Original Album Art- About Us and the Time Travellers
In February 2023 we were chosen as the winning tenderer for the entire personal collection of Original Vinyl Albums of Australian collector, Kevin Ball. Kevin has amassed one of the largest personal collections of vinyl albums anywhere in the world. He started collecting original albums from Coffs Harbour in the 60’s and continued though his life to 2023. The collection totals over 2,600 original albums.
These original albums are time travelers. Travelling through time since the 60's, 70's and 80's and are now preserved in stunning frames for generations to come. They are not remastered or reproduced versions, they are certified original albums, just as the Artists intended.
Our tender was successful due to our commitment to preserve the albums. Not as a whole collection, but rather as individual pieces that showcase the album in its original format and as artwork for future generations to enjoy. Hence “Original Album Art” was born.
The Process
First, we had to repackage the albums and construct suitable storage in an air-conditioned environment. Once secured, we set out cataloging the albums and understanding the breadth and quality of the collection. We then selected 200 albums for the initial release. These are iconic Australian and world artists that not only present great music but also great album Art. These albums have been beautifully framed and presented for sale.
What is on offer.
Each album is personally inspected. Any obvious marks or defects are removed so the Album cover is as close to original as possible. The vinyl albums are professionally cleaned using an ultrasonic cleaning system so they will play and sound as good as when they were brand new.
After that, they are professional framed in stunning tailor-made album frames that show the album art and the vinyl record. Frames are tailor made to compliment the album cover colors and are either:
- Black frame with black insert and white trim,
- White and white
- Oak timber with champaign insert.
The Album Art frames are designed so they are easy to open at the back. This means you can easily remove the album to hold, love and play. You can also swap the album out to showcase a different album.
What is Album Art?
Album art has changed over the years, but it still helps define how we look at a particular album. Some go for the less-is-more approach, while others are stuffed with a kaleidoscope of imagery for fans to pore over and decipher.
You might see photographic portraits, paintings, sketches, collages or nearly nothing at all. The artist might appear front and center, or perhaps they take a backseat entirely, letting evocative imagery pull the listener into their world.
Some album covers are arguably better known than the music inside, having been parodied in pop culture, lauded with awards, used in advertisements or hung up in art museums. It all began in 1939 when Alex Steinweiss, a graphic designer who worked at Columbia Records, realized that the label could sell more copies of an album if the cover caught the consumer’s attention. It worked, and soon became an indispensable part of the creative process when crafting (and marketing) an album.
How it works
We have framed a first release of 200 albums. These are available for purchase immediately. Each album has been photographed individually so you can see the condition. Some are perfect, many in great condition and some show the 30-50 years that they have been travelling to get here.
We also have a catalogue of the remaining 2,400 albums that you can search. If you would like any of these albums simply contact us and we can work on getting it framed and sent to you. Note that because of our commitment to Kevin Ball, we do not sell the albums by themselves. This would go against our commitment to preserve the albums as best we can.
As the albums are all original pressings, they will continue to increase in value over time. So, they are not only constituting iconic album art, but they can also be seen as investments for the future.
A Final Note
Music from the 60's, 70's and 80's is unique. Many of the artists and bands became superstars worldwide. It is a period of time that we had the great fortune to be a part of and to love this amazing musical period. With so much changing in the world, it is important, indeed vital that this music is preserved in its original format, just as the artists intended.
Credits
Kevin Ball - Collector extraordinaire 1960's to 2023.
Carl Vogelsang - Curator of the collection 2023 onwards
Hanno Winterbach - Technology Guru
Natalie Vogelsang - Photography wizard
Ashley Gill - Chief Music Lover