Recently, my aunt gave me a box full of old vinyl records that she no longer wanted. Her tastes, as it turns out, are quite eclectic, and I discovered that many of the albums had some truly wonderful cover art. This is an art form that, unfortunately, just doesn't tend to exist today. I mean, really, when was the last time you even bought a CD, let alone a big ole vinyl record? So here, for your viewing pleasure (and in alphabetical order by artist), are 18 of my favorite album covers from her collection. Clicking on each image will take you to a hi-res version.

Notice I said album covers, not albums. Please don't harass me about the music.

Artist: BeeGees
Album: Main Course
Design: Pacific Eye & Ear
Year: 1975

Artist: Chicago
Album: Chicago VI
Design: John Berg and Nick Fasciano
Year: 1973

Artist: Chicago
Album: Chicago VII
Design: John Berg & Nick Fasciano
Year: 1974

Artist: Christopher Parkening
Album: In The Spanish Style
Design: Ken Veeder & Dick Brown
Year: 1970

Artist: The Doobie Brothers
Album: Best of The Doobies
Design: Bruce Steinberg
Year: 1976

Artist: Eagles
Album: Their Greatest Hits, 1971–1975
Design: Boyd Elder & Glen Christensen
Year: 1976

Artist: Eagles
Album: One of These Nights
Design: Gary Burden
Year: 1975

Artist: Gladys Knight & The Pips
Album: I Feel A Song
Design: Milton Sincoff
Year: 1974

Artist/Album: Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
Design: Wayne Kimbell
Year: 1971

Artist/Album: Holiday
Design: Gary Burden
Year: 1974

Artist: Jim Croce
Album: You Don't Mess Around With Jim
Design: Paul Wilson
Year: 1972

 

Artist: Joan Baez
Album: 5
Design: unknown
Year: 1964

 

Artist: John Denver
Album: Back Home Again
Design: Frank Mulvey & Gribbitt!
Year: 1974

 

Artist: Marvin Hamlisch
Album: The Entertainer
Design: Larry Vignon
Year: 1974

 

Artist: Various
Album: Mellow Gold
Design: unknown
Year: 1976
The cool golden apple aside, I absolutely love this lowercase "g".

 

Artist: Seals & Crofts
Album: Diamond Girl
Design: Ed Caraeff & David Larkham
Year: 1973

Look closely — in the lamp's reflection you will see the image of two women sitting across from the men. Gorgeous!

Artist: Three Dog Night
Album: Golden Biscuits
Design: Peter Whorf
Year: 1971

Artist: The Ventures
Album: Hawaii Five-0
Design: Woody Woodward & Gabor Halmos
Year: 1969
I absolutely love this typography. Very powerful!