Mel Bay’s Chords in Picture and Diagram Form series (c. 1973–1976)
Mel Bay’s Ukulele Chords In Picture and Diagram Form, first published in 1959
Around 1973, Mel Bay Publications revamped the look of their Chords In Picture and Diagram Form series once again. The cover design with Jolly Roger that was introduced just in 1970 apparently didn’t cut it anymore. The portrait of ol’ Mel Bay (1913–1997) framed by a psychedelic floral pattern had to go, and was replaced by silhouettes of instruments filled with multicolored stripes. The only graphic elements that could stay were the MB monogram and Mel Bay’s name in Filmotype Honey.
The new display typeface is Circue, used in all caps. This naïve face with cookie-cutter counters was shown as a VGC original in 1973, without credits. It’s not yet listed in their catalog from the year before. Castcraft copied it under the name Chapel. In 2019, Phil Bracco of Pink Broccoli made a digitization named Blackhole PB.
The subtitle and the avalanche of chords are set in Helvetica schmalhalbfett. This family member originated at Haas as Commercial-Grotesk halbfett and was later replaced by Matthew Carter’s Helvetica Compressed. It’s not included in Linotype’s digital Helvetica.
The address is added in caps from News Gothic on some covers and from Univers on others. Some of the back covers (not shown) feature ITC Bookman, which was released in 1975.
Mel Bay’s Banjo Chords In Picture and Diagram Form, first published in 1973
Mel Bay’s Tenor Banjo Chords In Picture and Diagram Form, first published in 1961. Judging from the new publisher logo and the higher price tag, this is a much later printing.
Mel Bay’s Mandolin Chords In Picture and Diagram Form, first published in 1963
Mel Bay’s Ukulele Chords In Picture and Diagram Form, first published in 1961
Mel Bay’s Baritone Uke Chords In Picture And Diagram Form, first published in 1961
