influenced artwork to Punk anti- design – from Pink Floyd to the Sex Pistols Indispensable purchase for the dedicated follower of music and art The seventies are often regarded as a mean, dark and turbulent decade, full of discontent and pessimism. The album covers of the burgeoning hard rock, progressive rock, pop and punk scenes that dominated the decade mirrored this social and cultural dystopia effectively, and accurately, capturing the tone of the music as well as the world at large. Over the decade it became clear that the 1970s were a hotbed of experimental, unique and mind-expanding design – perfectly mirroring the progressive music of the time as well as the technology of music recording and photography and being an expansive step away from the 1960s optimism. Classic Album Covers of the 1970s is an essential collection of over 200 of the greatest album covers produced during that dark decade. From the Grateful Dead, Roxy Music and David Bowie, to Patti Smith, The Ramones and the Sex Pistols, this volume will prove indispensable to all those interested in the history of album cover graphics and design, and to those whose memories of the seventies are stirred by the record covers of that period.

Focuses on the stories behind 100 of the most memorable album covers in the history of rock and roll music, tracing the history of rock music and culture from Elvis to Blur. The collection has been personally selected by Storm Thorgerson, known for his work on Pink Floyd album covers.

Music lovers have been attracted to the distinct style and sleek sound of jazz since its birth at the turn of the century. The album covers collected in this comprehensive volume under the well-known Blue Note record label embody classic design and pioneering typography. Two hundred color photographs of the album sleeves, an informative history of the Blue Note record company, and a portrait of Reid Miles, who designed nearly 500 album covers, capture the integrity of this distinctive record label. Sophisticated jazz connoisseurs and young listeners alike, as well as those with an interest in style and graphic design, will enjoy this exciting book of jazz memorabilia.

With the resurgence of vinyl going from strength to strength, album cover art is as important as it's ever been. This sumptuous book brings together 250 of the greatest album covers of all time and is arranged chronologically, beginning in 1956. Our judging panel, drawn from the great and the good of the music industry, has selected the final 275 entries, giving their reasons for selection to accompany the illustrations. From rock ‘n’ roll to pop, R&B to jazz, blues and even folk, some of the album covers included are obvious classics, while others will surprise readers and jog memories. The chosen entries might not necessarily be of a best-selling release, but they are important artistically, stylistically or culturally. This fascinating book forms a wonderful visual record of this popular art form, and is an essential read for music fans the world over.

Over 250 Disco-era album covers-from sexy to silly, elegant to outrageous-that brings alive a time when fashion, politics, and sexuality all converged in harmony on the dance floor. Paging through To Disco, with Love is like catching Saturday Night Fever all over again. From Diana Ross and Donna Summer gazing fiercely from their chart topping albums to the Village People's trademark costumes and the Bee Gee's blinding white jumpsuits, To Disco celebrates the days when the dance floor ruled the world. Gathered together and presented chronologically, these striking covers tell the story of a moment in time when art and photography, music, and dance changed the world. We see a rapid evolution, from the early days when Disco's roots were firmly planted in Soul, Latin, and Jazz, all the way to the digital revolution of the 1980s. Like fleeting moments caught in the strobe, these covers vibrantly capture our takes on fashion and beauty, wealth and status, sex, race, and even God. As the hair gets bigger, bell bottoms wider, and platform shoes steeper, the vibrancy and energy of this moment in music history is brought back to vivid life. Accompanied by insightful, spirited descriptions that showcase the evolving trends in photography, illustration, and design, To Disco, with Love charts the history of the music and the industry during its groovy heyday.

This volume brings together more than 100 of the best album covers. The collection focuses on the development of the vinyl nude from the adult-orientated sleaze of the 50s, to the brash exhibitionism of the 70s, and its return to more conservative climes.

"Hipgnosis was the design firm of choice for the biggest and best bands of the classic rock era. Formed by Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell in 1968, Hipgnosis was a graphic design studio specializing in creative photography and working mainly in the music business designing album covers for many rock 'n' roll bands including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, 10cc, Yes, Peter Gabriel, Black Sabbath, Paul McCartney, Syd Barrett and Styx, amongst others. For a dozen years Hipgnosis created timeless rock iconography. This is the first book to document their output in detail, focusing on over 60 package designs - from cover to label - written about in entertaining detail by the men who created them. Also included are short essays by musicians (such as Pink Floyd's Nick Mason), artists (Peter Blake) and fellow designers (Paula Scher) on their favorite covers, plus a contextual commentary by Adrian Shaughnessy, as well as unseen photographs and ephemera."--BOOK JACKET.

Along with Blue Note records, the Prestige, Atlantic, Contemporary and Pacific and Riverside Labels were the chief providers of America’s East and West Coast sounds on vinyl. The hard-edged, straight ahead playing of New York’s jazz musicians was perfectly reflected in the moody, monochromatic photography, quirky graphics and bold typography of the record covers: the look, like the sound, was intelligent, disciplined and sophisticated. On the West, the bright colours and playful themes expressed the funky sounds of the US's cool, california cool. For the first time ever, Coast to Coast Album Covers brings the two together under one very cool roof.

The complete catalogue of design collective Hipgnosis, showcasing groundbreaking cover art created for iconic rock ’n’ roll giants, including the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd The complete, definitive, and never-before-published catalogue of album covers created by the legendary design agency Hipgnosis, this volume finally does justice to the work of the most important design collective in music history. Founded in 1967 by Storm Thorgerson, Aubrey “Po" Powell, and Peter Christopherson, Hipgnosis gained a legendary status in graphic design, transforming the look of album art forever and winning five Grammy nominations for package design. Their revolutionary cover art departed from the conventional group shots favored by record companies of the day, resulting in groundbreaking, often surreal designs inextricable from the major albums of many of the biggest names in the history of popular music: AC/DC, Black Sabbath, The Police, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Syd Barrett, The Who, Wings, Yes, and XTC, to name but a few. Arranged chronologically, Vinyl . Album . Cover . Art features stunning reproductions of every single Hipgnosis cover—more than 300 in total—for the first time, along with pertinent insights from the rock ’n’ roll legends whose albums are featured and behind-the-scenes photography. The text, written by Powell, and with contributions by Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, and Nick Mason, brims with information that illuminates the album art and the compelling stories behind each cover’s creation.