Classic rock album covers


Is it illegal to make copies of album covers and sell as art? I have made some really cool wall art ( I dont know what else to call it ) and my friends always want me to do their favorite old lps for them to put in their home, listening rooms and even their offices.

Is there such a thing as free domain after a period of years? Are most of these people even alive ( remember it was mostly the 70's) or does it go back to the evil empires ...the record lables. Would this infringe on copywrite laws?

I have a 60k color printer and access to all paper stocks for a really impressive look ...

Give me some advice

Kelton
kelton
Phil Hartmann also did album covers for America. I saw him on a talk show one time speaking about doing the cover to "America's Greatest Hits". I pulled out the CD and sure as H**L there is his name!

One of my favorite covers was always The Moody Blues' "In Search of the Lost Chord" which had this "birth/death" theme and their album "A Question of Balance" - great cover art! I ALWAYS wanted to get these into poster form!!!
Minimalist choice: the white album. I have been a fan of the Yes LP covers. Sometimes they were better than the music.
Theduke,

There were two versions of the Mom's Apple Pie cover. The first was without the black suits looking in the window. They were added after some hassle with authorities. The addition of a tear running down the woman's cheek was also added at the same time. I have both.
Remember Poco, the 70's country rock band? Timothy B. Schmidt, their bass player/singer went on to the Eagles. Several of Poco's album covers were designed by the late, great Phil Hartmann of Saturday Night Live and stand-up comedy fame. Before he got into comedy, he was a graphic artist in LA.
Does anyone remember the album cover, maybe 1972-not sure, by a group called "Moms Apple Pie"
Wow!
Little Feat, Neon Park designed album covers are interesting, unique and classic.
this one's easy. roxy music: "country life" ; blind faith:
"blind faith."

BTW, it is indeed illegal to sell copyrighted works in whatever form
subject to the common law or statutory protection absent the written
consent of the holder thereof.

-cfb
How about the Jade Warrior Island Label covers with the samurai and miscellaneous world art motifs?
Gotta love the minimalism of Zappa's "Ship Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch," which, of course, contains the anti-anthem "Valley Girl."
In the mid seventies I saw an entire side of a barn painted as In The Court of The Crimson King. And a beautiful, detailed piece of work it was! I think it was in Maine, but then, I'm lucky to have survived the sixties!!!
Yes King Crimson gets another vote. How about Cream Disraeli Gears,Iron Buterfly Live,or Spirit The Twelve Dreams of Dr.Sardonicus? These are also classic.
Strawberry Alarm Clock, Wake Up, It's Tomorrow!!! Great cover. Would also make a great T shirt!!

Also another vote for King Crimson "Court of the Crimson King."
don't know what the h**l these posts have to do with 70's rock, but THE classic rock album cover in my book is The Cars "Candy-0".
"The Court Of The Crimson King" has always been one of my favorites also. There was a coffee house I was in some where in the early 70s that had a huge reproduction mural of both the full inside of the gatefold as well outside front and back. Another one I liked was "Looking In" by Savoy Brown. An album cover I also liked,while not a rock album,(orchestral) was "St Giles Cripplegate" by Jack Nitzsche sort of Bosh–Dali like illustrations.
I like Jon Anderson's (Yes singer) "Olias of Sunhillow". Classic! Nektar's "Recycled" is serious psychadelic eye-candy (and ear candy, too!) Hawkwind's Space Ritual is another all-time great cover. Cover art is a lost art yadayadayada. Totally true.

As for legality, definitely illegal. Do them for friends, don't sign/id them, and keep them out of public places. For your den or rumpus room, though, you should never have a problem (hey, it's a "back up copy"!) Just can't sell them, I'm afraid.
You can't beat the Crimson King. A face some of us wear when we happen upon MTV. Another fav is "the Love Songs of A. Wilbur Meshel". A photo of a sad young man, eating a sandwich on a park bench, while a "Park Avenue" couple enjoys life in the background.
My favorite cover art is by Roger Huyssen. I'm pretty certain that Twl's "Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano" is done by this artist. I have Bellson, Brown and Smith's "Intensive Care" as another example of his work. He sells his work through his website so I would think he would care. I also love Pure Prarie League covers. Just my two cents. Anyway, Twl, wanna part with the Bolling/Rampal? I'll give you a bag of dried peach seeds for it. Rel, am I lucky to have survived the 70's or what? ;)
Some I like are:
King Crimson -Court of the Crimson King
Captain Beyond
Jackie Gleason - Lonesome Echo(Cover art by Dali)
Bolling/Rampal - Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano
Coryell/Mouzon - Back Together Again
Miles Davis - Dig
Fleetwood Mac - Mystery to Me

That's just a few off the top of my head.
Go for it, dude!! I mean like what are like the chances that like anyone from like the 70's is even like still alive?? And as far as like copyrights and like intellectual property and stuff, well I mean like whatever!!