Alex Steinweiss designed the first ever album cover at the age of 23, it revolutionised the way that records were being sold and a new art form was created.
In 1939 he became Columbia records first director; this is when Alex pitched the idea of replacing the plain cardboard record wrappers with an eye catching illustration. 70 years on album art is such a big part of music culture that it seems unimaginable that at one time cardboard was used for album covers. Alex now 92 says, “Record sleeves were so drab, so unattractive. I convinced the executives to let me design a few so people could look at the artwork and hear the music”
His first sleeve, Rodgers and Hart, increased sales by 800% within the first few months of release. Before long every record company hired their own designers. During his career Alex Steinweiss created 2,500 sleeves but sadly says that, “the album cover has seen its best days. What they do now isn’t up to snuff. It’s lost it’s charm” Here are some of Alex Steinweiss’s legendary album art:
Frank Sinatra – In the Wee Small Hours (1955)
The Beatles – Sgt Peppers Lonely Hears Club Band (1967)
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of The Moon (1973)
The Clash – London Calling (1979) 
Nirvana – Nevermind (1991)
By Hannah Tabor
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