Who remembers album covers?

[Xpensive Wino]

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

Who remembers the giant rolling paper in the Cheech and Chong Big Bambu album?

Better yet, who used it for its intended purpose?

You can't download or stream that s**t for free. Go on and tell me about your progress now millennial.

 

[jb_abides]

Or the poster / sticker swag in 'Dark Side Of The Moon'.

Or the colors exposed using a damp sponge on the inner sleeve of 'In Through The Out Door'.

Many more come to mind...

 

[Xpensive Wino]

Who remembers liner notes?

One of the physical format's most under-appreciated aspects is the now-extinct liner note, an entirely distinct entity from the visual artwork of LP covers.

For many, I suspect that it was an equally vital part of the personal discovery of music.

It's amazing what discoveries could be gleaned from a close reading of the small print in the pre-Internet age, not to mention the clues left in the photos on the reverse side of the cover.

For example, how many of us were impelled to seek particular items of guitar gear by these pics?

The Liner Notes Project

www.thelinernotesproject.com

 

[jb_abides]

Listen to the record!
...
Listen to the record!
...
Listen to the record!
...
Listen to the record!

The Band Boston Fan Site - Boston - Original Recording

Home to the Classic Rock Band from the 70's Boston. Featuring Tom Scholz, Brad Delp, News, Tour Info, Lyrics, Interactive forums and Live Chat Rooms.

www.gonnahitcharide.com

 

[Elmore]

Buy a new album, record it onto a Maxell XL-IIS cassette, and put the album away. Fond memories.

 

[RhinestoneStrat]

This album cover makes me feel like a special V.I.P. member in some sort of a creepy way.

 

[Ed Driscoll]

Someone should make a movie about the art of making album cover art:

(It’s a very good documentary, which is currently on Netflix in America, and available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video. Well worth seeking out.)

 

[Xpensive Wino]

Someone should make a movie about the art of making album cover art:

(It’s a very good documentary, which is currently on Netflix in America, and available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video. Well worth seeking out.)

Coupla of memoirs, too:

Amazon.co.uk

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Work-Hipgnosis-Walk-Away-Rene/dp/0905895088/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2N96XOBN5CW7D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9tpAQ9jPq31ozX-jWc7JWs4YD3bcMYNk-asdCpIHg-0.gOr--Bfxj_ASfvNcpV5UYl8RXSZuEFPmAfO4e6mQSvM&dib_tag=se&keywords=sThe+Work+of+Hipgnosis+%3A+Walk+Away+Rene&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1731647242&sprefix=sthe+work+of+hipgnosis+walk+away+rene%2Caps%2C346&sr=8-2

 

[Xpensive Wino]

Buy a new album, record it onto a Maxell XL-IIS cassette, and put the album away. Fond memories.

 

[Ed Driscoll]

Buy a new album, record it onto a Maxell XL-IIS cassette, and put the album away. Fond memories.

Like my father (who had an enormous jazz record* collection), I was a TDK man, but yeah, absolutely. The goal was both to save the album from becoming unplayable due to too many scratches, and have tapes to play in the car on the way to school. I don’t think I ever anticipated a future filled with satellite radio, having your entire record collection in the cloud, and these days, pretty much all those albums on services such as Amazon Music Unlimited.

* LPs, 78s, reel-to-reel tapes, and cassettes.

 

[Xpensive Wino]

Like my father (who had an enormous jazz record* collection), I was a TDK man, but yeah, absolutely. The goal was both to save the album from becoming unplayable due to too many scratches, and have tapes to play in the car on the way to school. I don’t think I ever anticipated a future filled with satellite radio, having your entire record collection in the cloud, and these days, pretty much all those albums on services such as Amazon Music Unlimited.

* LPs, 78s, reel-to-reel tapes, and cassettes.

But CDs sound better than streaming.

Fight me!

 

[MarcB]

One memorable record purchased used was Deep Purple “made in Japan
I picked through multiple copies in store, to get the best cover and sleeve.. took it home.. stuck it on the turntable.. lit a doob.. laid back on the bed and began staring at the cover.. at one point.. popped the gate fold cover open and a 1971 tour program fell out.. needless to say.. I tripped out.

Since then have always looked inside LP covers..
..and if you have a copy of Paul Weller Stanley Rd.. pop the cover and have a look inside

 

[Johnny Q]

Buy a new album, record it onto a Maxell XL-IIS cassette, and put the album away. Fond memories.

Exactly! Which is why when I got back into vinyl records circa 2012, my 30-40 year old originals were all in mint condition!

 

[renderit]

Sometimes the inside album covers was de bestest

 

[J T]

This place is still there

 

[charliechitlins]

If it wasn't for album covers and liner notes, it would have taken me so much longer to learn about Robert Johnson, Riley King, McKinley Morganfield, Chester Burnett, Ellas McDaniels, Roy Orbison, Earl King, Willie Dixon....the list goes on.
Now we look at a world of music through a keyhole.

 

[jb_abides]

If omit wasn't for album covers and liner notes, it would have taken me so much longer to learn about Robert Johnson, Riley King, McKinley Morganfield, Chester Burnett, Elias McDaniels, Roy Orbison, Earl King, Willie Dixon....the list goes on.
Now we look at a world of music through a keyhole.

Agree, and add fewer and fewer long-form interviews where the subject matter is musical influences, production techniques, and inspirations and influences... not lifestyle, etc.

Perhaps information aggregation coupled with good search/AI will help remedy, to pierce through the fog.

Of course, this assumes thoughtful dialogue to be found within the raw data to begin with!

 

[J T]

Nowadays its hard to find credits.

 

[Greywolf]

I still have about 350 LPs , my mid 30's daughter has dibs on them .. and the analog system to play them through..

I loved the cover art and liner notes of those days .. and they provide handing rolling surfaces .....