An Introduction to Album Cover Art

Wednesday, 1 - 3pm

Start Date

5 February, 2025

There will be 3 weekly meetings on Wednesday, 1 -3pm, starting from 5 February. 

Overview

Although sound is an essential element of popular music, a great album cover can often become inseparable from the music it represents. From the fold-out gatefolds of the vinyl era to pull-out liner notes in CD cases, cover art has changed over time and the advent of streaming has threatened its existence. However, prior to MTV and the introduction of pop videos, album design was a key medium for artists to engage fans visually. Images on record sleeves acted as both a sales pitch and an artistic statement, contributing significantly to legendary status. The course looks at the history of sleeve design through a study of iconic and sometimes controversial examples from the 1940s to more recent examples from the 1960s onwards. If you are a music fan and enjoy looking at album covers, this course will deepen your knowledge and enable you to gain skills of visual analysis.

Syllabus

  1. The history of album cover art.
  2. Album covers of the jazz era.
  3. 1960s-1970s: The golden age of album covers.

Please note that the ‘last date available to book’ date is only a guide. We reserve the right to close bookings earlier if courses are over- or under-subscribed. In order to avoid disappointment, please be sure enrol as soon as possible. Registrations will not be processed until the following day if received after 3pm. 

Course Lecturer: Dr Georgina Gregory 

Georgina Gregory has a background in media and cultural studies with a particular focus on popular music studies and art and design history. She has many years of experience designing and delivering courses at various universities including UCLAN, Salford, Staffordshire and Manchester Metropolitan. Georgina's publications include "Send in the Clones: A Cultural Study of the Tribute Band" (2012), "Boy Bands and the Performance of Pop Masculinity" (2019), "Exploring the Spiritual in Popular Music: Beatified Beats"(2021).

Courses fees: Full fee £50/Concession £30.

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