For the Record: The Life and Work of Alex Steinweiss

Record albums came in plain brown wrappers until 1938, when 23-year-old Alex Steinweiss conceived of luring the record-buying public with a visually appealing cover. His idea revolutionized the record business, of course, and created a whole new area of design. Steinweiss's own album covers were mini-posters, with eye-catching graphics, vivid colours, and playful typography. This chunky volume (appropriately 45-rpm-record-size) is an illustrated history of the genre, from the 1930s to the 1960s-a must-have for music lovers.