Is this really the first designed record cover?

[Hardbopjazz]

So before 1938 there weren't any art work on record covers? Is this really the first record with art work on the cover? 

 

[HutchFan]

Hbj - I'd be interested to know if that was.  Just curious: Where did you find this image?

Also, where the image above says "record cover," does it mean a cover for a single 78 rpm disc?  Or are we talking about the cover of an album of 78 rpm discs?

Because I'd imagine that the date for those two things might be different. 

[jazztrain]

It’s fairly easy to find the image. Just search for “Alex Steinweiss.”  He generally is credited with the idea of putting art, instead of plain covers, on 78 albums. This one appears to be his first effort. 

[Bluesnik]

Yes, and when you mentioned Steinweiss I remembered that I think this was an album. But I might be mistaken. I have a Taschen book on Steinweiss, where I think this cover appears.

Edited November 23, 2021 by Bluesnik
data added

[EKE BBB]

4 hours ago, HutchFan said:

Hbj - I'd be interested to know if that was.  Just curious: Where did you find this image?

Also, where the image above says "record cover," does it mean a cover for a single 78 rpm disc?  Or are we talking about the cover of an album of 78 rpm discs?

Because I'd imagine that the date for those two things might be different. 

That iconic cover was for an album of four 78 rpm discs.

https://www.discogs.com/es/release/5880723-Rodgers-Hart-Smash-Hits-By-Rodgers-Hart

 

[HutchFan]

14 minutes ago, EKE BBB said:

That iconic cover was for an album of four 78 rpm discs.

https://www.discogs.com/es/release/5880723-Rodgers-Hart-Smash-Hits-By-Rodgers-Hart

 

Thanks for the info, EKE BBB.

It's amazing that the first album with an image on the cover wasn't released until 1940 (per Discogs).  I assumed that albums with picture covers existed well before then.

By 1940, how long had 78 rpm albums existed -- multi-disc sets, whether classical, jazz, pop, or whatever? 

My assumption is that the first album was classical music -- either a single (but whole) movement or an entire multi-movement work (such as a symphony).  But that's just a guess.

 

3 hours ago, Bluesnik said:

I have a Taschen book on Steinweiss, where I think this cover appears.

Cool!

This one?

I think I might need to order that! 

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by HutchFan

[Bluesnik]

16 minutes ago, HutchFan said:

This one?

Yes. And I think there was a previous more expensive edition, but when I picked it up (mid 2000s?) it cost me 50€. About 50$. And it has lots of cool repros in it.

Edited November 23, 2021 by Bluesnik

[Hardbopjazz]

21 hours ago, HutchFan said:

Hbj - I'd be interested to know if that was.  Just curious: Where did you find this image?

Also, where the image above says "record cover," does it mean a cover for a single 78 rpm disc?  Or are we talking about the cover of an album of 78 rpm discs?

Because I'd imagine that the date for those two things might be different. 

I was perusing some Facebook group on album covers. This was cited as being the first album that contained artwork. 

[HutchFan]

55 minutes ago, Hardbopjazz said:

I was perusing some Facebook group on album covers. This was cited as being the first album that contained artwork. 

Gotcha.  Thanks.