When buying vinyl the only things that matters to me are 1) I have to like 70-80% of the entire album to consider purchasing it because I like to listen to at least one side of the album at a time, most often the whole record. 2) It must be the best sonic pressing available and be in at least VG+ condition, preferably in NM condition.
Having these strict parameters helps to limit my discography to my absolute favorite albums while allowing me to shell out the big bucks for those really expensive ones. Even with these parameters I’ve found that I haven’t listened to a lot of albums in my discography for years and I have less than 400 albums.
Cover art has absolutely no influence on what I add to the collection.
Does cover art of an album or recording influences your purchase?
For me, album or recording cover art definitely influences physical media purchases, where the physical object is part of the experience.
Cover art may never be as powerful as the music itself, but it carries its own quiet weight. It represents love, life, death, and the essence of a particular time in a musician’s journey. It captures what the music feels, without needing a single note.
Many are works of art and have become as famous as the music they stand for—Andy Warhol's covers, for example, including the banana he designed for The Velvet Underground. And there are many more!
On flip side, If you’re buying based purely on artist or recommendation, cover art may not matter. But for exploration, vinyl hunting, or curating a vibe, it remains quite influential.
I’d love to hear what album covers have etched themselves into your memory or even convinced you to listen before you knew the artist.
Thank you!