The first cover courtesy of Alex Steinweiss:  “Smash Song Hits by Rodgers & Hart”  Columbia Records

A sampling of Alex Steinweiss early album cover designs.

A Taschen book of Steinweiss covers and life of work.

Alex Steinweiss, 1947   Photo William P. Gottlieb

Described as the father of record cover design, Alex Steinweiss, died Sunday at the age of 94.  In 1939, after designing hundreds of packages, posters and catalogues for Columbia, Steinwiess convinced Columbia Records’ to let him “design” the first true record cover. Until then, 78s were sold in generic brown sleeves.   He designed over 850 album covers for Columbia, London, Decca, and Everest Records, developing a trademark style and influencing cover artists and designers throughout the remainder of the century.

I wonder what he would have thought of LP Cover Lover.

(54 votes, average: 4.43 out of 5)

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“Rockin’ Robin” b/w “Susie Darlin”  Bell Records

(37 votes, average: 3.16 out of 5)

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Marvin Gaye Super Hits  Motown Records

(56 votes, average: 3.66 out of 5)

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A lovely Childcraft cover from Mercury Records   Hansel and Gretel by Richard Hayes and June Winters.

(36 votes, average: 3.03 out of 5)

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“Weekend Musical”   RCA Victor (Argentina)

(46 votes, average: 4.09 out of 5)

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Richard Hayman and His Orchestra  “Voodoo!”  Mercury Records  UK (1959)  From the liner notes “This record, with its pulsating drum beats, summons you to the dark of the jungle, to the deepest interior of the worlds of fearsome fire and the brewing pot , surrounded by the weird frightening shadows of masks and men.   (Here) are the weird rhythms and sound of a music that is more than just music for it is a brimful of a secret life, distilled in ritual, reflecting its powers of magic that takes hold on its native hearers”

Here’s the American LP cover:

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hayman when he sold me his personal record collection.  His apartment was beautiful – on Park Avenue – and was filled with photos, memorabilia, awards and art from a long career in music.   Known for his prolific output of classical pops, harmonica, lounge, exotica and bachelor pad records, the most valuable LPs in his collection were the ones he never played on or played – a stash of sealed Mainstream psych titles that he had because of his position as Music Director at the label throughout the sixties.

(45 votes, average: 3.76 out of 5)

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From Finland on Star Records   Vita Mossor

(40 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

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“Nocturnes”   The new album release by New Zealand’s fastest rising star, Joe Blossom.   Check it out here:   JOE BLOSSOM

(36 votes, average: 3.25 out of 5)

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Os Bichos Cosmonautas   Odeon Records (Brazil)

(42 votes, average: 2.86 out of 5)

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“Coletanea de Ouro”   Sammy Davis, Jr     Decca Records (Brazil)

(33 votes, average: 2.67 out of 5)

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