Album Art Comes to Portland

 The album cover as an art form was driven out of existence by profit driven recording companies.  The University of Southern Maine & WMPG Radio present an opportunity to view & purchase a huge assortment of album cover art  (and the music) at the WMPG RECORD SALE & BENEFIT!   

Here's the backstory: 

Recording & reproduction of sounds in the late 20th century & 21st century was a truly dynamic time in invention.  It was the phonautographic cylinders of Leon Scott in 1857 that was then improved in 1877 by the inventor Thomas Edison into the Phonograph,  this can-like cylinder with engraved wax on the outside was the cutting edge of technology and the Edison "records" as they were called had a glory period from 1888-1915.  The evolution of recording then went flat, literally with the advent of the gramaphone recording system.  This flat shelacked rubber disc would eventually triumph over the phonographic cylinders and held a predominant position as the prefered medium for recorded sound for nearly a century.  The flat records went through many of their own changes from as small as 5 inches to 7 inches, then the ever popular 10" 78 rpm eventually going to a 12 inch 33&1/3 rpm Long Playing "LP" with approximatly 15 minutes of recording per side.  For a brief period in the mid century the RCA company released a 7 inch with a larger center hole that could have multiple discs loaded into their playing machine, the explosion of this new 45 rpm disc ruled for time, only to have the LP return and dominate the blossoming music recording industry.    The recordings now called "Albums" withstood a competive run from reel to reel tape, the tape cassette & my favorite the 8-track cartridge. It wasn't until 1988 that the tables would turn.  The compact disc surpassed the gramophone record in popularity. Many believe it was the record companies themselves that pushed the industry into the compact disc.  This new formate was much more profitable than the larger vinyl records. Record companies also deleted many vinyl titles from production and distribution, further undermining the availability of the format thus accelerated the format's decline in popularity. Many view these actions as a deliberate ploy to make consumers switch to CDs.  In spite of their flaws, such as the lack of portability, records still have enthusiastic supporters and most recently have seen increases in production & sales.

    

 WMPG Record sale or vast collection of period art? 

I personally love the 12" Album covers as a unique medium for art.  The cover photographs of bands reflect the era of their production in a way no other can portray.  The psychedelic art covers from bands like King Crimson, the artwork of "Hipgnosis" (Aubrey Powell & Storm Thorgerson) think Dark Side of Moon or Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy,  or Lee Conklin's 1st album cover for Santana are a few of my favorites.  Everyone is familiar with Mouse's work for the Grateful Dead, it became the logo of a lifestyle, the Skeleton & Roses. The Cubist works of graphic designer S.Neil Fujima on the Jazz Albums Ah uM by Mingus & Dave Brubeck's Time out are unique and accent how cool jazz was at that time. These are but a few memorable covers.  The LP cover offered medium for art to promote, protest, experiment comingle the visual & the audio into on statement. For the artists it presented an opportunity for an audience of millions to see their work.  Contrast that with the CD jewel case in it's 5 inch by 5 inch format just does not possess the ability to punch like a 12 x 12 LP or better yet a 12 x 24 gate fold LP jacket. 
Pink Floyd's

Time Out Cover art by S.Neil Fujima  

On Saturday November 2nd there is perhaps the greatest forum for honoring this art form.  It is a one day event the WMPG record sale and benefit. There will be Thousands of LP Albums and their cover art on display for viewing and collecting.   Not advertised as an art event, this coming together of WMPG Radio, record collectors and dealers is as huge a collection of LP art as there is anywhere in the world. It's right here in Portland,  Saturday from 10-3pm at the USM Sullivan Gym.

Why go see the WMPG RECORD SALE & ALBUM ART EXHIBIT?

   

  Go because,  your good mind needs good art! 

The Gallery Talk is made possible by the generosity of the WMPG Radio listening community.  The blog is the text version of the art rant heard every Thursday at 7am, 5 & 9:30pm on WMPG college and community radio Broadcasting from the University of Southern Maine
90.9 , 104.1 and streaming on the web at http://www.wmpg.org/