Before getting to the main body of the post, I would like to mention three albums covers that due to restraints of time and availability were not played on the program today, but should have been:
1) Pixies – Surfer Rosa
This is actually one of my favorite album covers. Though front man Black Francis came up with the idea for the model to appear topless, it was longtime Pixies visual collaborator Simon Larbalestier who came up with the crucifix and torn poster, claiming he wanted to load the picture with Catholic imagery. Inside the album art are other photographs of the flamenco dancer in several other poses.
2) The Durutti Column – The Return of the Durutti Column
This debut album for Manchester guitarist Vini Reily was encased in a sandpaper sleeve, scraping the images off of any other albums it was placed next to. This idea was made by longtime Factory Records art director Peter Saville.
3) Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy
Inspired by Arthur C. Clarke’s novel Childhood’s End, this infamous image of the weird naked alien children climbing over a rocky mass is actually a collage of image taken across Europe. This art actually holds some controversial history due to accusations of pornographic imagery. This led to Atlantic issuing the album in a paper sleeve to conceal the image from public viewing.
Now since that is out of the way, onto today’s play list:
Roxy Music “All I Want is You” – Country Life
Big Black “The Model” – Songs About Fucking
An album cover as grotesque, unattractive, and uncompromising as the name of the album would suggest. A perfect parallel to the extreme post-hardcore sounds found on the record. This album features a cover of Kraftwerk’s “The Model” which is found off of a record with another brilliant sleeve design, 1978’s The Man-Machine.
Can “I’m So Green” – Ege Bamyasi
Iggy & the Stooges “Shake Appeal” – Raw Power
The album that perhaps best exhibited the animalist nihilism of the godfather of punk was sports a portrait of Iggy in his most iconic state. The lone figures cast against a black background appears threatening, sexual, confident, intelligent, and dangerous all at once.
Bob Marley “Concrete Jungle” – Catch a Fire
Perhaps Marley’s most famous album art, the original 20,000 pressings of the album replicated a zippo lighter, complete with a side hinge that made the package open like the real deal.
Miles Davis “Black Satin” – On the Corner
Miles Davis was never one to shy away from controversy. Perhaps one of Davis’ most foreword looking records (with sounds predating hip-hop, post-punk, and various forms of electronic music), On the Corner also featured a pastiche of black racial stereotypes to play on the preconceived images of black culture associated with funk and jazz music at the time. Many called it borderline racist, but Miles shone a light on the exploitative ideas within his own genres.
Sonic Youth “Mildred Pierce” – Goo
"I stole my sister's boyfriend. It was all whirlwind, heat, and flash. Within a week we killed my parents and hit the road." The text and image (a Raymond Pettibon illustration based on an existing photo of witnesses of the infamous "Moors Murders") encapsulate the range of danger, ugliness, beauty, and fetish of teenage rebel found in Sonic Youth’s music.
Fucked Up “Looking for God” - The Chemistry of Common Life
The Toronto post-hardcore group’s second full-length release features a shot of a Manhattanhenge or Manhattan Solstice. This biannual occurrence happens when the sun sets in alignment with the east-west streets of Manhattan’s street grid, producing a spectacular natural phenomenon.
Feuermusik “Full of Grace” – No Contest
The Toronto duo’s avant-jazz sophomore release. Heh, ever notice Feurermusik kind of sounds like “Fear of Music?” Just wondering.
Public Image Ltd. “Socialist” – Metal Box
True to its name, the legendary post-punk outfit originally released their second album in a metal canister. Though the record would be reissued the following year as Second Edition feature more standard paper packaging, this release marked not only an innovative highpoint for P.I.L. but also their record company Virgin, who fully complied with the band’s creative intentions.
P.O.S. “Drumroll” – Never Better
CD packaging that allows the owner to customize their own album cover. Demonstrated in this cool video.
DJ Shadow “Organ Donor” – Endtroducing...
The New Pornographers “The Fake Headlines” – Mass Romantic
Neutral Milk Hotel “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Buzzcocks “Orgasm Addict” – Orgasm Addict
The infamous iron-headed woman who adorns the Manchester group’s debut single is one of the freakiest image I have come across by far. Designed by visual artist Linda Sterling, she described the piece as commentary on the comodification of sexuality, a theme the groups would often turn to in their music. Freaky, just really freaky.
