Up until the 1940s, records were sold in plain, uniform jackets. In the
post-war years, musicians and record companies discovered that
graphically designed record covers had the potential to boost sales.
Significantly, in the 1960s contemporary artists began to create record
jackets that became an inspiration for others on account of their
radical, ground-breaking designs. Many of them have become symbols
recognised not only by fans but by the wider public, symbols of an era
where artistic freedom, experimentation, and innovation were encouraged.
This book is the first-ever comprehensive introduction to these
resplendent album covers . They have been taken from the extensive
archive of the Dutch designer Jan van Toorn, one of the most active
collectors and a leading expert in the field. The book includes
surrealist designs by Salvador Dalí; covers by famous pop artists such
as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg and Jean-Michel
Basquiat; works by the Vienna-based group 'Wiener Aktionismus'; and
contemporary designs by Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Banksy, and Ai Weiwei.
Special importance is given to the designs from the circle of Fluxus
artists, a radical sixties group who often produced music during their
multimedia performances. The Fluxus artists frequently published their
artwork on records, as did John Cage and Yoko Ono. Another focus of the
book is Raymond Pettibon, who shot to fame when his legendary cover for
the punk band Black Flag exploded into the record stores. Full of famous
names and artists deserving of greater recognition, this book is the
perfect gift for any vinyl-lover.
