Forgive me, y’all, but I didn’t Remember The Time of year it was. June is Black Music Month. And what is more quintessentially “Black Music” than the offerings of the legendary Motown record label?
Now I don’t mean to wax nostalgic. But, with apologies to the compact disc (CD), there’s nothing like the look, the feel, and the smell of an old-time LP (Long Play) record. Moreover, holding the cardboard packaging that contains the LP, in anticipation of playing the album, is a Thriller unto itself.
This blog entry features a list of Motown LP covers, and LP covers of Motown subsidiary labels (Tamla Records and Gordy Records), with art-based themes. And by “art-based” I mean to Say Say Say having no (or very little) photographic elements. Just about all aspects of these album covers were hand-created by fine artists from scratch (allowing for visual special-effect applications over the years).
Since the late 80s saw the LP being largely replaced (by the CD) as the album-release format to Enjoy Yourself musically, all of the albums on this list will be ones released prior to 1988. Coincidentally (or maybe as a consequence of the LP phaseout), the “classic” Motown period is defined, by the labels very website, as the period from 1959 – the company’s year of inception – until 1988.
Although my intent is to mention the most aesthetically pleasing covers in Motown’s history, there are two things I’d like the reader to keep in mind. One, I have to admit, I included 2 or 3 of the albums for their audio content (your Mom always said it’s what’s on the inside that counts). And secondly, while I will try to include the best of the best in graphics, Another Part Of Me will try to represent for as many of the legendary Motown acts as possible.
And I know that you’re asking, “Why 9, per se?” Because 8, contrary to popular opinion, is not enough, and 10 is cliched… 
Here are the albums, along with their years of release:
#9: Songs in the Key of Life, 1976. The art is not necessarily stellar, but it ain’t half Bad. The reason the cover is memorable is because the album is so memorable: the production is one of the most critically-acclaimed and universally-loved albums not only in Stevie Wonder’s career, but in Motown’s history.
#8: Any art cover featuring the embellished Commodores logo. Take your pick of albums: Commodores (self-titled, 1977), Natural High (1978), or Midnight Magic (1979). The logo (see photo) is an iconic one, and long after the LP sporting it has stopped Jamming, it’s still branded on the brain.
#7: Garden of Love, 1980. Let’s face it, it was in Rick James Human Nature to indulge and revel in carnal excess. So to see him depicted trying to survive in some floral utopia with (or should I say, “despite?”) a bevy of babes, is wholly believable. For any other singer, you’d think this art cover was based on some outlandish, surreal fantasy strictly out of the artist’s imagination.
Not for James.
#6: Super Hits, 1970. Look, up in the sky. Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
No. It’s Marvin Gaye, the most soulful singer who ever lived, with rescued honey in tow. And he’s brought a compilation album of great hits and searing ballads to save the day and Heal The World.
#5: Here, My Dear, 1978. Another Marvin Gaye art cover… The entire double-album, as you can see, has the feel of ancient Greece, complete with architecture and a toga-ed Gaye. Looking at the LP, I don’t know whether to hit the dance floor or erect a statue to a mythological god…
Needless to say, the cover is a little Off the Wall, and it’s certainly not for everyone. But this blogger likes it.
#4: 20 Golden Greats, 1979. You know I had to rep for her; I just couldn’t do her Dirty. Diana Ross, “the most successful female music artist in history” (according to the Guinness Book of World Records), has to be somewhere on this list.
This is another one of those covers that gets on this list on the merit of music content. The artistic theme/concept is not that remarkable (it’s basically all about Ross’ pretty face). But any of the recordings in Ms Ross’ solo Motown career that ever amounted to anything is on this album. For that kind of audio repertoire, her fans will learn to love this cover’s art.
#3: Dancing Machine, 1974. In just about any Motown list, you know the Jackson 5 has also Got To Be There. And this is the only album in the group’s discography that I could find that fit the theme of this article. So here you have cover art featuring the label’s chart-busting sibling quintet, with some serious ‘fros intact.
#2: Easy, 1969. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell: the most compatible duo to come along in African-American music since Rhythm met Blues. See their easy-going, care-free demeanor, captured in art-form for all of posterity. Listen to those easy-flowing, amorous lyrics on their album. It’s like these two were born to be together, born to make beautiful music together. Both of them, Gone Too Soon.
It’s easy to get sentimental about Gaye and Terrell.
#1: I Want You, 1976. Far and away my favorite album cover but not for the reason you would think (or maybe it is). In contrast to his other album covers on this list, singer Marvin Gaye is not depicted anywhere here. What is prominently shown is a painting by the great African-American visual artist Ernie Barnes, artwork featured (as many of you may know) at the end of many episodes of the classic 70s sitcom Good Times. The piece is a part of American television lore, something audiences saw week in and week out. For my money, you can’t Beat It.
In conclusion, Motown has a history of noteworthy album covers that are just not artistic in nature (and thus they are beyond the scope of this blog). Several recording artists did not seem to have any art covers (the Temptations and the Miracles come to mind) , while others had more than their normal share (I found it Dangerous trying to select between five or six Marvin Gaye joints, while 3 or 4 Stevie Wonder LPs deserved consideration).
So if you are a fan of the “The Motown Sound,” You Are Not Alone. What’s your opinion about your favorite classic Motown offerings (albums and records)? I’d like to hear from you…
(Continue to rest in peace, MJ. I hope you appreciate how hard it was to work in some of your song titles. 
)
