John Cusack reorganizing his record collection in High Fidelity
The vinyl collection between Jake & I isn’t massive, but there are plenty of gems I’ve been collecting over the years. Besides providing the soundtrack to various moments in my life, I also love records for their imagery – bigger and more impactful than a measly CD, the gatefold of a vinyl record can be like a work of art.
Here are some of my favorites.
(click on any image to enlarge)
The Beach Boys, Sunshine Dream – Front and Back
This record cover is loaded with trippy imagery in quintessential 60′s design. I love the Eagle Eye perspective of the surfboarder, complete with a random pizza surfing the waves with him. This is a record cover that blends well with the beachy jams held inside.
++++++
Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion
A deceivingly simple design, look closely – this cover is actually an optical illusion. It really looks like it’s breathing!
++++++
Karen O and the Kids, Where the Wild Things Are Motion Picture Soundtrack
Siggghhhhh. This album is so good. And the still image used for the cover is perfectly matched with crooked, off-balanced “handwritten” font. Looking at this cover just makes me happy.
++++++
David Bowie, Aladdin Sane, Front Cover & Gatefold
Simply iconic.
++++++
Silversun Pickups, Swoon
I love the fine-art quality of this cover.
The scratches are not a part of the design – those were created by my former evil, EEEEEvilll pet dog, Rascal. Luckily he did not get to the record inside (unlike my favorite Otis Redding album).
++++++
Salt N Pepa, Tramp (Single), Featuring Push It
I was really stoked to discover this gem in the singles rack. It immediately takes me back to being a little kid living on the East Coast in Maryland, wearing my over sized Looney Tunes shirts and hairspraying my bangs into a giant wave on top of my forehead. Check out that logo in the upper right – very clever.
++++++
The Flaming Lips, Embryonic
This image is just bizarre. I don’t even know what it is, really, but it caught my eye immediately in the record shops. I love the intense, highly saturated colors and the yellow scratches overlaying the image. The photograph is one that could have sexual overtones, but, it doesn’t. It’s just weird.
++++++
T. Rex, The Slider, Front & Back
Black, White and Red, this cover is immediately eye-catching.
++++++
The Sugarcubes, Deus (Single)
Man, my scanner couldn’t even do this justice. The question mark is an amazing super neon orange – this cover just pops.
++++++
Waylon Jennings, Greatest Hits
Good ol’ Waylon! Faux leather, gold trimmed lettering, the flying “W”, and Waylon’s hat breaking the border – I love this cover. It reminds me of being back home in Arizona.
I think it’s time to put my turntable to use.
-LW
