Books

In the Groove: Vintage Record Graphics 1940-1960

Average customer rating:

Excellent book, poor binding
Sound pictures.
"Groove"y Covers
Long, lost days of style.
Cool Collection of overlooked medium

In the Groove: Vintage Record Graphics 1940-1960
Eric Kohler
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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For the Record: The Life and Work of Alex Steinweiss
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Naked Vinyl

ASIN: 0811821218

Amazon.com

Whaddya know--turns out size does matter. In this stunning collection of album cover art from 1940 to 1960, it is instantly apparent that despite the advantages CDs may have in the technology or convenience departments, vinyl albums--even based on their sheer proportions--have always been way cooler. This is especially true for this particular era, when cover art was truly an art form, with talented designers handcrafting individualized jackets influenced by surrealism, cubism, and modern artists of the day. And as Tony Bennett says in his preface, "they were large enough to make you feel like you were taking home your very own work of art."

Author Eric Kohler, a graphic designer and album cover artist himself, selected these 250 gorgeous covers from his own collection of over 3,000. He offers a captivating history of the early record industry, addressing the invention of the phonograph in 1877, the near demise of the industry due to competition with radio, and the rejuvenating introduction of the jukebox in 1935. Prior to Columbia Records' release of the 33 rpm vinyl LP in 1948, music fans were restricted to 78s--easily breakable, shellac-based records that could only hold four minutes' worth of music on each side. Victor Records made a competitive strike with the 45 (hence turntables with 33, 45, and 78 options), but its success was limited. Until the 1980s, the LP ruled the land with its roomy cardboard cover--a perfect canvas for artists.

Kohler's focus is on the graphic artists themselves--revolutionaries of the industry. Previously, albums had plain covers that advertised phonograph and record companies rather than performers. But when designer Alex Steinweiss entered the scene in 1939 (at the tender age of 23) he changed the business of cover art forever. Kohler illustrates the styles of eight such prominent cover artists--Steinweiss's trademark curly-scrawl script, Jim Flora's cartoonish images recalling Joan Miró and Paul Klee--with such accuracy that readers are able to immediately recognize and differentiate their work. Although the sun shone on these artists for only a brief time (the advent of photographic covers in the late 1950s all but obliterated their influence), these 20 years paint a fascinating portrait of popular music, modern art, and even business development. Best of all, Kohler serves up page after glorious, glossy page of big, beautiful album covers. --Brangien Davis

Book Description

What the much-admired Blue Note: The Album Cover Art and Blue Note 2 did for jazz, In the Groove does for the sounds of the '40s and '50s, when swing and bebop took off. Selected for their noteworthy design and wonderful illustrations, these visual stunners range from jazz to popular tunes to classical and Latin styles. But it's the lounge vibe that truly runs wild as we tour more than 300 sensational album covers, including seldom-seen issues from Decca, Blue Note, and other labels. A brief text explains what design was like before the photograph took over and how the invention of the LP changed the record business forever. Author Eric Kohler also introduces the stand-out designers and key labels of the period. Cole Porter, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Desi Arnaz, Carmen Miranda their best album covers are all here, and they're all sizzlin' in the heyday of hip. Easy on the eyes, In the Groove is the real thing: the great covers created by the great designers for the musical greats of yesteryear.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book, poor binding.......2005-10-04

This is a fantastic book for album cover designs. But as I was warned, the glue on the binding really does gives out after the first reading. But the content is so incredible, it's worth purchasing this book...just be sure to handle it carefully so you don't loose your pages.

Sound pictures........2002-12-14

Mr Kohler presents two hundred and fifty covers (from his large collection) which he rightly thinks show the best of album design in the early years of the LP. He features eight artist/designers who created some of the most distinctive work in cover art. Two of them are my favorites, David Stone Martin who gave Norman Granz's Clef label some beautiful cover illustrations (twenty are shown) and Reid Miles who created the east coast look to Blue Note Records. Unfortunately only four of his covers are shown but you can see dozens more in the two books by Graham Marsh: The Cover Art of Blue Note Records and The Cover Art of Blue Note Records, Vol.2. The other six designers range from the unique illustrations of RCA's Jim Flora to the work of Swiss born designer Erik Nitsche and his semi abstract work for Decca. Record companies are also featured and you can see the beginnings of the Capitol Records house style, I think they were the only major company to produce consistently well designed covers with excellent photography and typography.

Though all these covers are interesting to look at I don't think too many work as complete design units, that is image and text complement each other, mostly they are images with text added later. One cover that I like is on page eighty-one, it shows a file-card box and the albums title, 'Guide to Jazz' is typed on a card which is resting against the box, the tabs of the other cards have musical instruments on them, a simple creative idea that works. Strangely the designer is unknown.

I doubt you will see as good a coverage of the early years of the LP as this (well produced) book but have a look at this title that concentrates on jazz covers from the fifties and sixties, Jazz West Coast: Artwork of Pacific Jazz Records. It has dozens of examples of creativity on paper twelve inches square, somehow CD covers just can't compete with that.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer image' under the cover.

