20 Classic Motown LP Covers
The Schomburg Center in New York City is presenting the exhibit Motown: The Truth Is a Hit, opening February 1 and running through July 26. The Center says that the show “seeks to explore [Barry] Gordy’s notion of the truth by tracing black music from its African roots through slavery, Jim Crow, the Great Migration, urban America, the Civil Rights and anti-war movements, up to the present day.” There are going to be lots of photographs and graphics, of course, as well as videos, paintings, clothes, music, and more, plus some compelling public events (we’ve already got our tickets!). Read more about the exhibit here.
To celebrate the opening of the show, we’ve collected 20 favorite Motown LP covers, from the mid-60s to 1980, including some albums on subsidiary labels like Black Forum. (Note: I’m not the world’s biggest LP cover art expert, so if you know any credits here that are missing, please send them along). It goes without saying that these LPs not only look great, but they also sound very cool as well! Thanks to the sites who provided images, especially Mr. Moo’s LP Covers Corner, an essential destination for soul and funk LP information and images.
For more information on Motown, check out the new book Motown Artist By Artist: A Compilation of the Top 100 Motown Artists.
BUY HERE: Motown Artist by Artist: A Compilation of the Top 100 Motown Artists (Big Books)
Above: Stevie Wonder, Where I’m Coming From (1971). Source: Mr. Moo’s LP Covers Corner
Marvin Gaye, I Want You (1976). Cover art: Ernie Barnes
Stevie Wonder, Music of My Mind (1972)
The Dynamic Superiors (1975). Source: Funk My Soul
Eddie Kendricks, People…Hold On (1972). Source: Soul Excursions
Diana Ross, Diana (1980). Source: Groove Collector
The Originals, Baby I’m for Real (1969). Source: Mr. Moo’s LP Covers Corner
Chris Clark, Soul Sounds (1967). Source: Fonts in Use
Rick James, Fire It Up (1979). Source: Mr. Moo’s LP Covers Corner
Willie Hutch, The Mack (1973). Source: CD and LP
Temptations, Puzzle People (1969). Source: Mr. Moo’s LP Cover Corner
Jackson 5, Goin’ Back to Indiana (1971)
Teena Marie, Lady T (1980). Source: Mr. Moo’s LP Covers Corner
Rare Earth, In Concert (1971)
Marvin Gaye, Super Hits (1970)
The Undisputed Truth, Cosmic Truth (1975). Source: Mr. Moo’s LP Covers Corner
Four Tops, Reach Out (1967). Source: Mr. Moo’s LP Covers Corner
Stokely Carmichael, Free Huey (1970). Source: Mr. Moo’s LP Covers Corner
Syreeta, One to One (1977). Source: Mr. Moo’s LP Covers Corner
Tammi Terrell, Irresistable (1968). Source: Cover to Cover
Of related interest:
A Very Black Santa Xmas from Jet Magazine! 10 vintage Jet covers featuring celebrities dressed as Santa, including Richard Pryor, Marvin Gaye, Redd Foxx, and Bill Cosby
The Crisis: A Record of the Darker Races A collection of recent covers from The Crisis, the magazine of the NAACP
Emory Douglas: The Revolutionary Artist of the Black Panther Party An interview and design samples from the former art director and artist for the Black Panther newspaper
