Psychedelic Furs

Man, the Psych Furs have had some really hot covers over the years. I'm sure that it's because their early releases were designed by my all-time fave graphic designer, Barney Bubbles. There are many more covers to be seen, so feel free to take a look around Discogs.

 

The Psychedelic Furs (pink cover), CBS Records UK, LP, 1980

This sleeve was also released in green and orange

Sister Europe, CBS Records UK 7",  1980
Front above and back below.

Talk Talk Talk, CBS Records UK LP, 1981
Front above and back below.

Forever Now, CBS Records UK LP, 1982

Forever Now, Columbia Records US LP, 1982

This is the US release, which didn't use Barney Bubbles' original design. I still like it though.

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YouTube

PIL, Live in Tokyo

 

Public Image Ltd., Live in Tokyo, Virgin UK double LP, 1983

Department S - Is Vic There?

Department S was a London post-punk band that emerged from the ska scene, as members of an obscure 2-Tone band, Guns for Hire (which has a clever story about them), as well as Madness. They were originally active between 1979 and 1982. "Is Vic There?" is their most well-known song.

Department S, Is Vic There? Demon Records, UK 7", 1980

Front above and rear below.

Album Covers - 80's New Wave/Electro

 Gina X Performance,  X-Traordinaire; EMI Electrola, Germany LP, 1980

 Japan, Quiet Life; Hansa/Carerre, France LP, 1979

 Section 25, Girls Don't Count; Factory, UK 7", 1980

Absolute Body Control, Lost / Found; Tarantulla Productions, Belgium CD (Comp), 2005

Autumn, Synthesize; Minimal Wave, US LP (Comp), 2011

The Wolfgang Press - The Burden of Mules

The Wolfgang Press, The Burden of Mules; 4AD, UK LP, 1983

ITunes

Alan Parsons Project

 I will admit that I'm not so familiar with the Alan Parsons Project, and not entirely sure whether I would be a fan or not. They've always reminded me of Pink Floyd for some reason; I later came to find out that it's because Alan Parsons engineered Atom Heart Mother and Dark Side of the Moon.

In a roundabout way, I found myself casually chatting about late 70's/early 80's music with an enthusiast of the era. Their name came up, and I recalled some funky cartoon video they had. It led me to do some research on them, where I turned up a couple bits of cool album art. 

Unfortunately they generally have fugly typography to go with it!

Artwork from the album, Eve; 1979

I, Robot; 1977

Ammonia Avenue; 1984

Gaudi; 1986

ZE Records

ZE Records was started in 1978 by Michael Zilkha and Michel Esteban in NYC at a time when the music scene was mixed up, artsy, amateur, creative, and beyond fun. ZE's "Mutant Disco" roster included many of my favorite funky no/new-wave buddies including James Chance, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Suicide, Ohio's The Waitresses, Lydia Lunch, and Cristina.

Fun fact: Michel Esteban was dating Anna Wintour around this time. Her friend, Chris Blackwell of Island Records, helped ZE get worldwide distribution with a licensing deal.

The label closed in 1984, but was re-established by Esteban in 2003.

Cristina, Cristina, ZE Records US LP, 1980

This is the cover for the US version only.

Lio, Pop Model, Polydor France LP, 1986

Not technically on ZE, but produced by Esteban.

Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Best Off, ZE Records France CD, 2006

Various, Zevolution - ZE Records Re-Edited, Strut UK 2xLP Compilation, 2009

Also not technically on ZE, but produced by Esteban. The taxi illustration is what's used on ZE's generic sleeves

Material ‎with Nona Hendryx, Bustin' Out, Celluloid/ZE France 12", 1981

This cover is not exactly the same as this release, but it's closest to it. I'm not entirely sure which specific release this image is of.

Like a moron, I forgot that I already made a post featuring a bunch of ZE covers, so feel free to check out more.

Rick James, Cold Blooded

I was pleasantly surprised to find that my new (old) copy of Cold Blooded was a gatefold
with this shot on the inside – love the outfit!

Rick James, Cold Blooded; Gordy Records, US LP, 1983

ABC - Tears Are Not Enough

The ABC single Tears Are Not Enough/Alphabet Soup was released in 1981 on Neutron Records (purveyors of fine product) which was ABC's own indie label formed in 1979. They released an early comp EP (1980: The First Fifteen Minutes, which I NEED) and a couple other singles, but ABC was really Neutron's only band.

"Tears are Not Enough" is also on the 1982 album, Lexicon of Love

The interior artwork is after the jump

Album Covers: Robert Palmer

Eric tries to make fun of me because I felt a little teary-eyed when I heard that Robert Palmer died, but I don't feel ashamed. I liked his songs, and he had a whole slew of sexy album covers.

Sneakin' Sally through the Alley, Island Records, 1974 

Pressure Drop, Island Records, 1975

 Double Fun, Island Records, 1978

Secrets, Island Records, 1979

Riptide, Island Records, 1985

7-Inch Sleeves

XTC, Respectable Street, Virgin, UK 7-inch, 1981

Front above, Back below

Pet Shop Boys, West End Girls, EMI America, US 7-inch, 1985.

Front above, Back below

There are over 75 versions of this single that have been pressed between 1984 and 1985.

David Bowie, Up the Hill Backwards, RCA, UK 7-inch, 1981

Front above, Back below

MTV Party to Go, Vol. 1 & 2

I have been intrigued by the graphic design of the early 90's lately, and the MTV Party to Go comps are a pretty good representation of what I'm referring to.  See also stuff like promotional materials and album covers by Technotronic and C+C Music Factory.

What are we seeing in this kind of work?

• Tons of high-energy neon jewel tones, contrasted with each other and with black
• Bold, (perhaps artificially) condensed or expanded typefaces like Impact
• Saturated photography
• Circular badge-like graphics

YES!

If you're interested in listening to these gems, they're obtainable online: Volume 1 / Volume 2