"Groove"y Covers.......2002-06-05

Being a music lover, I've never been partial to one type of music only--I have a passion for everything from rock to classical, pop to country, even from jazz to techno. Something in all of these styles intrigues me. And how intriguing is this incredible book by Eric Kohler. I never thought I'd "get into" a book dedicated solely to album covers from 1940-1960, but I was wrong. The music lover in me kicked in, and I found myself fascinated with the glorious color photos, the revealing and well-researched text, and with the artists themselves. This album cover artistry really has diminished with the advent of the much-smaller compact disc (which is a truly disappointing fact), but Mr. Kohler's book rapturously captures the vividness of the times, the artists, the moods, and the music of those two decades. It took me back to the time when I myself used to stare at the covers of my records for hours while playing them over and over again - this classic book uncovers that wonderful feeling inside you once more. And to top it all off, Mr. Tony Bennett himself writes an introduction that's both classy and sentimental. This is a great book for any music lover with a coffee table -- and an open mind towards how art has influenced music (and vice versa) in so many ways.

Long, lost days of style........2001-08-01

As a graphic designer, I get so flustered when I see the same old CD covers now: a photo of the artist or band, and their name scribbled on top, or a really un-inspired text treatment, most likely using some wretched Photoshop tool like, alien skin or eye candy- blech! Perhaps modern day CD's skimp on the design work of the covers because they are so much smaller now. But back in the days of LP's and 45's art was generously splashed on covers. Full-colored, stylized and oh, so hip! Each one fit to be framed and displayed. "In the Groove: Vintage Record Graphics, 1940-1960" effectively chronicles the history of this long, lost art-form in a picture-book style. I say picture-book, because of the lack of background information on many of the pieces, in fact there are quite a few pieces that are listed as "unknown designer", how unfortunate! Some poor old designer dedicated his or her life to creating some stunning art to attract music lovers' eyes to this or that particular record, and now they're the "unknown designer". Eric Kohler did his best grouping together styles of record graphics, so seeing the evolution of style was very nicely mapped-out. Nice quality paper, nice printing... would've been nicer in hardback. Still, this is one of my favorite books!

Cool Collection of overlooked medium.......2001-02-21

I liked this book so much that I bought a copy for my record-collecting boyfriend and a DJ friend with a varied and ecclectic vinyl collection.

When I thought of record cover art, I thought of those fantasy-styled "YES" covers, or the metal band covers of the 80's. I had no idea about how many cool vintage record covers were out there.

The book focuses on covers from 1940-1960. You'll find many jazz, swing and vocalists represented here. The reproductions are excellent and the variety is impressive. While most covers are reproduced in 3x3inches, quite a few are refresented as full pages which is about a 9-inch square. It is organized by artist and record company, showing you how the artist's style influenced the cover.

I highly recommend it for record collectors, vintage enthusiasts, graphic designers/illustrators and those who love old things. It made me miss the 12-inch vinyl covers all the more and has inspired me to track specific albums down. CDs can never match the emotional connection that vinyl did.

Average customer rating:

Classic
excellent book; makes a great guide to blue note records
Compact size - great content

Blue Note: Album Cover Art
Graham Marsh , and Glyn Callingham
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Blue Note: The Album Cover Art
In the Groove: Vintage Record Graphics 1940-1960
The Blue Note Years: The Jazz Photography of Francis Wolff
Blue Note: Jazz Photography of Francis Wolff
Blue Note Records: The Biography

ASIN: 0811836886

Book Description

Smaller in trim size, greatly expanded in content, this compendium of Chronicle’s classic Blue Note books (50,000 copies sold) is now an appealingly chunky paperback. Blue Note remains one of the most influential jazz labels of all time, and its cover art is a virtual time-capsule of cool. Now comprehensive, Blue Note: Album Cover Art gathers nearly 400 of the legendary covers, spanning the ’40s to the ’70s, and features the greatest work of legendary Blue Note art director Reid Miles. Simple and sophisticated, moody and alluring, these covers continue to influence designers and excite jazz aficionados today. "One glance," as Esquire said of the original edition, "and you’ll know where the essence of cool remains."

Customer Reviews:

Classic.......2004-06-21

Blue Note Records not only released Classic Albums but also had Classic Album Covers that covered so much more.the Book displays the many images&stylings.if you get a chance watch the special on Blue Note Records which goes into full depth about the Music,Artists,Owners of the Label&those Classic album covers. enjoy.

excellent book; makes a great guide to blue note records.......2003-11-07

This compact book gives examples of some of the greatest album covers, to some of the finest albums, and now cds, issued by the label. It also makes a great guide for albums to check out, to see if they are still in print; which many of them are. Even for the out of print ones, it provides a nice collection for information purposes, and is reasonably priced. I look forward to finding and buying volume 2.

