’Blood on the Tracks’ - Robert A. Zimmerman

Fast-paced 1958 thriller: a jilted train driver hi-jacks his New York subway train to exact revenge upon his love rival, only to threaten the life of his ex-lover. The last 30 pages are missing. Don’t know if she survives.

 
Christophe Gowans is a Graphic Designer and Art Director, who once designed for the music industry (with Peter Saville Associates, Assorted Images, amongst others) and has since produced some stunning work for Blitz, Esquire, Modern Painters, Stella and The Sunday Telegraph.

Christophe is also the talent of a series of fun, collectible and original art works that re-imagine classic albums as book covers.

These fabulous Record Books are on display at his site and are also available to buy at The Rockpot.
 

’Abbey Road’ - The Beatles

Classic paperback. The story of two catholic sisters growing up in a swiftly changing post-war Britain. Guess what? It doesn’t end well.

 

’The Dark Side of the Moon’ - Pink Floyd

Alternative scientific textbook from the 60s. Californian professor Floyd achieved enormous success with this study of the moon’s influence on the menstrual cycle. Indeed, he was able to found his own college, specialising in the study of women’s fertility. The college no longer exists. It was shut down in 1972, having been razed to the ground by a mob of angry husbands.

 

’Brothers in Arms’ - Dire Straits

War comic. Part of a very long series, an epic really, recounting the journey of three boys from early conscription to their various fates. Heroic, tragic, moving. This one is covered in puerile sexual additions in blue biro, though.

 

’Purple Rain’ - P. Rogers Nelson

When a form of acid rain, caused by a comet ploughing into Uranus, appears to stunt the growth of every living thing on Earth, mankind’s very existence is on a knife edge. When a group of pygmies realise that the peach is the only plant unaffected, they found a new society, with the peach stone as its currency.

 

’Close to the Edge’ - Yes

Radical political tract/magazine from 1972. The Y.E.S. (Youth Energy Squad) appear to have considered themselves on the ‘front line’ against all forms of organised society. Although clearly heartfelt, much of their editorial – including diatribes targetting ‘The Old Man’ and a 12-page splenetic tirade bemoaning decimalisation – seems rather quaint 40 years on…

 

’Let England Shake’ - ‘PJ’ Harvey

1959 compendium of dance instructions ‘for all the latest ways to cut a rug’. It came, apparently, with a set of ‘footpad tiles’ to be used by the reader – in an adequately spacious room or hall – to perfect the steps. These are now missing.

 

’Horses’ - Patti Smith

Thorough and clear children’s reference book concerning all things equine. Sadly, many of the illustrations within have been disfigured with juvenile amendments and additions, in biro.

 
H/T The Paris Review