The Greatest Album Covers That Never Were

April 19 - July 9, 2005

Lubbock– The Buddy Holly Center will be presenting a traveling exhibition from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Greatest Album Covers That Never Were.  The exhibit will be on display from April 19 through July 9, 2005 in the Buddy Holly Center’s Texas Musicians Hall of Fame.  Conceived by music archivist Michael Ochs and graphic designer Craig Butler, this exhibit evokes the lost artistic expression of album cover art.

In the mid-sixties, album covers were one of the most important art forms that artists and musicians used to capture audiences.  From Fleetwood Mac to Black Sabbath, musicians everywhere were hiring artists to create album covers that personified the spirit of their music.  These 12” by 12” cardboard sleeves served as canvases for artists to express through design, the music that lay within.  The Rolling Stones and the Beatles were widely known for their enigmatic album covers designed by artists such as Andy Warhol, Richard Hamilton, and Peter Blake. 

Nevertheless, as time faded so did this once significant art form.  At first, the introduction of cassette tapes and compact discs only minimized the canvas size.  But soon, the LP slowly vanished into the abyss of the MTV and downloadable music generation. 

Kurt Vonnegut, Phish

The Greatest Album Covers That Never Were has breathed new life to the lost art by giving nearly one hundred artists the opportunity to produce a fantasy album cover for a band or musician of their choice.  Choosing genres ranging from soul, country, rock, blues, and jazz, each artist was inspired to freely create a personal interpretation of what they felt the subject embodied.  Artists featured in this exhibit have established themselves through careers in graphic design, advertising, music, and film.  Many have designed album covers in the past for various musicians and bands.  For example, Alan Aldridge has designed covers for The Who, The Beatles, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and more.  Josh “Shag” Agle, creator of the Frank Sinatra cover (upper left) considers himself more of an illustrator than a fine artist.  Despite his opinion, collectors everywhere often seek out his work as they would a masterpiece. 

The Greatest Album Covers That Never Were is a traveling exhibition originally organized by The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.  Lubbock’s very own Buddy Holly Center will be the only venue in Texas displaying this collection of works. Over fifty album covers will fill the walls of the gallery in this reviving exhibit.  Visitors are sure to be enthralled with the concept and designs that many of the artists present in their work. 

For more information about this exhibit or other events, please contact the staff at the Buddy Holly Center at (806) 767-2686.  The Buddy Holly Center is located at 1801 Avenue G in the Depot District of Lubbock, Texas.