CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
+4
Candlemass
Staybrite
6stringgrind
metaldude
8 posters
Page 1 of 1
CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
I remember back during that time, there wasn't a whole lot of info available on new releases in the Christian rock/metal genre. There were some underground fanzines, and CCM would shock you now and then with something, and every once in a while you caught wind of new music via the local Christian radio station, but that was rare.
So, the number one way for me and my friends to find new music was simply by going into the local Christian book/tape/cd store and taking a gamble and buying anything that even LOOKED like it rocked.
Yep, definitely got fooled now and then by buying something that seemed like it would be from a rock/metal band due to the cover, only to find out it was some Sandi Patti or 2nd Chapter of Act wanna-be.
Of course, once the Pure Metal label popped up, we at least knew we could buy ANYTHING from that label and be happy. Well, except for that one time.....Rosanna's Raiders...yeah..not what the rock/metal fan in me wanted at the time..
Anyway, covers played a significant role in which music we bought. And it isn't like there was a lot of music coming out for us. Even during the heyday of Christian hair metal, the releases were few and far apart. I can remember walking into the store just begging to be able to find something new, and if it had a cool cover it was a cinch that we would have to buy it. I am sure I am not the only one who was like that. Which makes me wonder why some rock/metal bands from back then would use some of the lame covers they did. I mean, of all the genres out there, rock/metal is definitely the one that uses "cool" imagery the most.
I thought about this today as I was listening to Chryztne and their Tales of Paradise release from 1993, and it made me think about how I would never have bought their cd/cassette back in the day. What a lame cover. I don't understand how a band doesn't realize the importance of having a cover that appeals to its fan base, which was probably males between 16 and 25.
Anyone else here buy purely based off the cover back then?
Where there any bands that you missed back then because of the cover, only to give them a try later?
So, the number one way for me and my friends to find new music was simply by going into the local Christian book/tape/cd store and taking a gamble and buying anything that even LOOKED like it rocked.
Yep, definitely got fooled now and then by buying something that seemed like it would be from a rock/metal band due to the cover, only to find out it was some Sandi Patti or 2nd Chapter of Act wanna-be.
Of course, once the Pure Metal label popped up, we at least knew we could buy ANYTHING from that label and be happy. Well, except for that one time.....Rosanna's Raiders...yeah..not what the rock/metal fan in me wanted at the time..
Anyway, covers played a significant role in which music we bought. And it isn't like there was a lot of music coming out for us. Even during the heyday of Christian hair metal, the releases were few and far apart. I can remember walking into the store just begging to be able to find something new, and if it had a cool cover it was a cinch that we would have to buy it. I am sure I am not the only one who was like that. Which makes me wonder why some rock/metal bands from back then would use some of the lame covers they did. I mean, of all the genres out there, rock/metal is definitely the one that uses "cool" imagery the most.
I thought about this today as I was listening to Chryztne and their Tales of Paradise release from 1993, and it made me think about how I would never have bought their cd/cassette back in the day. What a lame cover. I don't understand how a band doesn't realize the importance of having a cover that appeals to its fan base, which was probably males between 16 and 25.
Anyone else here buy purely based off the cover back then?
Where there any bands that you missed back then because of the cover, only to give them a try later?
Guest- Guest
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
I would have been fooled by covers on the Rez albums, but the bookstore I shopped in always had demo copies to listen to. What I miss is being able to look at a picture of a band and tell if I would like them, or not.
metaldude- Holy Unblack Knight
- Posts : 2925
Join date : 2013-10-11
Age : 57
Location : Texas
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
metaldude wrote:What I miss is being able to look at a picture of a band and tell if I would like them, or not.
Hahahaha..yeah..how about it
Guest- Guest
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
The first King James album looked like an audio Bible disc or something. I almost skipped over it when I was browsing back in the day.
6stringgrind- mallcore n00b
- Posts : 93
Join date : 2012-03-13
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
6stringgrind wrote:The first King James album looked like an audio Bible disc or something. I almost skipped over it when I was browsing back in the day.
Ahhh..that's a good one. Yeah, I DID skip over it..
Guest- Guest
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
I wasn't listening to Christian music is the 80's or 90's but I was listening to metal. And I bought more than a few albums/cassettes solely based on the cover art. Most of which I really liked....but not all of them.