Thrush Hermit “1991” – Rock and Roll Detective
I had never heard of the group until Dave from Revolution Rock pulled out this single. A beaver in a wood paneled living room. Yes, you can bet they are Canadian.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor “Sleep” – Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
The themes of political exploitation and social unrest often tackled by Godspeed are superimposed by imagery of dismembered hands, skeletal masked figures, and scissors. As a bonus, the vinyl edition features a diagram that illustrates the song names and lengths.
Talking Heads “Stay Hungry” – More Songs About Buildings and Food
Showing that art-school pays off, Heads front man David Byrne conceived and executed the design for the front cover, a photo mosaic of the group composed of 529 close-up Polaroid pictures.
The Velvet Underground “There She Goes” – The Velvet Underground and Nico
Sometimes referred to as the "banana album" due to its print of a banana on the cover as provided by one Andy Warhol. Initial pressings of the album invited the owner to "Peel slowly and see"; peeling off the banana skin revealed a flesh-colored phallus underneath. Warhol claimed it to represent the monkey-on-the-back which was drug addiction that the Velvets so freely sung about.
The Tranzmitors “Teen Man” – Tranzmitors
Looking all blue and science-fictiony, this Vancouver based power-pop quartet know how to strike a pose. A little generic but neat looking.
The Rolling Stones “You Gotta Move” – Sticky Fingers
The album featured a zipper that opened on the jeans to reveal a man in his undies (YIKES!). Conceived by Andy Warhol, photographed by Billy Name and designed by John Pasche. Aside from being both provocative and unique, this album cover also comes with a little bit of a mystery. Though Joe Dallesandro is credited as the model whose crotch was depicted, many involved at the time of the photo shoot claim that Warhol had several different men photographed and never revealed which shots he used. The possibilities range from Warhol’s lover at the time Jed Johnson to Factory artist Corey Tippin. Also noteworthy is an alternative cover for the album in which a can of beans is opened to reveal a set of dismembered digits floating about.
1) Pixies – Surfer Rosa
This is actually one of my favorite album covers. Though front man Black Francis came up with the idea for the model to appear topless, it was longtime Pixies visual collaborator Simon Larbalestier who came up with the crucifix and torn poster, claiming he wanted to load the picture with Catholic imagery. Inside the album art are other photographs of the flamenco dancer in several other poses.
2) The Durutti Column – The Return of the Durutti Column
This debut album for Manchester guitarist Vini Reily was encased in a sandpaper sleeve, scraping the images off of any other albums it was placed next to. This idea was made by longtime Factory Records art director Peter Saville.
3) Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy
Inspired by Arthur C. Clarke’s novel Childhood’s End, this infamous image of the weird naked alien children climbing over a rocky mass is actually a collage of image taken across Europe. This art actually holds some controversial history due to accusations of pornographic imagery. This led to Atlantic issuing the album in a paper sleeve to conceal the image from public viewing.
Now since that is out of the way, onto today’s play list:
Roxy Music “All I Want is You” – Country Life
The cover of Roxy Music’s fourth releases features two scantily clad German models Constanze Karoli and Eveline Grunwald. (the former was reportedly the sister of Can's Michael Karoli). The group’s singer Bryan Ferry met the pair in Portugal where he persuaded them to do the photo shoot. The two also are rumored to have helped written lyrics to the German lyrics to the song "Bitter-Sweet".
Joy Division “Interzone” – Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division “Interzone” – Unknown Pleasures
The image on the cover is taken from an edition of the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Astronomy, and represents exactly 100 successive pulses from the first pulsar discovered. The idea of using this image was suggested by drummer Stephen Morris, and was designed by Peter Saville.
Big Black “The Model” – Songs About Fucking
An album cover as grotesque, unattractive, and uncompromising as the name of the album would suggest. A perfect parallel to the extreme post-hardcore sounds found on the record. This album features a cover of Kraftwerk’s “The Model” which is found off of a record with another brilliant sleeve design, 1978’s The Man-Machine.
