Tag Archives: Cover art

Vintage album cover, sheet music art collection

 

 

'Sweet Child', Cover illustration -- Fabien Loris-(1925)

‘Sweet Child’, Cover illustration — Fabien Loris–1925

 

In the early 1900s, music publishers in the USA had drawn the connection that the marketability of sheet music was directly related to the quality and artistic input of the covers. The NY firm of Leo Fiest promoted the artistic development of decorative covers where the beauty of the design and colour scheme was solely important or with illustrative covers, the story of the song influenced the art.

The inclusion of enticing cover art in the creation of a brilliant album was also recognised as a valuble marketing asset by the record companies, especially from the 50’s onwards.. Along with the essential element of the music it became a definitive part of how the package was percieved and it became a potent cultural influence. Abstract, avant garde art became more aligned with modern jazz music releases in the 50’s and acted as a subtle art lesson for many of the music connoisseurs. Surrealist art, collages and provocative art also featured in the 60s with the likes of Mati Klarwein’s art for Miles Davis Bitches Brew LP album and the quirky, humorist art of Robert Crumb on Joplin’s Cheap Thrills album.

Browsing through a large album collection was like visiting an art gallery, which is why Tony Bennett said of the marvellous album covers of the 50’s that, when you bought a record, “you felt like you were taking home your very own work of art”. Incisive portrait photography was also introduced at this time along with ambitious photographic themes and exotic graphics as used on Axis Bold As Love from Hendrix. Klaus Voormann’s pop artwork on the Beatles Revolver was also praised for the classic 1966 album. When he heard the tracks for the recording at the Abbey Rd studios he was so shocked by the extent of their innovation that he felt a radical piece of artwork was needed, leading to his monochrome, psychedelic and Beardsley inspired sleeve art. Bold, artistc and original cover art had now become entrenched with the release of music.

 

‘Flamin Mamie’ published by Leo Feist, NY

1925

 

 

John Lennon asked Klaus Voormann to create a design for the Revolver album. Manager Brian Epstein was so enthralled with the result that they approached more art designers for the upcoming Sgt Peppers.

 

For ‘Tomorrow Never Knows” John Lennon hoped to sound nothing like his usual self. “I want my voice to sound like the Dalai Lama chanting from a mountaintop, miles away,” he proclaimed in the studio. Engineer Geoff Emerick achieved that effect by running Lennon’s voice through the rotating speaker of a Leslie cabinet,  “That is bloody marvelous!” Lennon exclaimed repeatedly after hearing his effect. McCartney’s reaction was equally joyful: “It’s the Dalai Lennon!”   There was no other place for this track on the album but the end. “Eleanor Rigby,” “I’m Only Sleeping,” “Love You To” and “She Said She Said” were all bold steps toward the unknown — “Tomorrow Never Knows” was the jump from the cliff.

 

 

David Stone Martin cover art

David Stone Martin cover art

1953

 

 

The Strange Waltz,-1922--Roger De Valerio

‘The Strange Waltz’ – sheet music art Roger De Valerio

1922

 

 

From-the-1904 Broadway Musical,-'Piff! Paff! Pouff!'---Radium Dance by RetroRocketeer,-via-Flickr

‘The Radium Dance’ by Jean Schwartz – from the 1904 Broadway Musical, ‘Piff! Paff! Pouff!’

RetroRocketeer, via Flickr

 

 

LP Album ‘Bitches Brew’ – Miles Davis

German painter Mati Klarwein

 

Party After Hours – Wynonie Harris

Aladdin 703

 

Wynonie Harris – ‘Around The Clock’- 1955

 

 

1924-Jan Garber-Jazz Sheet Music-(I Never Care About Tomorrow)

Jan Garber Jazz Sheet Music – ‘I Never Care About Tomorrow’

1924

 

 

1956,-‘Relaxin’ With The Miles Davis Quintet

‘Relaxin’ With The Miles Davis Quintet

1956

 

 

Zule Guerra

Zule Guerra – ‘El Viaje’ 

 

 

‘Marcianita’   Billy Cafaro & Lucio

Cover art by Daniel Bacelar and Os Conchas, 1960

 

 

Afif Brothers Quartet-@ The Fringe by Dozign

Afif Brothers Quartet @ The Fringe by Dozign

 

 

Earth,Wind and Fire---Millenium

Earth,Wind and Fire—‘Millenium’

 

 

‘Jarabi’ by AfroCubism

2010

 

 

bryan-ferry-orchestra

Bryan Ferry Orchestra

 

 

Perlen Der Celopatra – art by Willy Herzig

 

 

Boogie-Woogie-piano -Albert-Ammons

Boogie Woogie Classics – Albert Ammons

 

 

Patrick Latimer

 

 

Calypso Vol. II, illustration by David Stone Martin.

Calypso Vol. II, label: Disc (1946) early illustration by David Stone Martin.

