Analog Burners

Coast To Coast Album Covers: Classic Record Art From New York To LA

by Graham Marsh and Glyn Callignham

Jazz is forever associated with labels like Blue Note, Prestige, Atlantic, Contemporary, Pacific, and Riverside. Each of these companies strove to communicate the essence of its sound through album covers. Now, this captivating anthology of 400 covers brings East and West together in a bicoastal jam session for the eyes. The hard-edged, straight-ahead playing of New York musicians was perfectly reflected in moody, monochromatic photography, quirky graphics, and bold typography, while bright colors and playful themes expressed the funky vibe of California cool.

This book of Jazz record covers is actually a compilation of 2 different books by these authors; California Cool & East Coasting.There’s also a couple chapters of light descriptions of the Jazz scenes of both coasts and how the artwork that was created and designed matched the music and the scenes. Also included are brief histories of the owners and labels and how/why/when they decided that the artwork was important enough to to invest in designers and artists to supply the records they were producing with unique artwork.

Most of the chapters are written by longtime Jazz heavyweights like William Claxton and Leonard Feather. Album photographers, the labels and a brief timeline are all included, as well as the 400 covers. Although not as in-depth as Gilles’ Peterson and Stuart Baker’s Freedom, Rhythm & Sound book, and without the LP-sized photos, it still makes a nice addition to the collection.

I had also never seen that Thelonious Monk The Unique Thelonious Monk record before, which instantly became one of my favorites. Now I just need to find a copy. It also would look fresh on a shirt.