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Vinyl . Album . Cover . Art: The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue
The complete, definitive, and never-before-published catalogue of album covers created by the legendary design agency Hipgnosis, this volume finally does justice to the work of the most important design collective in music history. Founded in 1967 by Storm Thorgerson, Aubrey “Po" Powell, and Peter Christopherson, Hipgnosis gained a legendary status in graphic design, transforming the look of album art forever and winning five Grammy nominations for package design. Their revolutionary cover art departed from the conventional group shots favored by record companies of the day, resulting in groundbreaking, often surreal designs inextricable from the major albums of many of the biggest names in the history of popular music: AC/DC, Black Sabbath, The Police, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Syd Barrett, The Who, Wings, Yes, and XTC, to name but a few.
Arranged chronologically, Hipgnosis: The Complete Album Covers features stunning reproductions of every single Hipgnosis cover—more than 300 in total—for the first time, along with pertinent insights from the rock ’n’ roll legends whose albums are featured and behind-the-scenes photography. The text, written by Powell, and with contributions by Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, and Nick Mason, brims with information that illuminates the album art and the compelling stories behind each cover’s creation.
Arranged chronologically, Hipgnosis: The Complete Album Covers features stunning reproductions of every single Hipgnosis cover—more than 300 in total—for the first time, along with pertinent insights from the rock ’n’ roll legends whose albums are featured and behind-the-scenes photography. The text, written by Powell, and with contributions by Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, and Nick Mason, brims with information that illuminates the album art and the compelling stories behind each cover’s creation.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 16, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 11, 2017
Diese Kritik wurde zuerst auf Artnoir.ch veröffentlicht.
Es gab wohl selten ein Designstudio, das sich innerhalb kürzester Zeit einen solch grossen Namen gemacht hat wie Hipgnosis aus England zwischen 1967 und 1984. Kaum eine bekannte Rockband aus dieser Zeit kann nicht mindestens ein Album- oder Single-Cover dieser Schmiede vorweisen – gewisse verdanken den grafischen Künstlern sogar einen Grossteil ihres Vermächtnisses. So wären die Platten von 10cc, Wishbone Ash oder natürlich Pink Floyd wohl nie so auffällig gewesen, wie sie es auch heute immer noch sind. Und mit “Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art.” erhält man nun endlich die Gelegenheit, das komplette Schaffen von Hignosis in einem Band zu betrachten.
Zusammengestellt und kommentiert von Aubrey Powell, dem einzig überlebenden Gründer des Studios, darf man hier tief in das Schaffen der Meister eintauchen und auf 480 Abbildungen alle Kunstprojekte bestaunen. In schlichtem, aber funktionalem Layout werden nicht nur die Cover aufgelistet, sondern auch aufgeklappte Bilder von Gatefolds, Label der Schallplatten oder Inlays gezeigt. Neugierig und voller Heisshunger auf kunstvolle Gestaltung blättert man von einer Ikone zur anderen – man denke nur an das Prisma von “Dark Side Of The Moon” oder das geschmolzene Gesicht von Peter Gabriel.
Dieser Musiker hat dem wunderbaren Bildband auch gleich ein Vorwort beigesteuert, verdankt er den Herren Powell, Storm Thorgerson und Peter Christopherson nicht nur einen visuellen Leitfaden in seinem Soloschaffen, sondern auch einen Gegenpol zur progressiven Musik. Denn Vorreiter in der Bildbearbeitung und der Komposition war Hipgnosis immer. Toll, dass man bei “Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art.” auch noch einen Making-Of-Text und einen kurzen geschichtlichen Überblick erhält. Man blickt also nicht nur erneut auf die Äusserlichkeiten von Led Zeppelin, T. Rex oder Genesis, sondern taucht hinter die Schichten aus Fotografie und Malerei.
