I bought a record player recently. I’ve been quietly lusting after one for about 3 years now. In my old neighborhood in Portland, there is a converted gas station which sells pizza. The cool kids working there play punk rock from a milk-crate full of vinyl. I want to travel through time and be them.

One of the reasons I needed a record player was the art work. I love the big 12” square image tuned to the music behind it. One of my very favorites is Dave Brubeck’s Time Out.

The cover is a bit of typography perched over a purple and orange abstract painting filled with circles, orbs, and motion.

This morning I decided to use the google-machine and I learned that this album cover was designed by S. Neil Fujita - he created the layout, typography, and the painting.

Fujita was hired by Columbia Records to create many of their album covers. Now that I know who he is, I realize I’ve seen his work everywhere.

Oh, and he also created the cover art for The Godfather.