Alex Steinweiss created the first album covers with original artwork in 1938, replacing plain cardboard covers. By the late 1940s, major record companies featured colorful paper covers with classic art or original designs. As Steinweiss' work proved popular, many companies adopted this new style of album artwork. Through the decades, album covers evolved, featuring various artistic styles from abstract designs to photography to reflect trends in music and culture over time. Computer imaging further expanded possibilities for album cover design from the late 20th century onward.

2. In 1938 Alex Stienweiss
created the idea of custom
artwork on record album
covers and designed the
first covers with original
design, replacing the
existing cardboard inslip
which simply said the name
of the album plus a stamp
on the front of the record
with the artist name.
His covers all seem to be
very abstract pieces of work
with much colour used to
make it as eye catching as
possible. The font and size
of the font varies in each of
the covers giving all of
them there own
uniqueness.

3. 1940’s

4. By the late 1940s,
record albums for all
the major companies
featured their own
colourful paper
covers. Some
featured the use of
classic art while
others created more
original designs.
Once the work of Alex
Steinweiss was produced many
more music producing
companies followed in the
same, with all the albums
containing art on the cover.
These included the works or
artists and designers such as:
Jim Flora, Jim Amos, Rudolph
de Harek as well as more of
Alex Steinweiss’s works.

5. Since the 1920’s the camera has
been known to be more complete
although colour photography
was only just released. Once the
first of the album covers were
produced from art, photography
was quickly involved with some
covers having plain pictures and
others having art with the use of
photography, which have both
carried on though the 21st
century.

6. There was no real noticeable
impact on album covers
through the World War II as
they were only in early
development and usually
just featured the artist.
Though there was an effect
There was a lot of music produced on the music and how it was
through the war to express portrayed through that time.
peoples feelings, such as "Keep
'em Flying" and "Any Bonds
Today?" (urging people to enter
the War). But as the war dragged
on and more and more people
entered the service, songs became
more reflective, even sad. There
were songs such as "I'll Walk
Alone" (about a woman whose
boyfriend was sent overseas), "I'll
Be Home for Christmas (But Only
in My Dreams)".

7. 1950’s

8. Through the 1950’s ablum covers
stayed much the same with mainly
the artist and a collection of bold
bright colours being shown. It is
clear that there is an improvement
between the works of 1940 and
1950 in that there is a lot more
thought to composition and style
this majorly being shown through
the legendary artist Elvis Presley
and the creation of Rock and Roll.

9. 1960’s

10. Through mainly the late
1960’s album covers
started to become
more creative with the
uses of cartoon
drawings, higher quality
photography giving the
albums a more modern
look.
The Beetles were the
main artist making the
most unique designs for
their albums with all of
them being very eye
catching and abstract
showing that there are no
boundaries with the album
art and that anything could
be done.

11. A big influence on album
cover art and general art in
society today was the
introduction of computer
imaging. Known to be first
made in 1973 computer
imaging is basically
computer developed art.
Computer imaging is
used in Film, Gaming,
Television and much
more. The use of
computer imaging gives
the artist a huge range of
effects and styles to use
Computer art has only been on pieces of art in which
used in album covers from some are near impossible
the late 20th century to create without a
onwards. computer.

12. 1970’s-1980’s

13. Through the 1970’s to the 1980’s
punk was the biggest crave in
music. Though being very
controversial punk was
undoubtedly a revolution in music.
The era also effected the album
art with black usually being the
main colour instead of the usual
bright and colourful theme.
Like the music the album artwork
seemed to turn a lot more
controversial with artists pushing
the boundaries of what they can
publish.

14. Jamie Reid is an artist in
which his works of cut out In 2001 the album
pieces of paper seem to cover ‘God Saved
reflect all of what punk rock is The Queen’ was
about. His works are very voted number 1
abstract but all seem to be for the greatest
very interesting and thus album cover ever
appealing. made.
He is best known for the work
he produced for the punk rock
band the Sex Pistols. A lot of
his covers attracted much
public attention and with the
success of the popularity of
Ried was increased massively.

15. 1990’s And
The 21 st
Century

16. Through the late 1990’s and
the 21st century album covers
have been developed even
more with computer graphics
and more detailed covers
being shown. The works of art
are very high quality and
interesting to look at.
Artists of recent have found the
effects album art has on the sale of
there album and have thrived on
making them as appealing as
possible. Artist have also tried to
pass messages through there art
though some works are found to be
offensive to some viewers.