Compact size - great content.......2003-01-15

I have the two other editions of the Blue Note album covers (the ones that are the size of an album) and I love to look at them. The only problem is that they are a little too big to sit and flip through. The size of this book- "Blue Note: Album Cover Art" is perfect for flipping through. It looks small but packs a wonderful punch. I couldn't believe how many album covers were in this book. This book fits nicely on a coffee table or end table. If you are like me, you'll find yourself looking at it daily - in amazement of the style and class that embodies the Blue Note image.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful, but the binding is lousy
The Originals
A MUST for the BLUE NOTE fan !!
Classic inovating design
Blue Note: Best Jazz & Best Jazz Album Covers

Blue Note: The Album Cover Art
Graham Marsh
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Blue Note: Album Cover Art
Blue Note: Jazz Photography of Francis Wolff
The Blue Note Years: The Jazz Photography of Francis Wolff
In the Groove: Vintage Record Graphics 1940-1960
The Greatest Album Covers of All Time

ASIN: 0811800369

Book Description

Music lovers have been attracted to the distinct style and sleek sound of jazz since its birth at the turn of the century. The album covers collected in this comprehensive volume under the well-known Blue Note record label embody classic design and pioneering typography. Two hundred color photographs of the album sleeves, an informative history of the Blue Note record company, and a portrait of Reid Miles, who designed nearly 500 album covers, capture the integrity of this distinctive record label. Sophisticated jazz connoisseurs and young listeners alike, as well as those with an interest in style and graphic design, will enjoy this exciting book of jazz memorabilia.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful, but the binding is lousy.......2002-01-31

...the contents are great but after a month the binding has already come apart. The individual pages are bound together seperately, but the cover and spine has seperated from them. Otherwise, I would give this 5 stars. Great reproductions, the colors are fantastic. This makes a great coffee table book.

The Originals.......2001-07-16

It's funny how history repeats itself. As one flips through this well published book. You can see where several artist (mostly hip hop) got their album cover ideas from. The photography (artist name escapes me now) is brillient! These covers legendary and why Blue Note has always set the standard of classic album covers. If you love jazz this is a must have.

A MUST for the BLUE NOTE fan !!.......2001-04-29

Great cover photos for most of the interesting Blue Note LPs.The covers are of the original lp's but sometimes of later releases: Page 10: "Sonny Rollins / A night in the village vanguard" has later "liberty" cover Page 22: Bud Powell 2 lps down the page have later covers.

This is a little problem.

All in all a great fun for the jazz Blue Note fan !!!!

Classic inovating design.......2000-08-18

Found the book great stimulation for page layout design and for revisiting a classic look. Great use of colors. Quite simplistic.

Blue Note: Best Jazz & Best Jazz Album Covers.......2000-08-12

Poor your favorite beverage; play your favorite jazz album; then sit down and enjoy this wonderful collection. If jazz were a book, this would be it! The artwork is stunning and the layout is exceptional. The covers tell a history of jazz that words cannot convey, a story of innovation, rhythm, and of music that comes from the heart.

Average customer rating:

The Blues: Album Cover Art

Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0811811689

Book Description

The blues. Born in the Mississippi Delta and universally recognized as among the great contributions of twentieth-century American culture, this groundbreaking musical form has become one of the most popular and beloved in the world. The Blues: Album Cover Art features nearly 250 of the coolest blues album covers from the '50s and '60s, showcasing some of the greatest musical luminaries of our time-including Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Bessie Smith, and Muddy Waters, among others. A memorable visual compendium for both music and design lovers, this engaging volume captures all the triumph, magnitude, and spirit of a legendary musical genre.

Average customer rating:

There are TWO "first" books! (IGNORE RATING)
Average follow-up to stellar first book
Second only by title.

Blue Note II
Collins and Brown
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Blue Note: The Album Cover Art

ASIN: 0811818535

Customer Reviews:

There are TWO "first" books! (IGNORE RATING).......2004-02-11

My Amazon.com search found two titles of the "first" book, by almost identical names. They not only have a different numbers of pages but also have different Copyright dates! They do, however, have the same author!

One is

Blue Note: Album Cover Art.
127-128 pages. ?1991.

Another is

Blue Note: The Album Cover Art.
288 pages. ?2002.

This should help when making comparisons.

(The Amazon.com submission page would not allow me to not rate this book. But I wanted to include this important information for the buyer. Please ignore my rating since, as of this writing, I have not seen this book.)

Regards,
Stephen DeVore, Seattle, WA / Kirkland, WA (Washington), USA.
HalleluYah! Praise Yah!

Average follow-up to stellar first book.......2000-08-12

The second book has three main problems: 1) The cover art is not nearly as original and creative as the art in the first book.

2) The jazz albums are not as prominent or important as the albums in the first book; therefore, this book is not as historically important as the first.

3) The books are two different sizes; they should line up side-by-side on the bookshelf or look like they were designed as a 2-volume set on your coffee table.

Buy the first book, but I recommend you just check this one out from the library.

Second only by title........2000-04-19

This edition of Blue Note album covers rests so well along with the first edition of this series. This book is great because it features a lot of really obscure Blue Note album covers and some more popular ones. This book really makes you miss vinyl albums. A must have.
Later printings of this book are the same size as Volume I - this wasn't the case before - It was shaped different and I only gave it 4 stars - The publisher fixed the problem and it is now a 5 star gem!

Average customer rating:

California Cool
G. Marsh , and G. Callingham
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

The Blues: Album Cover Art
Graham & Barrie Lewis Marsh
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O6LV0I

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