- Paperback: 160 pages
- Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Publishing (Oct 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 078944951X
- ISBN-13: 978-0789449511
- Product Dimensions: 30.2 x 25.4 x 1.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,751,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
The immediate question that arises with a book entitled 100 Best Album Covers is, of course, "Says who?" Wisely, authors Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell have anticipated such widespread suspicion. In their thorough and amusing introduction, the two former cover designers (of Hipgnosis) go on at length about potentially qualifying factors (innovation, humour, bizarreness, minimalism, audacity) and possible reasons for non-selection (popularity, dull illustration, ugly technique, emotional offensiveness). But, they concede, what it really comes down to is a matter of taste--with a bit of nostalgia thrown into the mix.
In the end, the mysterious (and eternally debatable) selection formula matters not. The history, inspiration, and technical design details provided for each of the 100 covers that made the cut serve as reason enough for their inclusion. Did you know that Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy cover was inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's novel, Childhood's End? Or that the burning man on Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here was actually on fire (and in a bit of danger)? Or that an original idea for Supertramp's Breakfast in America was to depict cereal and milk rolling through the Grand Canyon? Tasty titbits like these, along with quotes from designers, photographers, and the musicians themselves, make this a must-have volume for music fans--yes, even if your personal top 100 covers would constitute an entirely different collection. --Brangien Davis, Amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Covers,
This review is from: 100 Best Album Covers (Paperback)
I have the softback edition and I found it interesting to find out more about some of my favourite album covers. I bought this book after seeing an exhibition about Storm Thorgerson and putting his name into a search engine to find out more.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating insight into Album cover design,
By
This review is from: 100 Best Album Covers (Paperback)
With the upsurge in music downloads, the Halcyon days of the vinyl album seem a distant memory. What a sad loss. This book reminds you why,when you bought music, you really got 'bang for your buck'. Eye-catching artwork, clever use of imagery to put the music into context, often thought provoking, the album cover was an intrinsic part of your music experience.
This book gives a selection of the author's favourite artwork, setting out their criteria as to what makes good design. You may not agree with all of their choices, but each cover has a story to tell, often peppered with 'I never noticed that before' moments. From the brilliant,ethereal cover of the album 'Celestial', by Heavenly bodies, designed using layers of tissue paper in a packing case, that would put a lot of modern computer generated efforts to shame, to the simple homage to Elvis Presley in the design of 'London calling' by the Clash, this eclectic mix makes great reading. Anecdotes from the artists,designers and musicians help weave a fascinating insight into the lost world of graphic design in music. The kids today are really mising out........
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Dorling Kindersley trip into album design,
By Smitty Werbenjaegermanjensen (real name) (Thread rehab facility 37) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: 100 Best Album Covers (Paperback)
This book is very much in the Dorling Kindersley mould, if you are familiar with their books. They have a slightly cold and mechanical way of taking a subject and exploring it without passion. This book is no exception to this trend. Loads of detail, very clearly illustrated and a bit like a scientific dissertation.
100 of the "best", as chosen by Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell, are nicely illustrated and are surrounded with small boxes containing information about key aspects of the design. Therein lies the problem. None of the boxes allow either of the authors to really get going as to what they feel about the design. There are no emotive rants, just cold facts. The facts are interesting and help to inform an appreciation of the designers choice of actions/processes undertaken. The introduction to the main body of the book is thoroughly enjoyable and is enlightening, because the two authors have space to rant. There is a great story about Rod Stewart, riots, machetes, scheming managers and fishing which only serves to make the lack of these storys elsewhere more obvious. More stories like this one would have made the book a much more all round enjoyable read. Plus points - good large images, key facts stated, genuinely talented and knowledgeable authors, wide range of sleeves chosen(50's right up to the 90's, Zappa to Prince), not too many sleeves printed across the spine, physically well put together book(even the paperback version I have), nice bits of anorak detail - font selection, methods of painting/printing, construction of props etc..... Bad points - some images printed across the spine, not enough emotive input or human aspect to the process, clinical in tone I have been spoiled by having read For The Love of Vinyl by the same authors before I read this book, so if you have not read the other book bear in mind that I have seen what these two can do when let loose on their own work. Not the best book on album design, that is For The Love Of Vinyl, but an informative, great value for money and straightforward read.
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