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Does cover art of an album or recording influences your purchase?

For me, album or recording cover art definitely influences physical media purchases, where the physical object is part of the experience.

Cover art may never be as powerful as the music itself, but it carries its own quiet weight. It represents love, life, death, and the essence of a particular time in a musician’s journey. It captures what the music feels, without needing a single note.

Many are works of art and have become as famous as the music they stand for—Andy Warhol's covers, for example, including the banana he designed for The Velvet Underground. And there are many more! 

On flip side, If you’re buying based purely on artist or recommendation, cover art may not matter. But for exploration, vinyl hunting, or curating a vibe, it remains quite influential.

I’d love to hear what album covers have etched themselves into your memory or even convinced you to listen before you knew the artist. 

Thank you! 

lalitk
foggyus91's avatar
foggyus91
612 posts
 

Short answer is no. 

devinplombier
1,675 posts
 

Definitely. I bought Here Come The Warm Jets solely on the basis of its cover. I was 13 or 14 at the time. It’s still one of my favorite albums.

devinplombier
1,675 posts
 

In my view, LP art was a true art form. It represented a significant part of a record's appeal and emotional value. It's sad that we've lost that when music was stripped down to software and we switched to streaming.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
6,180 posts
 

@devinplombier 

Absolutely I feel the same as I have manage to collect some rare gems. Album art gave the music a physical presence, a personality before you even dropped the needle.

Streaming is incredibly convenient and I can’t understate its value for discovering new music. I’ve found so many artists I might have never come across otherwise. I do agree, it just doesn’t replicate the connection and anticipation that comes from holding a record or CD in your hands. That tactile ritual adds a whole different dimension to the experience.

markcasazza's avatar
markcasazza
52 posts
 

I've discovered many artists because the cover art pulled me in. I still LP shop in used markets so I keep finding new artists. Streaming has also shown me a few in a different way. Both are great way to discover new music.

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