Covers: Retracing Reggae Record Sleeves in London

In his crowdfunded photography book entitled Covers, British photographer Alex Bartsch took 42 different reggae album covers that were shot in London more than 30 years ago and put them the same locations as they appear now.

In 2014 I began working on a photography project, finding reggae record covers that had been photographed in London, tracking down their original locations and rephotographing them in situ. The idea first came to me when I bought the Brixton Cat LP by Joe’s All Stars (Trojan Records, 1969). …To date I have located more than 40 covers. Some were easy to find while others took months of detective work. I cycled all over the city, from Penge in southeast London to Harlesden in the northwest. There were wild goose chases, and some unexpected finds. It’s been a great adventure, and has painted an interesting map of London’s reggae music heritage.