Das Buch ist somit nicht nur ein Muss für Sammler von Vinyl, sondern auch eine perfekte Ergänzung des Sachbuchregals und Kulturhistoriker. Und auch wenn das Studio Hipgnosis so heute nicht mehr existiert, ihre Erzeugnisse werden für alle Ewigkeit auf dem Olymp des guten Musik-Designs stehen. Und dank “Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art.” auch endlich chronologisch und komplett.
Es gab wohl selten ein Designstudio, das sich innerhalb kürzester Zeit einen solch grossen Namen gemacht hat wie Hipgnosis aus England zwischen 1967 und 1984. Kaum eine bekannte Rockband aus dieser Zeit kann nicht mindestens ein Album- oder Single-Cover dieser Schmiede vorweisen – gewisse verdanken den grafischen Künstlern sogar einen Grossteil ihres Vermächtnisses. So wären die Platten von 10cc, Wishbone Ash oder natürlich Pink Floyd wohl nie so auffällig gewesen, wie sie es auch heute immer noch sind. Und mit “Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art.” erhält man nun endlich die Gelegenheit, das komplette Schaffen von Hignosis in einem Band zu betrachten.
Zusammengestellt und kommentiert von Aubrey Powell, dem einzig überlebenden Gründer des Studios, darf man hier tief in das Schaffen der Meister eintauchen und auf 480 Abbildungen alle Kunstprojekte bestaunen. In schlichtem, aber funktionalem Layout werden nicht nur die Cover aufgelistet, sondern auch aufgeklappte Bilder von Gatefolds, Label der Schallplatten oder Inlays gezeigt. Neugierig und voller Heisshunger auf kunstvolle Gestaltung blättert man von einer Ikone zur anderen – man denke nur an das Prisma von “Dark Side Of The Moon” oder das geschmolzene Gesicht von Peter Gabriel.
Dieser Musiker hat dem wunderbaren Bildband auch gleich ein Vorwort beigesteuert, verdankt er den Herren Powell, Storm Thorgerson und Peter Christopherson nicht nur einen visuellen Leitfaden in seinem Soloschaffen, sondern auch einen Gegenpol zur progressiven Musik. Denn Vorreiter in der Bildbearbeitung und der Komposition war Hipgnosis immer. Toll, dass man bei “Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art.” auch noch einen Making-Of-Text und einen kurzen geschichtlichen Überblick erhält. Man blickt also nicht nur erneut auf die Äusserlichkeiten von Led Zeppelin, T. Rex oder Genesis, sondern taucht hinter die Schichten aus Fotografie und Malerei.
Das Buch ist somit nicht nur ein Muss für Sammler von Vinyl, sondern auch eine perfekte Ergänzung des Sachbuchregals und Kulturhistoriker. Und auch wenn das Studio Hipgnosis so heute nicht mehr existiert, ihre Erzeugnisse werden für alle Ewigkeit auf dem Olymp des guten Musik-Designs stehen. Und dank “Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art.” auch endlich chronologisch und komplett.
August 28, 2017
A beautiful collection of all the album covers designed by Hipgnosis. A number of them have comments about the concept and the actual making of the image. A few have the back and the inside images as well.
The images are often smaller than they deserve to be and there are a number of favourites where the back and inner covers deserved inclusion but didn't get it. I would have liked more comments as they are often very interesting. So a star has been docked.
Just to highlight, it is a beautifully designed and printed book on quality paper - it's just that I would have liked more. Or I might just be being greedy.
The images are often smaller than they deserve to be and there are a number of favourites where the back and inner covers deserved inclusion but didn't get it. I would have liked more comments as they are often very interesting. So a star has been docked.
Just to highlight, it is a beautifully designed and printed book on quality paper - it's just that I would have liked more. Or I might just be being greedy.
November 21, 2019
This book chronicles the LP and album art of the British design firm Hipgnosis, who were responsible for some legendary album covers like those of Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, and Bad Company.
The history of their work in the heyday of vinyl records is a history book and an intriguing record of their sometimes-dreamlike and esoteric imagery. I loved seeing the high notes and iconic covers, though some of the work hasn't aged as well. In all, it's a great time capsule of the era's music and the indelible work designed by Hipgnosis.
