Vinyl Divas Home

The real golden age for the operatic diva
was the era of the long playing record.

Thousands of women of all levels of talent and fame felt compelled to document their artistry in solo recital recordings during the forty or so years of the LP's supremacy. In nearly every case, in every country from Argentina to Yugoslavia, some tortured art director struggled with how to present an image of the diva to the public that would sell her record and satisfy her ego. How can one truly capture on a 12" x 12" album cover her glamour, her mystery, her musicianship, her personality, her status, her art?

This site offers a tour through the weird and wonderful world of diva album cover art. These cultural relics give us time-warp glimpses into the graphic design trends -- and coiffure styles -- of bygone eras and far-off cultures. Many demand only one question: "What were they thinking?" Others are timeless and perfectly capture the diva's elevated art and alluring essence.

Though the focus of the site is primarily on the art design of the covers, what rests beneath them can't be neglected: the music. That is, of course, the reason these recordings exist at all. So, herein you'll find opinions, recommendations, and dire warnings about these ladies' artistry in the detailed comments on each disc. My hope is that this not only puts the diva covers in perspective, but helps guide your buying decisions. We may buy some albums just for the covers, but it is nice to know what lurks underneath.