Dean Martin’s Greatest Hits! Vol. 1 and 2 album art
![Vol. 1, May 1968 [More info on Discogs]](https://fiu-original.b-cdn.net/fontsinuse.com/use-images/N198/198382/198382.jpeg?filename=Dean Martin.jpg)
Vol. 1, May 1968 [More info on Discogs]
In 1968, Reprise Records released a two-volume compilation of greatest hits by Dean Martin (1917–1995). For the first volume, art director Ed Thrasher specified Tempo Black for the title, paired with Futura for the song names. Tempo was Ludlow’s response to Bauer’s Futura. Its Black weight is even heavier than Intertype’s Futura Extra Bold.
For Volume 2, which followed half a year later, he didn’t rehash the design, but came up with a variation: this time the titling face is Filmotype Gem, an extrabold sans with straight-sided rounds. The track list is shown to the left and right of Martin’s portrait, set in Franklin Gothic Extra Condensed.
What unites the two cover designs are the photographic portraits of smiling Dean Martin with his signature bow tie, the color palette with red white and blue, and a typography that uses two sans serifs in all caps.
![Vol. 2, Aug. 1968 [More info on Discogs]](https://fiu-original.b-cdn.net/fontsinuse.com/use-images/N198/198378/198378.jpeg?filename=102486.jpeg)
Vol. 2, Aug. 1968 [More info on Discogs]
1 Comment on “Dean Martin’s Greatest Hits! Vol. 1 and 2 album art”
I now wonder what West Coast typesetting company used this Tempo Black font, which evidently was in phototypesetting form. This company was used not just by Warner/Reprise, nor was Ed Thrasher the only one to fancy this typeface for album covers. It was also in use on such other LP covers as for A Taste Of Brass For Lovers Only by Jackie Gleason in 1967, and Barry White’s 1973 debut LP I’ve Got So Much To Give. They also had a great deal of other typesetting, Linotype, phototypesetting or otherwise, that turned up on many West Coast labels’ album covers and 45 picture sleeves. (While Airport Black was on many an East Coast LP cover [Back Stabbers by the O’Jays] or 45 PS [Yesterday I Had The Blues by Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes].)