“Sexy Record Covers” brings together hundreds of album covers where sex is more than a sales tactic – it becomes an aesthetic principle, a societal mirror, and at times an ironic commentary. The collection spans genres from jazz and punk to German schlager, and deliberately taps into the collective memory through its visual language: anyone who browsed LP racks in the 1970s will recognize certain motifs. The physical presence of these covers reveals how deeply visual culture was once intertwined with the medium of vinyl – and what has been lost in the shift to digital.
a bold example of erotic vinyl design from the Italy in the 1970s.
© Taschen Verlag
This story is told not only through images but also through voices: Dian Hanson, known for her erotic publications, analyzes the visual codes with sharp precision, while collector Eric Godtland adds personal anecdotes. Many of the featured LPs have only survived thanks to him—most were released by obscure labels in tiny print runs. Particularly compelling are the regional chapters, such as the section titled “German Mood,” where eroticism meets provincial charm, irony, and kitsch—a historical treasure trove beyond the bounds of conventional design history.
a bold example of disco-era erotic vinyl design.
© Taschen Verlag
What may first appear as a curiosity reveals, on closer inspection, a critical reflection on masculinity, Western consumer aesthetics, and the cultural handling of sexuality. Caught between nostalgia, voyeurism, and media history, the book documents a largely forgotten chapter of visual pop culture—perhaps precisely because it so directly engages with looking, desire, and lust. It is a book that doesn’t moralize but rather makes visible—and in doing so, provokes more than one might expect.
Recommended reading
For more information about the book Sexy Record Covers, please visit the TASCHEN website.
| Title | Sexy Record Covers |
| Author | Dian Hanson, Eric Godtland |
| Publisher | TASCHEN |
| Binding | Hardcover |
| Pages | 528 |
| Language | English |
| Publication year | 2025 |
| Dimensions | 29.3 × 29.3 cm |
| ISBN | 978-3-8365-9620-6 |
| Price | 60 € |
Compliance
The book was kindly made available to us by the publisher. The presentation and rating of HYPERMADE remains independent of this and is based solely on the content of the book.
