I've had this interesting book for a few years and look through it now and again. My view on the contents hasn't changed over the years, at least half of the covers, as designs, aren't really worth a second look, what's left are pretty good. What the book has going for it is the collection of these vintage graphics, when you turn the pages, there is a curiosity value.
The book's main editorial covers eight designers from the 1940s and 1950s. Between their pages are covers from the leading record companies like Capitol, Decca, Columbia, Atlantic, RCA Victor, Verve, Mercury etc. David Stone Martin, an illustrator and designer for Verve, has nineteen covers (the designer with the most in the book). Capitol Records has always produced eye-catching covers, nineteen are included. Incidentally, they were the only company that designed worthwhile back covers with good typography and graphics.
The problem with so many of these covers, especially in the forties and early fifties, is that they were handled by the marketing departments and not designers. It's evident that a photo or illustration was put on the cover and then the type just dropped on. If in doubt angle the type, mix different type faces, bounce the type (as the book's cover) and marketing folk would insist, now and again, to put the track titles on the cover. On page 117 there is a Pete Rugolo jazz LP, from 1955 on the Emarcy label called 'Music for hi-fi bugs' and wouldn't you believe it, the white cover has several photos of beetles and bugs. It says designer unknown.
I think the book is worth getting for a bit of nostalgia and certainly cheap enough now.
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