Bold yellow masthead lettering announces *Blues & Soul*—an “International Music Review”—with the issue marked No. 176 and dated December 23, 1975 to January 5, 1976, priced at US $1.00 and UK 30p. Beneath it, the cover centers Dionne Warwick and Thom Bell posed together against a deep blue backdrop, a small chandelier glinting overhead. The design reads like a confident end-of-year statement from a magazine that treated soul and R&B as global news.
Warwick stands in a light, flowing dress cinched at the waist, accessorized with a long necklace that lends a soft elegance to the portrait. Bell appears beside her in a collared shirt layered under a sweater vest, his relaxed stance and direct gaze matching the straightforward, interview-ready feel of the cover. The overall composition is intimate but polished, emphasizing artistry and partnership rather than spectacle.
For collectors and music-history readers, this cover art serves as a time capsule of mid-1970s soul culture and the print-era ecosystem that amplified it. The title pairing of Dionne Warwick and Thom Bell invites attention to the creative relationships behind the records—voice, production, and arrangement meeting in a single frame. Whether you’re researching classic R&B, vintage music magazines, or iconic cover design, this piece offers a clean visual anchor for the period and its enduring sound.
