Last month, the Rock family lost an important person in the history of the genre – and chances are, you never heard of him. But you are sure familiar with his work.
Strom Thorgerson, the guy who designed album covers like Dark Side of the Moon and other iconic LPs from Pink Floyd, 10cc, Zeppelin (Houses of the Holy), Genesis (A Trick of the Tail), and many others. His company, Hipgnosis, designed hundreds of album covers, elevating that genre to a true art form.
At one time, I owned a coffee table book of Hipgnosis album art and spent hours looking over those amazing covers. Album covers are a lost art. During their heyday in the ‘60s and ‘70s, they allowed fans to become closer to the music and the vision of the musicians in ways that CD jewel cases, websites and Facebook fan pages cannot.
From song lyrics to art to pictures to credits, great album artwork revealed a very different side of the music. Listening to music was a more focused activity. Instead of shuffling from one band, genre, or style to another – and back again – the process of listening to an entire album was different. It provided the time to sit down, look at the front, back, and in some cases the inside, while you discovered and enjoyed the music – and what went into it. And it was designers like Thorgerson who provided their own interesting interpretations of the music with their art.
Notably, he was apparently not an easy craftsman to work with. On Floyd’s website, drummer Nick Mason wrote, “Scourge of management, record companies and album sleeve printers; champion of bands, music, great ideas and high, sometimes infuriatingly high, standards. Endlessly intellectual and questioning. Breathtakingly late for appointments and meetings, but once there, invaluable for his ideas, humor and friendship.”
When we think back to some of the most creative people we’ve ever worked with in radio, chances are they were a bit lacking in the social skills department. But you put up with that because you enjoy and benefit from their genius and talent.
Back to Thorgerson’s legacy, I could wax nostalgic about the demise of the vinyl record, but that would be a mistake. Because an interesting thing is happening – it’s called a revival. It turns out that vinyl sales soared 16% last year (CDs were down), and they were up 36% in 2011.
Something’s going on here as Boomers and their kids rediscover the lost art of LPs and the album artisans who designed their covers. Late last month, Record Story Day was celebrated for the sixth year, celebrating those cool, independent record stores where browsers love to discover music.
It was not lost on me that Thorgerson passed away close to the time that many music lovers and radio stations celebrated the 40th anniversary of Dark Side.
Like so many great artifacts of the past, albums aren’t going away. Something’s going on here, and it makes you wonder if books might not undergo the same phenomenon at some point.
While digital music is almost in our atmosphere, permeating every environment, website, and device, there is something charming, warm, and rich about albums. They feel good to the touch, and the experience of taking in the artwork from geniuses like Thorgerson is a reminder of just how seminal albums really were in the history of recorded music. And if you own a turntable, you know the simple pleasure of watching the tone arm sink into a vinyl groove, producing something musical and special.
Those who have hung onto their albums (like WCSX morning guy Ken Calvert’s record collection pictured above) know just how satisfying it can be to own hundreds or even thousands of these vinyl treasures. They are as important to the history of rock n’ roll as the music itself.
And an occasional pop or crackle is almost comforting to hear in a perfect, digital world.
(So what’s your favorite album cover?)
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I doubt books will undergo the same phenomenon. Where is the book version of Record Store Day, where fans line up for hours outside their favorite local/independent bookstore?
Also, a shout out to Jack White and Third Man Records…They deserve a huge credit for the revival of vinyl. Where is Third Man’s equal to books?
We also have to look at the general culture around books and vinyl…Isn’t it completely different? It would’ve been before I was alive, but I don’t hear any stories about people picking up the latest book and running home to read it.
Obviously, there is a love for books (and I do love them!), but is it as passionate as vinyl/music? Everyone has stories of picking up their favorite album from their favorite record store. The stories of books and bookstores are rarer.
One of my favorite album covers has to be Black Sabbath’s ‘Black Sabbath.’ Terrifying. Also Metallica’s ‘Metallica.’ So simple, yet so iconic.
Chuck, good thoughts. I especially like the free download when you buy a James Patterson book (for whatever the reason). As for whether books might undergo a similar revival to albums, I believe part of the speed bump is generational. Boomer parents are probably the most passionate about books. Then again, they’re the most passionate about landlines. Thanks for taking the time to opine on our blog.
One more thing – 9 times out of 10, when you purchase a new record, it comes with an .mp3 download code for the entire album. Don’t you think this entices a younger generation to get interested in vinyl?
What if books offered a free download for the e-version when you buy the physical copy?
Fred- Like it. And to your point about Boomers and their kids rediscovering vinyl- I just hung a few framed early 70’s Bowie album covers in my office last week. Meanwhile, my 15 year old daughter went to a record show Sunday and then tweeted “I got vinyls today- Heart, Dreamboat Annie; McCartney, Ram; Joni Mitchell, Blue; Sweet, Desolation Blvd, ALL FOR $13!” 70’s vinyl and Twitter… who’da thought it?
Favorite cover? Can’t go wrong with any Roxy Music album!
jh
Thanks, John, I knew YOU would appreciate today’s post. Many of us Boomers are enjoying watching our kids discover albums. My 21 year-old son LOVES to hang out in record stores, flipping through the bins. Regarding Roxy Music, I had a suggestion on Linked In for the Herb Albert/Tijuana Brass “Whipped Cream” cover. Same deal. Thanks for checking in.
I love the other worldly album covers created by Roger Dean for the progressive rock band Yes.
Gerry, they were always fascinating to the eye and really matched the music. Thanks for mentioning it.
I spent three hours at the record store on national record store day!!! I love all these re-issue exact replica albums, right down to the schools’ out desk that opens up or the pet sounds album I bought that even has the original paper sleeve that showed pictures of all the lame albums the label had for sale like Doris Day,etc. CD’s don’t mean anything to me, it’s like when your pet dies and you rush out to replace them, there is no emotional connection like you have with original copy you had on vinyl.
Tom, thanks for the perspective – which says it all about that emotional attraction to vinyl and what it means to people. And no, I don’t think there will ever be a revival for the CD. Appreciate you taking the time, and hope you bought a few gems on National Record Store Day.
Booker T, Morrison Hotel, and Nuggets! They were all out of Bo Donaldson & the Heywood’s.
And no Sly & the Family Stone? Thanks, Slick.