So I’ve been using the Apple Music Store for a couple of months now. The other night at around 2 AM I got it stuck in my head that I had to buy Boston’s first album, and the whole transaction took 10 minutes and less than 10 bucks.
But this one in particular is one of those albums that just defined my childhood. I never actually owned it, but whenever I went to anyone’s house you could always see that album cover standing out. Dude, it’s got a big spaceship!
I finally, legitimately, bought Boston’s first record, but I don’t get the album cover or the liner notes or any of the stuff I saw as a kid. It shouldn’t matter, but does it? How important are the album covers and liner notes to the whole process of presenting or buying an album? What’s the best alternative with something like online music – websites, Flash presentations, what?
For me, it doesn’t affect my buying judgement. If I wanted a CD, and it had an ugly cover, I wouldn’t think “Hey, this is too ugly to be in my collection” and put it down. But that’s not to say I don’t appreciate good covers.
I think a good cover would have to be thought up by the artist/band instead of hiring some guy to just whip up a cover for them. Knowing the band put it together makes me feel like there’s another creative part of them I can get to know. Also, I always like it when they include their lyrics, and ledgible track listings in the back. Other than that, I don’t really care either way.
As for online music, flash is a NO NO. My desktop is pretty fast and speedy, but my laptop lags with flash. I don’t go to a lot of online sites for downloading music because I usually use programs, but the most important thing, I think is a good search button. I think that’s pretty much standard though.
I don’t exactly have high expectations when it comes to music. If the music is good, a bad cover can’t deter it.
The most effective covers, IMHO, are those that reflect the latest in contemporary design. Good examples through the ages would be the Beatles’ Revolver, the Rolling Stones’ Black and Blue, the Smiths’ Meat is Murder, Radiohead’s OK Computer and some .Sonic Youth releases.
I don’t think that cover design plays much of a part in the sales of an album as much as it serves to placate the design urges of the band. Most bands have a strong interest and final say in the design of their covers and, with few exceptions, that’s why most covers look bad. One of my favorite records is the Replacements’ “Tim”, and it has one of the worst covers ever. Of course the 'Mats were hitting the bottle pretty hard in those days.
As far as online music goes I think the above goes for that too; just subsitute “album cover” with “website.”
As far as having the band come up with the album cover art, that’s usually a horrible thing to do, because while they may well be very good musicians, their talents as far as visual arts quite often lead a lot to be desired.
That being said, I’d advise you to check out both of the following books by Storm Thorgerson:
Both of these book go into great detail about what went into the making of various album covers, and the Pink Floyd book also gives a number of rejected album cover designs.
I misspoke a bit above.
the band usually is involved in the album cover process, in fact they usually but not always have final approval over the cover.
Depends on how much clout and pull the artist has with the label.
Like others have already said, a horrible cover isn’t going to deter me from buying a CD I want. However, the cover artwork and liner notes are an integral part of the new album experience to me, and are a big part of why I continue to buy CDs rather than pay to use the legitimate download sites. Getting a few files on my computer just isn’t the same as coming home from the store, popping a shiny new CD into the machine and sitting down to both enjoy the music and flip through the booklet.
Huh? All the stuff on sale at the iTunes Music Store has the cover art included. Do this:
Open up iTunes.
Click the “Cover art” button in the lower-left corner (the rightmost one) to open the art window.
If the window’s title reads “Now playing”, click the title to change it to “Selected Song”
Click on any of the songs on your album – the art should appear in the window.
Click on the thumbnail to get a full-size image.
It’s a fun little iTunes feature. And if you feel like adding cover art for the stuff you already ripped, Amazon.com is a good place to grab images and stick 'em into iTunes.
One of the best features is the grouping of album covers by similar elements. Fascinating to see some of the themes, and while rock is the most represented catergory, jazz, blues, latin and disco are all represnted.
Edited by Roger Dean (who did most of the Yes album covers) AND Storm Thorgerson. In fact there are a series of them, going through at least Album Cover Album 5
And Mr. Dean’s own book Views is also well worth hunting up. The book, like the one above, is 11.5 inches square, approx the size of a record album, and includes full page color reproductions of many album covers without the writing overprinted. (Hint:They make great wallpaper when scanned in).
Also Dean’s design work for a number of other rock groups, record labels, architecture, even space-age ATVs. Highly recommended. To see one is to buy it immediately.
Thanks, I had no idea – I always thought that button was another eject button or something. It’s a nice touch.
Liner notes are still a big deal. I never would’ve understood what was going on with Dave Brubeck’s Time Out if I hadn’t read the liner notes. But again, I see that with the new version of iTunes and the big push for Windows, they’ve started including more info with some of the albums.
One of the best features is the grouping of album covers by similar elements. Fascinating to see some of the themes, and while rock is the most represented catergory, jazz, blues, latin and disco are all represnted.
Edited by Roger Dean (who did most of the Yes album covers) AND Storm Thorgerson. In fact there are a series of them, going through at least Album Cover Album 5
And Mr. Dean’s own book Views is also well worth hunting up. The book, like the one above, is 11.5 inches square, approx the size of a record album, and includes full page color reproductions of many album covers without the writing overprinted. (Hint:They make great wallpaper when scanned in).
Also Dean’s design work for a number of other rock groups, record labels, architecture, even space-age ATVs. Highly recommended. To see one is to buy it immediately.