The history of their work in the heyday of vinyl records is a history book and an intriguing record of their sometimes-dreamlike and esoteric imagery. I loved seeing the high notes and iconic covers, though some of the work hasn't aged as well. In all, it's a great time capsule of the era's music and the indelible work designed by Hipgnosis.
May 1, 2025
Recently I acquired a portable record player. The first thing I did was break out my old record albums and began to play them. I am a child of the 60s and 70s so the music I love is also from that period.
Those years were famous for their record album designs. Besides the records themselves, I loved the art, photos, lyrics and special insert the albums contained.
The Hipgnosis Design Group was responsible for many of those album’s covers. In the new Thames & Hudson book: Vinyl . Album . Cover . Art The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue by Aubrey Powell, with a foreword by Peter Gabriel, their entire catalogue of album covers 1967 to 1984 is showcased.
Wow! Talk about bringing back some great memories! So many of the albums shown I owned and listened to. To be honest many of the albums I bought simply because I liked their covers. While many of the albums were by acts I knew there were others I did not and taking a chance based on their cover art or photos I bought them.
This deluxe hardbound book showcases an era when album cover designs ruled the world of music. If an album did not have a striking or unusual cover it could very well tank the sales of said album.
The book is a fun and fascinating to look at. I learned a lot about what it takes to make a successful album cover, the music groups and individuals whose albums were showcased and especially about the design group that created the album covers.
Interesting facts, behind-the-scenes tidbits and statistical information about each album represented are included.
Romans 15:13 - Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Those years were famous for their record album designs. Besides the records themselves, I loved the art, photos, lyrics and special insert the albums contained.
The Hipgnosis Design Group was responsible for many of those album’s covers. In the new Thames & Hudson book: Vinyl . Album . Cover . Art The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue by Aubrey Powell, with a foreword by Peter Gabriel, their entire catalogue of album covers 1967 to 1984 is showcased.
Wow! Talk about bringing back some great memories! So many of the albums shown I owned and listened to. To be honest many of the albums I bought simply because I liked their covers. While many of the albums were by acts I knew there were others I did not and taking a chance based on their cover art or photos I bought them.
This deluxe hardbound book showcases an era when album cover designs ruled the world of music. If an album did not have a striking or unusual cover it could very well tank the sales of said album.
The book is a fun and fascinating to look at. I learned a lot about what it takes to make a successful album cover, the music groups and individuals whose albums were showcased and especially about the design group that created the album covers.
Interesting facts, behind-the-scenes tidbits and statistical information about each album represented are included.
Romans 15:13 - Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Read
May 5, 2025I am a fan of the art of the album cover, and while I don't choose to be one of those people who bemoans the digitisation of music, there is something pleasing about seeing a striking image rendered in LP size.
The Hipgnosis team are responsible for some of the more imaginative, interesting and iconic album covers out there.
This is a great collection of album covers. Half of the covers have commentary from Aubrey (Po) Powell the one surviving member of the original Hipgnosis trio. The rest are all just displayed with their titles, release dates and record labels.
I could have quite happily heard commentary on every single cover, as they are all visually interesting, and I'm sure that all of them would have folded in the usual Hipgnosis mix of outside-the-box ideas and experimentation with new photographic and artistic techniques.
Always the sign of inspiring information too, the book got me checking out some of the albums represented within, including a long-overdue dive further into the music of 10CC.
The Hipgnosis team are responsible for some of the more imaginative, interesting and iconic album covers out there.
This is a great collection of album covers. Half of the covers have commentary from Aubrey (Po) Powell the one surviving member of the original Hipgnosis trio. The rest are all just displayed with their titles, release dates and record labels.
I could have quite happily heard commentary on every single cover, as they are all visually interesting, and I'm sure that all of them would have folded in the usual Hipgnosis mix of outside-the-box ideas and experimentation with new photographic and artistic techniques.
