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Geffen Records, Geffen Pictures logos

Contributed by Stephen Coles on Feb 9th, 2015. Artwork published in .
    Production company credit for Beavis and Butt-head Do America, 1996.
    Source: cinema.theiapolis.com License: All Rights Reserved.

    Production company credit for Beavis and Butt-head Do America, 1996.

    The Geffen symbol was designed by Saul Bass in 1980 and is reminiscent of Rene Magritte’s 1931 painting Voice of space. The Geffen logos initially used L&C Hairline with a modified ‘G’. In 1982 (at least for Geffen Records) the ultra light type was replaced with ITC Eras and heavier weights were used over time. Eras’ roman has a slight slant built in. Bass/Yager & Associates tilted it backwards to an upright position for the logo.

    Wild Things Run Fast by Joni Mitchell, 1982.
    Source: www.discogs.com License: All Rights Reserved.

    Wild Things Run Fast by Joni Mitchell, 1982.

    The Wanderer by Donna Summer, 1980. Geffen Records’ first release.
    License: All Rights Reserved.

    The Wanderer by Donna Summer, 1980. Geffen Records’ first release.

    Geffen Records, Geffen Pictures logos 4
    Source: gds.parkland.edu License: All Rights Reserved.
    Evolution of Geffen Pictures logos, 1982–97.
    Source: logos.wikia.com License: All Rights Reserved.

    Evolution of Geffen Pictures logos, 1982–97.

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    • L&C Hairline
    • Eras

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    1 Comment on “Geffen Records, Geffen Pictures logos”

    1. Adobe’s PostScript Type 1 version of ITC Eras came in a hybrid format including a low-res version that suppresses its very slight slope, a subtlety that wouldn’t work well on 300 dpi devices. More info by Mark Simonson and Bob Evans on Typophile, and by Thomas Phinney on the Adobe Blog. This is from 1989, though. The upright Eras used for the Geffen logo came earlier.

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