This poster-styled calendar is an original printing, published by Tower Records in 1980. It's a high-quality lithograph with artwork by Frank Carson.

Starting in 1975, Tower produced the calendars in cooperation with local radio stations, who would pay or trade commercial time for the insertion of their logo on a certain number of the calendars, which would then be distributed at station events and Tower stores in that particular market.

This particular calendar was done with KRUX 1360 AM radio, Phoenix. The call letters, which now belong to New Mexico State's FM station, are correctly indicated on the radio's dial.

These early Tower Records calendars and art prints are big -- most are around 13 x 39 and make an impression. Frank Carson's art is rich, and they are typically printed on quality paper and lithography.

Illustrator: Frank Carson
Method: Offset Lithograph
Year: 1980
Size: About 12 13/16 x 39

Tower created calendars for almost three decades, most of which were produced in cooperation with the radio stations, who would pay or trade for the insertion of their logo on a certain number of the calendars, which would then be distributed through the Tower stores in that particular market. The calendars were highly sought after and turned up in TV sitcoms and movies, such as the music movie FM or the long-running TV sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.

Tower created them for most of its long tenure as the "greatest record store in the known world." The exact number of prints that were done is unknown. They date back to the early '60s. They might be one-offs celebrating a concert, a poster created to be used in-store to publicize a certain release or just a fun thing printed up because somebody liked a band and wanted to do something nice for them. Cat Stevens, the Jefferson Airplane and Bob Dylan were just a few of the artists whose image or work graced early Tower prints.

Later, the prints and calendars publicized store openings or took the form of calendars which touted the local radio stations in Tower store markets all over the country.

Artist Frank Carson did virtually all of the calendars from the early '70s through the '90s.

Original 1980 Tower Calendar is in NM condition

 

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