series of editorials on prominent designers

through 12 glorious years, american designer reid miles created over 500 LP covers for the jazz label blue note records.

some of the covers represent the absolute gold standard of modernist typography and are widely recognized as the best-designed record sleeves in the history of jazz.

Black and white photo of Reid Miles wearing polo shirt and sunglasses, looking sideways

Reid Miles, 1970s
© Blue Note Records.

19

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born in Chicago

40

enrolls at the Chouinard Art Institute, Los Angeles

Chouinard Art Institute. © California Institute of the Arts.

Photo of a lecture in Chouinard Art Institute. A lecturer points at the Pig'n'Whistle poster

50

moves to New York 

55

Created with Sketch.

starts working at Esquire magazine

56

hired as principal LP artwork designer by Blue Note

Co-founder of Blue Note Records Alfred Lion and photographer Francis Wolff. © Francis Wolff / Blue Note Records.

Co-founder of Blue Note Records Alfred Lion and photographer Francis Wolff

Jimmy Smith—At The Organ (Volume 3), 1956.

Cover for At The Organ (Volume 3) by Jimmy Smith

67

leaves Blue Note after label is sold

93

Black and white photo of Los Angeles skyline

Los Angeles. © California State Library.

dies at age 66 in Los Angeles

Created with Sketch.

50 bucks an album.—reid miles on his fixed commission at blue note




Cover by Reid Miles for Midnight Special record by Jimmy Smith

Jimmy Smith—Midnight Special, 1961.

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