Richard M. Powers album covers

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique (1958); Charles Munch, Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Continuing an occasional series about artists or designers whose work has appeared on record sleeves. Richard M. Powers is one of those illustrators whose work is remembered today for his many covers for SF books and magazines even though his commissions often took him away from the genre. Powers’ early paintings for record companies use the wiry illustration style that was popular during the 1950s, few of them resemble the X-ray views or amorphous, Tanguy-like forms that populate his cosmic vistas and alien worlds. The cover for Symphonie Fantastique is an exception, justified by the suite’s narrative thread which involves visions seen in an opium dream.

Powers is also unique, I think, in having an entire album of music dedicated to his SF covers, Powers (12 Sound Pieces Inspired By The Art Of Richard M. Powers) by Andy Partridge. This album doesn’t feature any of Powers’ own artwork but the illustrations are done in his style so the cover has been included in this list.

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor “The Scotch” (1955); Music Appreciation Symphony Orchestra.

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 In B Minor, Op.74 – Pathétique (1956); Leonard Bernstein, Music Appreciation Symphony Orchestra, The Stadium Concerts Symphony Orchestra.

Verdi: Rigoletto (1956); The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra And Chorus conducted by Fausto Cleva, Robert McFerrin, Sr.

Johann Strauss: Die Fledermaus (1956); Tibor Kozma, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra And Chorus.

Mozart: The Marriage Of Figaro (Highlights) (1956); Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf, Giorgio Tozzi, Roberta Peters, Lisa Della Casa, George London, Rosalind Elias.

Puccini: Tosca (1957); Dorothy Kirsten, Daniele Barioni, Frank Guarrera, Dimitri Mitropoulos, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra And Chorus.

Verdi: Il Trovatore (1957): Mary Curtis-Verna, Kurt Baum, Rosalind Elias, Frank Guarrera, Norman Scott, Helen Vanni, James McCracken, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra And Chorus Conducted by Max Rudolf.

Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos No. 4 in G Major, No. 5 in D Major, Number 6 in B Flat (1957); The Little Orchestra Society, Thomas Scherman.

Beethoven / Leclair / Khachaturian: Kreutzer Sonata / Sonata In D Major / Chanson Poème / Dance In B Flat Major (1957); David Oistrakh.

Umberto Giordano: Andrea Chénier (1958); Mary Curtis-Verna, Richard Tucker, Mario Sereni, Rosalind Elias, Fausto Cleva.

Pagan Festival (An Exotic Love Ritual For Orchestra) (1959) by Dominic Frontiere And His Orchestra.

Mozart: Don Giovanni (1960); Erich Leinsdorf, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

An Album Of Swing Classics (1967) by Benny Goodman.

Is It… Man Or Astro-Man? (1993) by Man Or Astro-Man?

Postphonic Star Exploration (1995) by Man Or Astro-Man?

Togetherness (Control Songs, Vol. 2) (1999) by David Garland.

I Just Want It To Be Easy (2002) by Mexican Power Authority.

Afar (2013) by Frank Kimbrough / Scott Robinson.

Zeta Reticuli Blues (2014) by Lecherous Gaze.

Mozart: The Magic Flute (Abridged (1960); Tibor Kozma Conducting Metropolitan Opera Orchestra And Chorus.

Bizet: Carmen (no date); Rosalind Elias, Kurt Baum, Lucine Amara, Walter Cassel, Heidi Krall, Margaret Roggero, Clifford Harvout, George Cehanovsky, Paul Franke, Max Rudolf.

The Strauss Dynasty: Vienna Dances (no date): Anton Paulik Conducts Orchester Der Wiener Staatsoper.

Powers (12 Sound Pieces Inspired By The Art Of Richard M. Powers) (2017) by A.J. Partridge. Cover art by Andy Partridge.

Elsewhere on { feuilleton }
• The album covers archive

Previously on { feuilleton }
• Covers for Beyond Fantasy Fiction
• August Heat
• Picturing Vermilion Sands
• Things