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45 Rpm
Edited by Spencer Drate. Singles, 45s, 7-inchers-they have many names, but come in only one a square of folded cardboard with a miniature poster on either side. The gold standard of Top 40 playlists for some four decades after their introduction in 1949, these small albums have long been the favorites of DJs and collectors, who prize them for their genius of small-scale graphic design.
45 RPM is the first ever collection of 7-inch sleeves. Organized chronologically, it juxtaposes more than 200 albums, from all genres of music, chosen for their inventive design. It includes albums by such legendary artists as Paul Anka, the Beatles, the Boston Pops, the Clash, Donovan, Dizzy Gillespie, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dean Martin, Curtis Mayfield, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, the Ramones, REM, the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols, Frank Sinatra, Talking Heads, and many others.
Music historian Chuck Granata provides a general introduction to the history of the 45, its place in the music business, and the designers who created the covers.
Each decade of design is introduced by a specialist in that Eric Kohler on the 1950s, Spencer Drate on the 1960s, Roger Dean (designer of the acclaimed albums for the band Yes) on the 1970s, Bob Grossweiner on the 1980s, and Art Chantry on the 1990s and contemporary design.
45 RPM is the first ever collection of 7-inch sleeves. Organized chronologically, it juxtaposes more than 200 albums, from all genres of music, chosen for their inventive design. It includes albums by such legendary artists as Paul Anka, the Beatles, the Boston Pops, the Clash, Donovan, Dizzy Gillespie, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dean Martin, Curtis Mayfield, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, the Ramones, REM, the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols, Frank Sinatra, Talking Heads, and many others.
Music historian Chuck Granata provides a general introduction to the history of the 45, its place in the music business, and the designers who created the covers.
Each decade of design is introduced by a specialist in that Eric Kohler on the 1950s, Spencer Drate on the 1960s, Roger Dean (designer of the acclaimed albums for the band Yes) on the 1970s, Bob Grossweiner on the 1980s, and Art Chantry on the 1990s and contemporary design.
- GenresMusicNonfictionArt
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 7, 2013
Nice little hodgepodge of 45 covers. It was nice to see they included the some rarities (MISFITS, Adverts, Murder City devils just name a few) along with the usually high profile fair ( Rollings Stones, Beattle, etc, etc,. Not at all definitive but well worth admission price.
December 26, 2007
Brief (one page or so) essays introduce each decade from the 1950's through 1990's, followed by full page photographs of some of the most beautifully designed 7inches of the decade. I disagree that the "most powerful cover from this decade" (1980's) is "Watching the Wheels" by John Lennon. I'm certain there are many 7 inches that didn't make it into the book that could take that title.
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December 12, 2008Cool covers from a dying art
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews