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Songs

Record Sleeve
1973 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Progressive proof for an album cover for the long-playing record 'Songs' by the group Yes. Package version 2. Lettered with production details, illustrator, printer, song titles and names of band members.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSongs
Materials and techniques
Colour offset lithography
Brief description
Progressive proof for an album cover for the long-playing record 'Songs' by the group Yes. Package version 2. Colour offset lithography. Designed by Roger Dean, Great Britain, 1973.
Physical description
Progressive proof for an album cover for the long-playing record 'Songs' by the group Yes. Package version 2. Lettered with production details, illustrator, printer, song titles and names of band members.
Dimensions
  • Folded height: 31.4cm
  • Folded width: 31.3cm
  • Unfolded height: 31.4cm
  • Unfolded width: 124.7cm
Measurements taken from Registry File.
Marks and inscriptions
Lettered with production details, illustrator, printer, song titles and names of band members.
Credit line
Given by Roger Dean
Object history
Historical significance: Dean's importance lies in the fact that he was the first sleeve designer to work consistently with groups and become noted in his own right as a creative contributor to the appearance of a group. He has influenced designers in the 1980s such as Ian Anderson of the Designers Republic and in some ways established the profession of sleeve designer.

Dean's work represents an important stylistic phase in pre-punk Britain that grew out of the psychedelic work of Michael English in the 1960s. His general importance to the British record industry is attested by Richard Branson's commission for a label logo for his newly formed Virgin Records in 1970.
Historical context
Roger Dean trained as a furniture designer and although he is best known for his record sleeve artwork his main concerns are still with the three-dimensional object. (He has designed chairs, interiors and houses and is currently (1991) exploring the possibility of designing a theme-park with a Japanese company.)

Dean graduated from the RCA in 1968 and in the same year designed the seating for the club 'Upstairs' at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. His interests in architectonic and organic forms are reflected in his sleeve art. His work for the rock group Yes established a strong 'corporate identity' further enhanced with the 'organic' logotype (ca.1971). He began designing stage sets for the group in 1972 which reflected the sleeve designs.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
E.2458-1991

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Record createdMarch 4, 2009
Record URL
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