Vincent Lopez – Music Out of Century 21, Released in 1962 on World’s Fair Records
Retro-futurism is an artistic style influenced by portrayals of the future and of outer-space conceived of before the 1960′s. These depictions were often fantastical and utopian, optimistic of mankind’s future in the final frontier. Of course, it was a conception of the future limited by knowledge only of the technology of the past. Stone castles on far away planets, propeller-driven flying machines, multicolored extraterrestrials and cast-iron flying-saucers, the ideology of retro-futurism was the perfect fit for a lot of synth-based music which hinted at a future in space, but now appears to us outdated and anachronistic. The influence of retro-futurism is clear on countless record sleeves, which twist and distort the style into what is a marvelous array of kitsch, bizarre and downright beautiful covers. iCrates has collected a few of the best for your delectation. Enjoy.
Starcastle – Citadel, Released in 1977 on Epic Records
Boston – Third Stage, Released in 1986 on MCA Records
Herbie Hancock – Sextant, Released in 1973 on Columbia Records
Ron Goodwin and Orchestra – Space in Orbit, Released in 1958 on Capitol Records.
Les Baxter – Space Escapade, Released in 1958 on Capitol Records
Man In Space With Sounds, Released in 1962 on World’s Fair Records
The Ames Brothers – Destination Moon, Released in 1958 on RCA Victor
Enoch Light – Presents Spaced Out, Released in 1969 on Project 3
Larry Elgart – Impressions of Outer Space, Released in 1953 on Brunswick Records
Parliament – Mothership Connection, Released in 1976 on Universal Records
Styx – Kilroy Was Here, Released in 1986 on A&M Records
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention – One Size Fits All, Released in 1975 on DiscReet Records
Funkadelic – Cosmic Slop, Released in 1973 on Westbound Records
Roger Taylor – Fun in Space, Released in 1981 on EMI/Elektra Records
The SOS Band – On the Rise, Released in 1983 on Tabu Records
The Satellite Sisters & Orchestra – A Child’s Introduction to Outer Space, Released in 1956 on Golden Records
Russ Garcia – Fantastica -Music from Outer Space, Released in 1958 on Liberty Records
