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The Lefsetz Letter

Album Art

by Bob Lefsetz

Did you upgrade to the new version of iTunes? Version 7.1?

You should. To get full screen Cover Flow.

Now I've got a 23" HD monitor. But still, I've got to believe these covers look pretty good on your screen. And they're A LOT BIGGER THAN CD BOOKLETS!

Enough with the laments that the vinyl album experience is dead. Wherein you separated seeds from stems while the platter turned, studying the credits as the music played on.

Physical product is dying. We're not going back to the past. We're developing a better way to experience the FUTURE!

I can see shit on the covers of these albums that I didn't see EVER on the CDs. Now, if only they opened up, if only you could turn them over, if only there were an AUTHORIZED BOOKLET/VERSION!

Here's what you do.

If you're on a Mac, use Software Update, or go to:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/itunes71formac.html and download the new version.

On Windows, go to:
www.apple.com/support/downloads/itunes71forwindows.html.

Now after installing the new version... Go to Cover Flow view.

You can do this two ways.

1. Go to the View menu and select it (it's the ninth choice down in the Mac version.)

2. In the upper right-hand corner of the iTunes Window there are three little bricks above "View", just choose the one to the right...

Now you're in Cover Flow view.

Now, in the lower right-hand corner of the upper window, the one containing the album covers, click on the little icon that looks like a satellite/spaceship, just to the right of the slider. Now you're in FULL SCREEN VIEW! The album covers are 8 1/2" square on my monitor.

And, just in case you don't have the covers installed... Under the Advanced menu, click on "Get Album Artwork", the sixth choice down on a Mac.

And to make sure you continue to get artwork when you add tracks, open Preferences and click to "Automatically download missing album artwork" in "General". You've got to have the album title, and it must be correct, but the downloading system works pretty well, and it's FREE!

Of course you can add artwork yourself, but if you want to do this, you probably already know how.

iTunes, iPods, they get better. And they don't beat us constantly against the head with improvements.

If only labels and bands did the same thing. Just spoke on the quality of their product.

Bob Lefsetz, Santa Monica-based industry legend, is the author of the e-mail newsletter, "The Lefsetz Letter". Famous for being beholden to no one, and speaking the truth, Lefsetz addresses the issues that are at the core of the music business: downloading, copy protection, pricing and the music itself. His intense brilliance captivates readers from Steven Tyler to Rick Nielsen to Bryan Adams to Quincy Jones to EVERYBODY who's in the music business. Never boring, always entertaining, Mr. Lefsetz's insights are fueled by his stint as an entertainment business attorney, majordomo of Sanctuary Music's American division and consultancies to major labels.

While Rhino may occasionally disagree with some of Bob's opinions, we certainly agree with his right to state them. At the bottom of each column we give you, the reader, the opportunity to respond and we encourage you to do so. We will post select comments.


LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

A word about submissions: We post what you give us, so please don't include your email address or any personal info. Your comments reach Rhino, not necessarily the writer, so don't expect a reply from them (or us, see our help section for contact info). We gather and post your submissions in batches, so do expect a short delay. And don't get bent if we edit your comments. We probably won't, but we reserve that right.





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