Back when album covers were closer in size to small windows instead of a coaster you could be enthralled, even seduced by them. Anyone with a sizable collection has purchased one or more albums because of its cover. Don’t say you haven’t. No doubt you even positioned one or more in the front of a stack as a statement, if only to upset your parents. Today you have to scrounge around on the floorboard of your car just to retrieve one. That’s if you purchased it instead of downloading it, or simply burning someone else’s copy.
Anyway back to the post at hand, while moving some things this evening I came across this album. I have never gotten rid of it because of the striking impact the cover carries for me. I think it’s one of the best album covers ever for several reasons. It works on many levels as a sign of its time. It perfectly conveys the sounds inside the cover, as a photo it is flawless, the design work by Peter Whorf Graphics respects both the artist and the intended audience. Compared to most covers today I consider this one art.
The year is 1966 and jazz instruments have given way to guitars as the way to grab a girls attention. The trumpet was on life support as a hip instrument despite the best efforts of Herb Alpert and Chet Baker at this point. (Miles Davis on the other hand made the trumpet seem more like weapon than an aphrodisiac) Chet and Herb could have made the didgeridoo look hip. Chet of course is the go to guy as the epitome of cool among musicians alive or dead. If the photo happens to be black and white then we‘re talking near freezing. Herb gets overlooked because of his pop leanings and long life I think. Herb projects a less threatening cool.
“What Now My Love” was released in May of 1966 and would top the Billborad charts for nine weeks. Other chart toppers that year included “Rubber Soul,” “Revolver,” “The Monkees,” and “Ballad Of The Green Beret.” Times were changing, but not nearly as fast or as radically as history would have us believe. At least in terms of popular music.
This cover is also that rare instance where a second photo from a previous cover session is used. The photo is an outtake from the photo sessions for the “South Of The Border” album. Why I’m not sure. On that cover he and the girl seem to be sharing a laugh. On this one he’s distracted, deep in thought as she tries to get his attention. She seems to be failing. Maybe he’s thinking about the Beatles or maybe Dylan. The summer of love is still a year a way, but he’s now thirty and these new groups are young and have guitars that drive the younger generation wild. His band offers individually powered brass, these other bands are powered by electricity.
The nameless girl doesn’t understand what it’s like to be hot one day and cool in a bad way on another day. Her biggest problem is that he’s prettier than her. His casual caballero clothes exude a style and grace comparable to the music he plays. He holds the trumpet like the true mistress that it is. Women will come and go, the horn will be there at the end of each day and night and will ultimately define his very existence on this earth. She will ultimately find another musician.
Anyway back to the post at hand, while moving some things this evening I came across this album. I have never gotten rid of it because of the striking impact the cover carries for me. I think it’s one of the best album covers ever for several reasons. It works on many levels as a sign of its time. It perfectly conveys the sounds inside the cover, as a photo it is flawless, the design work by Peter Whorf Graphics respects both the artist and the intended audience. Compared to most covers today I consider this one art.
The year is 1966 and jazz instruments have given way to guitars as the way to grab a girls attention. The trumpet was on life support as a hip instrument despite the best efforts of Herb Alpert and Chet Baker at this point. (Miles Davis on the other hand made the trumpet seem more like weapon than an aphrodisiac) Chet and Herb could have made the didgeridoo look hip. Chet of course is the go to guy as the epitome of cool among musicians alive or dead. If the photo happens to be black and white then we‘re talking near freezing. Herb gets overlooked because of his pop leanings and long life I think. Herb projects a less threatening cool.
“What Now My Love” was released in May of 1966 and would top the Billborad charts for nine weeks. Other chart toppers that year included “Rubber Soul,” “Revolver,” “The Monkees,” and “Ballad Of The Green Beret.” Times were changing, but not nearly as fast or as radically as history would have us believe. At least in terms of popular music.
This cover is also that rare instance where a second photo from a previous cover session is used. The photo is an outtake from the photo sessions for the “South Of The Border” album. Why I’m not sure. On that cover he and the girl seem to be sharing a laugh. On this one he’s distracted, deep in thought as she tries to get his attention. She seems to be failing. Maybe he’s thinking about the Beatles or maybe Dylan. The summer of love is still a year a way, but he’s now thirty and these new groups are young and have guitars that drive the younger generation wild. His band offers individually powered brass, these other bands are powered by electricity.
The nameless girl doesn’t understand what it’s like to be hot one day and cool in a bad way on another day. Her biggest problem is that he’s prettier than her. His casual caballero clothes exude a style and grace comparable to the music he plays. He holds the trumpet like the true mistress that it is. Women will come and go, the horn will be there at the end of each day and night and will ultimately define his very existence on this earth. She will ultimately find another musician.
2 comments:
That's some mighty pretty prose, Corky.
I think kids today are really missing out by not having that chance to lay on their bed, headphones on, while they study the album cover and liner notes in deep, deep detail.
On the bright side, even though I don't buy on the basis of the album art anymore, I do buy on the recommendation of some guy in Kansas that I have never met ;)
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