How important were album covers in your purchases?

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If I remember correctly, I haven't bought much based on the cover alone. In the early days of my music interest I read the Rock Lexikon and a book collecting all Sounds album reviews from 67-77 (both German language publications), so I had a good number of things I wanted to buy and check out when I found them on flea markets (not much money available at that age of course). Cover alone was too risky for me and it pretty much stayed like that. I always had too many ideas what to buy for my money (or later time). I may have occasionally preferred an album with cool cover from a band I already had on my list, or even knew already, so after having heard Going For The One as my first Yes album, I'd buy Yessongs, Tales, Relayer on occasion but avoid CTTE and the Yes Album. 

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Lewian Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: August 09 2015 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 14242	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lewian Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 01 2022 at 14:24
	If I remember correctly, I haven't bought much based on the cover alone. In the early days of my music interest I read the Rock Lexikon and a book collecting all Sounds album reviews from 67-77 (both German language publications), so I had a good number of things I wanted to buy and check out when I found them on flea markets (not much money available at that age of course). Cover alone was too risky for me and it pretty much stayed like that. I always had too many ideas what to buy for my money (or later time). I may have occasionally preferred an album with cool cover from a band I already had on my list, or even knew already, so after having heard Going For The One as my first Yes album, I'd buy Yessongs, Tales, Relayer on occasion but avoid CTTE and the Yes Album.

Catcher10 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: December 23 2009 Location: Emerald City Status: Offline Points: 17733	Post Options Post Reply Quote Catcher10 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 01 2022 at 13:08
	Artwork is huge for me, I bought many many albums due to the artwork that I had not clue what the genre was. For the most part I could have an idea based on song titles and musicians and what they were playing.


BaldFriede Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: June 02 2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 10261	Post Options Post Reply Quote BaldFriede Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 01 2022 at 11:19
	I bought my brother "Godbluff" for his seventeenth birthday (which was my seventh birthday as well) based on the album cover (actually based on the cool logo with the impossible 3D-letters); he didn't know VdGG back then. Edited by BaldFriede - May 01 2022 at 11:20
	BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.

The Anders Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 02 2019 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 3529	Post Options Post Reply Quote The Anders Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 01 2022 at 10:47
	Well the album cover is often used as a signal about what to expect musically. If there are dragons, elfs and fairies, I usually sense it is not for me, whereas I often fall for a more concretist design.

David_D Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: October 26 2010 Location: Copenhagen Status: Offline Points: 13542	Post Options Post Reply Quote David_D Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 01 2022 at 07:59
	The artwork has always been very important to me, as I've thought of albums as a kind of multimedia - not least LP's. Besides that, I've seen throughout the years that if I like the cover, the probability for I'll like the music is much larger. It's a bit like I can perceive the music looking at the cover, and imo that's not least the purpose of good artwork. Edited by David_D - May 04 2022 at 04:37
	quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond

JD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: February 07 2009 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 18428	Post Options Post Reply Quote JD Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 01 2022 at 06:51
	Cover art was always an IN for me to check out unknown artists, but once I had the LP in my hands it was immediately flipped over to check out the instrumentation used (if listed). Many LP's back in the day (70's) had the band members listed along with what they played. If I saw one member with an array of keyboards, Organ, Piano, synths I was more likely to buy it than for just the art work itself. Edited by JD - May 01 2022 at 08:52
	Thank you for supporting independently produced music

BrufordFreak Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 25 2008 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 7999	Post Options Post Reply Quote BrufordFreak Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 01 2022 at 06:28
	Or better put: How important were album covers in your record store purchases? I can name numerous times when an album's art work either lured me into purchasing an album by an otherwise-unknown-to-me artist or turned me off. Back when hanging out in record stores, flipping through album bins, was the highlight of my day/week. On: Any and all Roger Dean covers Genesis Live's amazing stage photo of spectre in the pink triangle mask! Anthony Phillips' Peter Cross albums, starting with The Geese and The Ghost and Private Parts and Pieces Cocteau Twins and all 1980s 4 AD releases. David Sylvian Off: All Gentle Giant, Magma, and Soft Machine releases from the 1970s. Their album covers just didn't draw me in! How 'bout you?
	Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/