Classical Music – No Barcode

The Fictitious Records by Javier Garcia

Nope, these are not existing records I found. This is a self-initiated experimental project that I designed myself. I started this project about a year ago. I’ve been collecting The Haydn Society records for quite some time now and I decided to do my take on it. This was totally fictitious and I did not intent to redesign or make the records any better than they already are.

One of my biggest influences for this was one of The Haydn Society collaborating artist (and one of my favorite designers), Alvin Lustig. When thinking of designing this his way, I couldn’t help but to grab a ruling pen, compass, brush and some india ink.

Process was very simple. The text was taken from actual albums. It was totally experimental and I did not set deadlines so I doodled covers for over a month every time I had a spare minute. Then selected the covers and inked them by hand with india ink and scanned them. I then took my black india ink and did some color separations. Color and type was then added on the computer. Yup, that was it.

Overall I had a lot of fun doing this and I really hope you enjoy these covers!

Design: Javier García | Year: 2011

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Ed Kysar – A Christmas Recital

Here’s A Christmas Recital with Alexander Schreiner at the Tabernacle Organ. Put out by the Concert Hall Society and designed by Ed Kysar. The recors is not in it’s greatest shape but some of those white spots are actually designed that way. Awesome patterns and shapes.

I should have posted this one on the Holidays but I had no time to snap a photo of it. Still celebrating right?

Here are other Ed Kysar records I found on flickr:
Mark Twain and other folks favorites »
Joseph Haydn »

Design: Ed Kysar | Year: ? | Photos: Javier García

Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1

Record cover for Tchaikovsky. Concerto No. 1. Wilhelm Strauss, Pianist. Igor Kousevsky, Conducting the International Symphony Orchestra.

Those bars look like an equalizer. Makes it feel like the music itself.

Design: Unknown | Year: Unknown | Photos: Javier García

Alvin Lustig Bach Vivaldi

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Here’s another Haydn Society record from my all time favorite, Alvin Lustig. This cover is very simple yet very different from the others. The circles make it look very modern and minimal while at the same time it helps reiterate the two composers distinction by changing its color.

Hope you all enjoy this as much as I do and stay tuned for more…

Designer: Alvin Lustig | Year: ? | Photos: Javier García

Norman S. Ives Typographic Bach

I’ve been holding this one up for quite a bit as my blog was turning into an LP archive but after switching up a bit here it is:

For those who don’t know. Norman Ives was a graphic designer former student of Josef Albers at the Yale University where he also began teaching afterwards.

During the mid-to-late 1950s he worked with Herbert Matter on numerous design projects, including work for the New Haven Railroad, and Knoll International.

He is mostly known for his collages, wall reliefs and silkscreen prints.

This cover here features his love for letterforms. This was probably some of his earlier work since it was produced in 1955 and he received his MFA degree in 1952. In any case this is merely one of the coolest record covers I have.

The Paper is off white and the letters are overprinted in a cool gray color and white ink which looks very nice against the paper. The letters aren’t perfectly shaped. If you get close they appear to have been drawn by hand almost like paper cut out. The only straight lines are on the letter A and H. Lots of white space. A great modern typographic approach to a classical record.

About Norman S. Ives:
Bio on Francisfrost
AIGA Constructions and Reconstructions Exhibit
Bio on Ewardcella

Design: Norman S. Ives | Year: 1955 | Photos: Javier García

Product Info:
Haydn Society Album Covers, 1955
Copyright 1955 by the Haydn Society, Inc.
Boston Massachusetts
Cover Design by Norman S. Ives

Alvin Lustig – Mozart Grid

So following up the Vivaldi cover, here’s to honor one of my all time favorite designer Alvin Lustig. I just love the grid, composition and colors used for this. It all seems to be a very good modern representation of classical music.

Design: Alvin Lustig | Year: 1952 | Photos: Javier García

Product Info:
Haydn Society Album Covers, 1952
Copyright 1952 by the Haydn Society, Inc.
Boston Massachusetts
Cover Design by Alvin Lustig