Author Archives: simon robinson

About simon robinson

Having worked as a graphic designer in the music industry, mainly in the reissue sector, I now concentrate on the design and publication of books about popular culture - and even write some of them.

Valentine’s day

Posted on February 14, 2020

Never mind saying it with flowers, say it with a record token! This is a screen printed banner advert issued by the National Record Token scheme to record shops in the Sixties to promote the giving of tokens on Valentine’s … Continue reading →

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Special Request

Posted on February 7, 2020

It’s the height of post-Punk and New Wave, 1978. But over in Wigan the “Sexational” (her word not mine!) Pam Shaw is releasing this private pressing, a 7″ EP. And it’s not everyone who can boast of a sleeve note … Continue reading →

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Vaughan Oliver

Posted on January 17, 2020

The death of Vaughan Oliver, one half of design partnership 23 Envelope, was announced over the Christmas holiday period.  For anyone interested in vinyl sleeve art, Oliver’s name would be impossible to ignore and it seems wrong to be losing … Continue reading →

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Twist

Posted on January 10, 2020

I got a few 7″ EPs scanned recently including this great cover from 1962. It’s a dance offering from band leader Victor Sylvester, providing older ballroom addicts with a lush alternative to the more hectic pop records pushing the twist … Continue reading →

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Flamingods

Posted on December 27, 2019

I must confess the resurgence of vinyl during 2019 actually pushed me the other way. So many reissues, a large percentage of which don’t take enough care in their reproduction anyway (and judging by the percentage of limited editions still … Continue reading →

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Don & Faith

Posted on December 20, 2019

Religious records are a category which I do find grimly fascinating, as much for the pious sentiment or illustrations on many of the sleeves as anything.  Georgia dwelling Don and Faith Dunlap here are at first sight a curiously matched couple, … Continue reading →

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Paris Musette

Posted on December 13, 2019

Some cover finds are just so much if their time it’s hard to resist. This easy listening 12″ was issued in France on the Bel-Air label, founded in 1959. Curiously I cannot find the album on a web search BUT … Continue reading →

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Randoms

Posted on November 29, 2019

I usually have a few random picture sleeve 7″ discs propped up on the desk which have taken my fancy when scouting through charity shops, so here is a batch I scanned recently and had fun researching. It’s stuff you … Continue reading →

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Fashion

Posted on November 12, 2019

We all probably have regrets about unwise fashion choices we’ve made in the past, but if you were in a band this once hip gear is often captured for all time on an album sleeve for all to marvel at … Continue reading →

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Mike Hammer

Posted on August 9, 2019

This great sleeve came from a bunch of odds and ends I bought off a Canadian dealer last year. It dates from 1959 and I thought it was fabulous abstract sleeve, with cool jazz imagery. The art is credited to … Continue reading →

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