About 10 years ago I found a store with a used Christain rock section in it and I bought an album solely based on the cover, hoping it was going to be a metal (or at least hard rock) band.....it wasn't.
About 10 years ago I found a store with a used Christain rock section in it and I bought an album solely based on the cover, hoping it was going to be a metal (or at least hard rock) band.....it wasn't.
Staybrite- Holy Unblack Knight
- Posts : 3501
Join date : 2012-02-01
Age : 56
Location : Desert Plains of Arizona
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
Staybrite wrote:I wasn't listening to Christian music is the 80's or 90's but I was listening to metal. And I bought more than a few albums/cassettes solely based on the cover art. Most of which I really liked....but not all of them.
About 10 years ago I found a store with a used Christain rock section in it and I bought an album solely based on the cover, hoping it was going to be a metal (or at least hard rock) band.....it wasn't.
Man..all I can think of is Leviticus or Savatage with that kinda cover.
I would ABSOLUTELY have bought this too..... thanks for the warning..
What kind of music was it, btw? Inspirational?
Guest- Guest
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
They are a celtic/rock/punk band. Not bad for that style, just not at all my thing.
Staybrite- Holy Unblack Knight
- Posts : 3501
Join date : 2012-02-01
Age : 56
Location : Desert Plains of Arizona
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
Staybrite wrote:They are a celtic/rock/punk band. Not bad for that style, just not at all my thing.
Candlemass- Holy Unblack Knight
- Posts : 3939
Join date : 2012-02-02
Age : 60
Location : Cleveland, Oh
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
I think I am going to be sick
Guest- Guest
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
Ah yes, square dancing for the urban crowd.
Staybrite- Holy Unblack Knight
- Posts : 3501
Join date : 2012-02-01
Age : 56
Location : Desert Plains of Arizona
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
The cover of Mastedon's Its a Jungle Out There is a lot tougher looking than the album itself (though its not a bad album, but i was shocked when i heard other songs from it).
WildWorld- Holy Unblack Knight
- Posts : 2426
Join date : 2012-02-04
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
Staybrite wrote:Ah yes, square dancing for the urban crowd.
I was hitting a lot of dance clubs in the 90s when the electric slide was popular.
Total chick dance.
They all would stop whatever they were doing and go running out onto the dance floor as quick as they could. I got dragged up a couple of times by my girlfriend...how embarrassing now that I look back at it (my girl was hot though , so it made it better cause it made her happy..ya know what I mean ..yes..I was a )
Last edited by NoOneIsHere on Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:31 am; edited 1 time in total
Guest- Guest
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
For me, it was the label that piqued my interest - like the aforementioned Pure Metal and, of course, Intense Records.
(Reminds me of an old joke:
What's the best way to stop the spread of HIV?
Let R.E.X. distribute it)
(Reminds me of an old joke:
What's the best way to stop the spread of HIV?
Let R.E.X. distribute it)
bodachi- Metal Warrior
- Posts : 753
Join date : 2012-06-25
Age : 50
Location : everywhere and nowhere
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
I thought Master's Command CD cover from Sacred Warrior looked really cool.
MetalGospel- mallcore n00b
- Posts : 71
Join date : 2015-04-12
Age : 46
Location : North Carolina
Re: CD / Cassette Covers and their importance in the 80's and early 90's
Bahahahahahahaha! That's hilarious, dude!bodachi wrote:For me, it was the label that piqued my interest - like the aforementioned Pure Metal and, of course, Intense Records.
(Reminds me of an old joke:
What's the best way to stop the spread of HIV?
Let R.E.X. distribute it)
stevegarveyfan- Metal Warrior
- Posts : 706
Join date : 2012-03-24
Similar topics
» Early 60s?
» Anyone miss cassette cut-out bins?
» looking to sell my entire cassette collection
» Got Stryper THWTD on cassette yesterday for pennies
» I just added more rare and long out-of-print cassette listings on ebay!
» Anyone miss cassette cut-out bins?
» looking to sell my entire cassette collection
» Got Stryper THWTD on cassette yesterday for pennies
» I just added more rare and long out-of-print cassette listings on ebay!
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|