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LAM-SGC View Drop Down
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    Posted: April 28 2021 at 05:26
Has this been discussed before?

When did people start calling album sleeves album covers?

It was always called a sleeve when I was a kid in London 60s/70s.

Even in secondhand shops today people in Europe will still say things like "oh,the sleeve isn't in very good condition.

Also,there is a reason why the INNER sleeve is called the inner sleeve.

Is this possibly a UK-US terminology thing?

Dub Side of the Moon by Easy Star All-Stars, 2003, is what I think of as an album cover.
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Points: 2149 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Matti Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2021 at 05:41
It's only about the multiple meanings for words which is very common especially in English. 

English is not my first language, but I believe that when referring to the design/art on the album's sleeve, the word cover is commonly used. I don't remember anyone talking about "sleeve art", whereas cover is used also on e.g. Roger Dean's books on album covers ("Album Cover Album").

And when the physical sleeve that wraps the vinyl (or cd) is in question, then the word cover is not to be used. Just like in your example "the sleeve isn't in very good condition".

The native English speakers may correct me if I'm wrong.
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Points: 6737 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nick_h_nz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2021 at 06:02
There is a difference between sleeve and cover, but I’ve not noticed anyone calling sleeves covers, ever. Some people might talk about the cover art on the sleeve, which is fine. But sleeves really only exist for lps, or for lp-replica cd releases. I would talk about sleeves only if I were talking about lps and, as I say, I don’t believe that usage has changed, as it is still the norm for a sleeve to be referred to as a sleeve.

The comparative term for sleeve for a cd would probably be booklet or insert, I guess? And again, this is a different thing than a cover. And again, someone might talk about the cover art of the booklet/insert.

So, perhaps it is a local change in language, as it definitely doesn’t seem to be universal. Certainly any of the New Zealand (where I’m from) or UK (where I am) websites and FB pages I follow never use cover over sleeve/booklet/insert unless mentioning the artwork - in which case cover is a necessary descriptor, as other parts of the sleeve/booklet/insert likely also have artwork, but it is the artwork on the cover that is being mentioned.




Edited by nick_h_nz - April 28 2021 at 06:03
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Points: 20035 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chopper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2021 at 06:54
It was always "covers" when I was at school, hence as you say "The Album Cover Album". A sleeve would be the thing the record goes in first, which could be a generic plain white thing or a printed one.
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Points: 6737 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nick_h_nz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2021 at 07:04
Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

It was always "covers" when I was at school, hence as you say "The Album Cover Album". A sleeve would be the thing the record goes in first, which could be a generic plain white thing or a printed one.

That’s the inner sleeve. But then some people call underpants “pants”, which is comparable with calling inner sleeves “sleeves”. It’s correct, but not entirely descriptive. 😄
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Points: 18446 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2021 at 07:11
When records or "Albums", as they were originally called, were first released, the platters (there were usually several) were in a 'Sleeve' within the Album. So the term 'Cover' came about later. Like the term 'Jacket'. Just another term someone coined to describe the outside packaging. Once record manufacturers realized they could made a record last longer by protecting it from the course cardboard friction of the Album they started using paper 'sleeves'.
To the best of my knowledge anyway.
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Points: 20617 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2021 at 07:24
The technical name for an an inner sleeve is "album liner" from which we get "liner notes" for the info printed on them. An "album cover" is short for "album outer cover".

Edited by SteveG - April 28 2021 at 07:27
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Points: 20035 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chopper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2021 at 08:08
Originally posted by nick_h_nz nick_h_nz wrote:

Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

It was always "covers" when I was at school, hence as you say "The Album Cover Album". A sleeve would be the thing the record goes in first, which could be a generic plain white thing or a printed one.

That’s the inner sleeve. But then some people call underpants “pants”, which is comparable with calling inner sleeves “sleeves”. It’s correct, but not entirely descriptive. 😄

but then what we call "pants" are not the same as what Americans call "pants". My kids thought that was hilarious when we first visited the USA.


Edited by chopper - April 28 2021 at 08:10
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Points: 6737 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nick_h_nz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2021 at 08:50
I have no idea what Americans call pants. But pants can either mean underpants or trousers in New Zealand, with meaning understood by context. I have heard both terms used in the UK, too.
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Points: 17988 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2021 at 09:08
Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

It was always "covers" when I was at school, hence as you say "The Album Cover Album". A sleeve would be the thing the record goes in first, which could be a generic plain white thing or a printed one.
Without getting insanely technical this is the very common/generic terms I have always used.

"Hey did you see the Scorpions album cover for Virgin Killer!!!!"
"The record sleeve has some great pics of the band in the studio and all the lyrics."

Now that being said, there are some album covers that actually have the lyrics printed on the back, I spun one yesterday.....The Fixx~Reach the Beach, so now what?? LOL



Edited by Catcher10 - April 28 2021 at 09:21
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Points: 52887 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote progaardvark Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2021 at 09:54
I suspect this might be a UK-US variation of usage. I have only heard the outer cardboard or card stock container with the art work called an "album cover" or "record jacket." The paper or plastic pocket that the record sits in I have only ever heard called a "record sleeve." "Outer sleeves" are archival plastic coverings that go over the album cover to protect it from damage, which is different from the original shrink wrap that covers the cover when you buy it brand new.

I sort of suspect that the term "cover" may have had its origins from the book industry, but I can't seem to find any evidence of that. 
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Points: 20617 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2021 at 10:05
I've never heard any record company A&R person ever refer to "liners" or "covers" as anything else, on either side of the pond. Companies that manufacture the liners are usually different form the ones that manufacture the covers, so getting the terms confused with other names can cause a lot of problems.
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Points: 20671 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dr wu23 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2021 at 13:06
Originally posted by SteveG SteveG wrote:

The technical name for an an inner sleeve is "album liner" from which we get "liner notes" for the info printed on them. An "album cover" is short for "album outer cover".

^ this
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