Kevin Sutton and Don Satz have been taking a negative view regarding cover
art on CDs.

I would like to put in a word for the defence of SOME cover art.  The cover
art employed (usually) by companies such as Hyperion and cpo is excellent.
This usually has a painting dating from around the period in which the
music was written.  I have seen a lot of paintings I wouldn't otherwise
have seen due to CD cover art.

I realise this is strictly a non-musical argument.  However, the art
work helps to put the music in its cultural context.  I well recall a
stimulating series of Weber's music on Naxos.  The art work consisted of a
series of paintings by the Geramn Romantic, Caspar David Friedrich.  Thus
early German Romantic music by Weber was supported via German Romantic art
work.  Its a simple formula which doesn't always work, but often I do get
a lot out of such cover art.

I agree with Kevin and Don about mug shots, though for different reasons.
They are off-putting, not so much because the photographs are ugly, but
rather because they are part of a mind-set which places the performer
(rather than the composer) foremost.  I recognise that this outlook is
very widespread, but it is to be regretted.

Ian Foster