COMMUNIST COVERS
Classic designs in their own sparse way, Melodiya releases out of Russia during Communist rule are a fascinating realm -- nary a diva photo in sight. All these records were produced by the State, for the People. Divas served the State, and the People -- not herself or the profits of a capitalist record company. There was no need to glorify the diva to sell the record. Instead, we get very stripped down, generic cover "templates" -- often involing trees and lighting fixtures for some reason. Some Melodiya covers had photos of the diva, but this section focuses on the ones that didn't. Admittedly bland, they still offer a wonderful peek behind the cold war curtain into another political and cultural attitude. It is diva design with a political bent -- think of them as "anti vinyl diva."
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Click picture for close up
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EVA BANDROWSKA-TURSKA
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OLGA BARDINA
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OLGA BASISTUK
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LAMARA CHKONIA
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LAMARA CHKONIA
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GOAR GASPARYAN
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GOAR GASPARYAN
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GOAR GASPARYAN
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NADEZHDA KAZANTSEVA
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GALINA KOVALEVA
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GALINA KOVALEVA
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LOIS MARSHALL
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EUGENIA MIROSCHNICHENKO
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EUGENIA MIROSCHNICHENKO
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GALINA OLEINICHENKO
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TAMARA PETROVA
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BELA RUDENKO
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BELA RUDENKO
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ALLA SOLLENKOVA
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MIEKO TAKIJAWA
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IRENA ZHUKAITE
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, but the altitudinous coloratura recital that lurks beneath is legendary.<br><br>MELODIYA 5289-56'))
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