 

 

What's-Going-On - Marvin Gaye soul

‘What’s Going On’ – Marvin Gaye

 

 

Cover - The Incomparable Jelly Roll Morton

The Incomparable Jelly Roll Morton

 

 

Castillian Nights fox trot

Artwork by Raymond Erny, ‘Castilian Nights’

1927

 

 

Hello-ma-baby.1899-From-Duke-Digital-Collections

‘Hello ma baby’,  Howard and Emerson

1899

 

 

Igor Stravinski--1940

Igor Stravinski–Columbia

1940

 

‘The Prophet Speaks’ – Van Morrison

 

 

Javapache – B. Cherubinbi

 

 

Joni-Mitchell-Hejira-album

Joni Mitchell — Hejira

 

 

 

 

Mes Del Jazz

 

 

'Underneath The Havana Moon' - Mark Gordon/Mark Revel

‘Underneath The Havana Moon’ – Mark Gordon /Mark Revel

 

 

Eddie Daniels – Live at Iridium

 

 

Jazz Festival-Monterey

Monterey Jazz Festival

 

 

Joe Henderson Big Band

 

 

Joje Loco Mambo

Joe Loco – ‘Mambo Y Cha-Cha Cha ‘

1962

 

 

French 'Kamgaroo Dance' - Ad Gauwin

‘Kamgaroo Dance Cake Walk’ – Ad Gauwin, France

 

Mambo for Cats album cover

Mambo for Cats – Album cover design by Jim Flora

1955

 

Count Basie

Count Basie – art by David Stone Martin

 

 

Desmond Decker and the Aces, 1968

 

 

Stanley Turrentine – ‘Easy Walker’

 

 

It Is Springs Mistake – art by Einer Nerman

1912

 

 

Empire State March art deco poster

Empire State March – E.Henri Klickmann

 

 

The Exotic Sounds of Martin Kenny

The Exotic Sounds of Martin Kenny

 

 

Sheet music cover art – Willy Herzig

 

 

 

Art Willy Herzig music Eduard May

Art Willy Herzig

 

 

Meade Lux Lewis-the-Cat house piano-the-designer--David Stone Martin--1955

Meade Lux Lewis- ‘Cat house piano’

designer–David Stone Martin–1955

 

 

Mothers Finest

Mothers Finest funk rock

 

 

Design: David Stone Martin 1950

 

nico-gomez-selftitled-afro-cover-gecomp

Nico Gomez pink afro

 

 

 

Orchidee, s.d. (ill. Paul Telemann)

Orchidee (illustrator Paul Telemann)

 

 

Raymond-Emy art for Suivez La

Raymond Emy art for Suivez La

 

 

Samba-Dorpheus New Orleans poster

Samba Dorpheus New Orleans

 

 

Sheet-Music--1915,The-'Jelly-Roll'-Blues,-composed-by-Fred-'Jelly-Roll'-Morton

The ‘Jelly Roll’ Blues, composed by Fred ‘Jelly Roll’ Morton

1915

 

 

‘Some Smoke’ – S.Romberg

 

 

Sista-Varvet-musik eric-alberg

Sista Varvet

 

 

Sonny Rollins

 

 

It dont mean a thing if it aint got that swing

‘It don’t mean a thing if it aint got that swing’ – Duke Ellington

 

 

The-Sound-Of-Tiki -- Swen A Kirsten

The Sound Of Tiki — Swen A Kirsten

 

 

Tin Roof Blues -- New Orleans Rythym Kings

‘Tin Roof Blues’ — New Orleans Rythym Kings

 

 

Tito Puente-(USA)-1958-Art Jaro Fabry

Tito Puente-(USA)–Art Jaro Fabry

1958

 

poster-image-inspired by jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt,--illustrator Nearchos Ntaskas

Poster inspired by jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt,–illustrator Nearchos Ntaskas

 

 

 

Billie holiday Al lor Nothing at all

Billie holiday ‘All or Nothing at all’

David Stone Martin

 

 

Lionel Hampton Quintet

Lionel Hampton Quintet

David Stone Martin cover art

 

 

 

What is this thing called love-Cole Porter

‘What is this thing called love’ – Cole Porter

 

 

Yo yo love you and adore you,-1923-(ill--Charles Gesmar

‘Yo yo love you and adore you’  —  illustrator–Charles Gesmar

1923

 

 

Donna Vatra – Tango serenade Arghentine

Art by Willy Herzig

 

 

harmonica_blues album art R.Crumb

Harmonica Blues – cover art by Robert Crumb

 

 

Chromatica - Lady GaGa 

‘Chromatica’ – Lady GaGa

Photo – Norbert Schoerner

 

 

Benjamin Jephta Quintet--homecoming Mzwandile-Buthelezi

Benjamin Jephta Quintet — ‘Homecoming’

Cover art – Mzwandile Buthelezi