5 Things to Know About Milton Glaser’s Album Cover for Townes Van Zandt

Milton Glaser designed the cover for Townes Van Zandt’s 1968 debut album, For the Sake of the Song. Glaser is best known for creating the “I ♥ NY” logo and the Bob Dylan psychedelic poster.

The cover features a stylized, folk-art illustration of Van Zandt’s face. Glaser used bold, flat colors and a simple, graphic style that was typical of his work in the 1960s.

Glaser’s design was a departure from the typical country or folk album covers of the era. It gave the album a more artistic, modern look that helped it stand out.

The art direction and design are credited solely to Glaser. He had full creative control over the visual presentation of the album.

The cover remains one of Glaser’s lesser-known works. It is a collectible piece among fans of both the musician and the designer.