Always the sign of inspiring information too, the book got me checking out some of the albums represented within, including a long-overdue dive further into the music of 10CC.
June 16, 2022
O catálogo completo de capas de discos da empresa lendária de design Hipgnosis (palavra inventado pelo mítico Syd Barrett) com 480 ilustrações entre 1967 a 1984.
Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, XTC, Genesis, Scorpions, 10CC, UFO, Brand X, Peter Gabriel, as capas que nos fizeram sonhar estão aqui, com algumas notas de explicação do fotógrafo e único membro sobrevivente da empresa. Pena não haver comentários e explicações para todas elas, e as imagens serem reduzidas, não tendo o tamanho real.
Com prefácio de Peter Gabriel, com a história da empresa e a explicação do processo criativo das mais surreais imagens que nos alimentaram a imaginação por décadas, quando se comprava um disco pela sua capa e invólucro original.
Antes da Internet, antes do Adobe Photoshop, antes dos facilitismos dos nossos tempos, eram estes os magos da fotografia, da colagem e da experimentação.
Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, XTC, Genesis, Scorpions, 10CC, UFO, Brand X, Peter Gabriel, as capas que nos fizeram sonhar estão aqui, com algumas notas de explicação do fotógrafo e único membro sobrevivente da empresa. Pena não haver comentários e explicações para todas elas, e as imagens serem reduzidas, não tendo o tamanho real.
Com prefácio de Peter Gabriel, com a história da empresa e a explicação do processo criativo das mais surreais imagens que nos alimentaram a imaginação por décadas, quando se comprava um disco pela sua capa e invólucro original.
Antes da Internet, antes do Adobe Photoshop, antes dos facilitismos dos nossos tempos, eram estes os magos da fotografia, da colagem e da experimentação.
January 12, 2026
Tried to buy this around 6 years ago from Amazon but it "got lost n the post" & l completely forgot to buy it again or it was never in stock, so l'm finally happy to have it. It is not altogether surprising that l own a good number of the albums they had a hand in designing, most notably "Smallcreep's Day" by Mike Rutherford of Genesis and a lit of the Pink Floyd and 10cc ones too. But what was surprising is the number l have that l had no idea they designed. John Miles, ( Stranger In The City), Brand X (Unorthodox Behaviour, Product and Livestock) and many more too numerous to mention.
This is really a reference book, but it will be a most treasured one for me from now on.
A real treasure trove of old memories.
This is really a reference book, but it will be a most treasured one for me from now on.
A real treasure trove of old memories.
September 7, 2025
This is a complete overview of the album covers designed by legendary studio Hipgnosis, including commentary on many of them. These include many of the iconic covers of the 1970s and 80s, including Dark Side of the Moon, XTC's Go 2, Peter Gabriel's self-titled albums, Yes's Tormato, and more.
Not all of the designs are brilliant, not even in the studio's best periods, but the same is true of any artist.
Not all of the designs are brilliant, not even in the studio's best periods, but the same is true of any artist.
February 13, 2019
A Visual smorgasbord of Vinyl Album artwork from one of , if not the most influential Art and Design studios.
As important as the art itself are the countless stories of what led to the more bizarre, surrealist, confrontational or controversial pieces.
A splendid collection of Album artwork.
Essential.
As important as the art itself are the countless stories of what led to the more bizarre, surrealist, confrontational or controversial pieces.
A splendid collection of Album artwork.
Essential.
November 10, 2025
Gorgeous collection of the British graphic design firm (really 2 Cambridge art school pals) Hipgnosis, that redefined the art of the album covers layout with photo surrealistic collages that have seared their imagery into the public consciousness. Name an iconic album cover from the rock era, and chances are it was created in the tiny studio on Denmark Street above a Greek bookstore.
September 13, 2017
This is a book for the coffee table. It catalogues all the album covers designed by Hipgnosis. Amazing to see just who they worked with, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney and Genesis. Some very iconic covers
February 12, 2018
Outstanding book on an important and revolutionary art collective and their impact on the music industry.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews