This article presents Ed Ruscha's artist book "Records" (1971), a photographic survey of thirty vinyl records from his personal collection, offered by Lot 180 Gallery New York. It describes the work as a first edition offset printed book in good vintage condition, measuring 7 x 5.5 inches, from an edition of approximately 2,000 unsigned copies published by Heavy Industries Publications in Los Angeles.
The work matters because it exemplifies Ruscha's pioneering approach to artist books and his deadpan documentary style that influenced contemporary art. Ruscha, a key figure in Pop Art, created sixteen such books in the 1960s-70s, including the iconic "Twentysix Gasoline Stations," which redefined how artists use photography and language to explore American consumer culture and urban landscapes.