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