The Man Who Invented The Album Cover

A tribute to Alex Steinweiss: Creator of the album cover.

Before Alex Steinweiss invented the album cover in 1938, at the age of 23, all albums came in plain brown wrappers. Steinweiss's idea to create a package that had something visual on the outside to lure the consumer was a huge success.

Here's an example of his work, Barber Shop Melodies by the Flat Foot Four.

(Thanks 12-stringer)