VMP Magazine

The 50 Best Record Stores In America is an essay series where we attempt to find the best record store in every state. These aren’t necessarily the record stores with the best prices or the deepest selection; you can use Yelp for that. Each record store featured has a story that goes beyond what’s on its shelves; these stores have history, foster a sense of community and mean something to the people who frequent them.

They say not to judge a book by its cover, so the same would hold for purchasing music, right? However, the Grammys recognize there is admirable skill and creativity required to channel the vibe of an album via its artwork. Presented to the art director, not the performer (unless they are also the art director), this ultimate industry appreciation for visual aesthetics dates back to to 1959.

Originally categorized as “Best Album Cover,” the prize was split into classical and nonclassical divisions from 1962-1965. 1966-1968 saw separate awards for both graphic arts and photography. The Grammy then became known as “Best Album Package” in 1974, changing again in 1994 to “Best Recording Package” as music formats varied. The next year, box sets were split into its own “Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition” category. Though the specifics may have changed, the memorable impact of an album’s presentation can brings as much joy and reminiscing as the music contained within. Of all the winners over the years, here are our all-time favorites and the story of how they came to be.

In a retro bungalow located steps from the Hartland Mansion in Downtown Las Vegas, there’s an ocean of vinyl. Boxes stacked floor to ceiling in a spare bedroom spill into the living room in various stages of organization. For the Billboard-topping Grammy-nominated producer and DJ Chris Cox, it’s a collection that’s been relegated to storage for decades. Until now. Estimating his entire collection is somewhere between 24-28,000 records, he’s begun the laborious process of sorting vinyl that hasn’t been properly in order since 1991.