Robert Benson

Anyone who has ever listened to the “Blues” knows that it is more than just music, but an inspiration, an unfolding of the emotions that we all feel From Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon and many other influential Blues legends, to the more contemporary Blues artists such as Robert Cray, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Blues music has and always be a part of out musical heritage

Can a heavy metal rock group release a CD without having ever being in the same room together or to have never met face to face Amazingly, it is being done; and quite remarkably

One element of the ever changing music industry is that the sale of vinyl records has increased and that these audio treasures are still in demand In our age of digital products and downloads, there are still millions who prefer the sound and experience of vinyl records

In part one we discussed the most important element of vinyl record appraising, the condition of the record and LP jacket or sleeve and the methods used in grading a vinyl record In this section we will explore other elements that factor into the value of a record

The music industry is changing again, specifically the way that consumers get their music With CD sales slumping, vinyl record sales on the rise and MP3 music downloads now dominating the music landscape, a small Internet radio station is also changing the way that its artist’s music is being distributed

In this introduction to a four part series about album cover art we will explore several elements of this creative and personal art form with Vinyl Record Day Founder and album frame innovator Gary Freiberg (www

In part two of our four-part discussion with Vinyl Record Day Founder and vinyl businessman Gary Freiberg (http://wwwRockArtPictureShow

As we continue our discussion with Gary Freiberg (wwwRockArtPictureShow

As we conclude our four-part article series on album cover art, let’s to peer into the future and see what lies ahead for vinyl records and album cover art Joining us again for our discussion is Vinyl Record Day Founder and vinyl businessman Gary Freiberg (www

When Neilsen Soundscan releases their sales data regarding vinyl records, did you know that they do not count hundreds of ‘indie’ vinyl record shops in their totals So when you read ‘vinyl sales have risen…

With vinyl record sales up more than fifteen percent over last year’s totals (858,000 ‘units’ bought in 2006 versus 990,000 in 2007, according to Nielsen Soundscan), has the comeback of this historical audio medium reached its pinnacle No one can say for sure, but one thing is certain, these sales figures are not a full indication of just what is happening in the ‘vinyl world’ and how many records have truly been sold

While CD sales continue to plummet and music consumers go “digital,” there is an audio format that has endured through all the other formats that were supposed to bring it to its demise As we read about the resurgence in the production and sale of vinyl records (up ten percent from last year), some still assume that finding vinyl is a hard process

Album cover art has a fascinating and long history From the days of Alex Steinweiss to pop artists like Andy Warhol and Roger Dean, album cover art has evolved; with some highly praised covers (i

As we continue our look at ‘naked vinyl’ album cover art, let’s explore two other companies who capitalized on the fad and what has transpired since In the last article, we discussed two West Coast record labels that were prolific and utilized ‘naked vinyl’ to sell their record albums

Part one When we look back at album cover art throughout the years, it is kind of ironic that some album covers that are released these days can cause such an uproar because they may have a nude image on them or sexual suggestive scenes But ‘naked vinyl’ started a long time ago, and, in fact, sold many, many records before it was decided that it is offensive

The collectibles markets are full of passionate people These aren’t people who have ‘pack rat fever’ and save items just to have them, but people who decide to enter a specific collectibles market because it is a rewarding and fun experience for them

At age 23, the “Godfather” of album cover art, Alex Steinweiss accepted a job to design promotional materials for Columbia Records What would happen next would revolutionize the music industry, specifically vinyl records, when he invented the illustrated album cover

Ever since Alex Steinweiss designed album covers for Columbia Records in the 1940’s, many famous artists and designers have also designed iconic and stylish album cover art From famed cartoonist Robert Crumb, who designed Janis Joplin’s “Cheap Thrills” album cover to Andy Warhol’s contribution to the Rolling Stones’ “Sticky Fingers” LP, many famous artists have put their talents to work and put an image to the music created by rock and roll bands and artists

The value of vinyl records is very subjective and certainly up for debate There are many elements that go into ascertaining just how much a specific record or a whole collection may be worth