Can “I’m So Green” – Ege Bamyasi
A pun on the German group’s name, the cover to their fourth LP indeed depicts a can of ege bamyasi (translated from Turkish as “Ageon okra”). Mmm…looks tasty, don’t it?
Iggy & the Stooges “Shake Appeal” – Raw Power
The album that perhaps best exhibited the animalist nihilism of the godfather of punk was sports a portrait of Iggy in his most iconic state. The lone figures cast against a black background appears threatening, sexual, confident, intelligent, and dangerous all at once.
Bob Marley “Concrete Jungle” – Catch a Fire
Perhaps Marley’s most famous album art, the original 20,000 pressings of the album replicated a zippo lighter, complete with a side hinge that made the package open like the real deal.
Miles Davis “Black Satin” – On the Corner
Miles Davis was never one to shy away from controversy. Perhaps one of Davis’ most foreword looking records (with sounds predating hip-hop, post-punk, and various forms of electronic music), On the Corner also featured a pastiche of black racial stereotypes to play on the preconceived images of black culture associated with funk and jazz music at the time. Many called it borderline racist, but Miles shone a light on the exploitative ideas within his own genres.
Sonic Youth “Mildred Pierce” – Goo
"I stole my sister's boyfriend. It was all whirlwind, heat, and flash. Within a week we killed my parents and hit the road." The text and image (a Raymond Pettibon illustration based on an existing photo of witnesses of the infamous "Moors Murders") encapsulate the range of danger, ugliness, beauty, and fetish of teenage rebel found in Sonic Youth’s music.
Fucked Up “Looking for God” - The Chemistry of Common Life
The Toronto post-hardcore group’s second full-length release features a shot of a Manhattanhenge or Manhattan Solstice. This biannual occurrence happens when the sun sets in alignment with the east-west streets of Manhattan’s street grid, producing a spectacular natural phenomenon.
Feuermusik “Full of Grace” – No Contest
The Toronto duo’s avant-jazz sophomore release. Heh, ever notice Feurermusik kind of sounds like “Fear of Music?” Just wondering.
Public Image Ltd. “Socialist” – Metal Box
True to its name, the legendary post-punk outfit originally released their second album in a metal canister. Though the record would be reissued the following year as Second Edition feature more standard paper packaging, this release marked not only an innovative highpoint for P.I.L. but also their record company Virgin, who fully complied with the band’s creative intentions.
P.O.S. “Drumroll” – Never Better
CD packaging that allows the owner to customize their own album cover. Demonstrated in this cool video.
DJ Shadow “Organ Donor” – Endtroducing...
A beautiful shot of inside California music store Village Records, where Joshua Davis (aka DJ Shadow) reportedly attained most of the albums he sampled for this milestone record. The two figures in the photo are actually Solesides members Chief Xcel and Lyrics Born.
Sigur Ros “Intro” - Aegetis Byrjun
Sigur Ros “Intro” - Aegetis Byrjun
The weird baby-angel-alien figure was drawn by Gotti Bernhöft, who apparently based the sketch off of legendary Icelandic spirits called “Huldenfulk” (roughly translated as “the hidden people”). Listening to this lush atmospheric release with sounds of alien beauty, its not hard to see where he drew the parallel from.
Jimi Hendrix “And the Gods Made Love/Have You Ever Been” – Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix “And the Gods Made Love/Have You Ever Been” – Electric Ladyland
The original cover was soon banned due to controversy over the presence of naked females photographed for the artwork. Too bad really, because the subsequent releases feature a rather generic image of Hendrix’s face on the cover. Some people just don’t have taste I guess.
The New Pornographers “The Fake Headlines” – Mass Romantic
Reportedly discovered at a yard sale during the album’s recording process the image depicts two lovers embraced as a mountain goat (yes, a mountain goat) watches on menacingly. Though not technically good art, it sure is amusing to look at.
Neutral Milk Hotel “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
This album cover was designed in collaboration between Neutral Milk Hotel mainman Jeff Mangum and Chris Bilheimer, whose previous work included fellow Athens, Georgia band R.E.M.. The surrealist imagery perfectly reflects the abstraction of Magnum’s lyrics, and reflected the album’s motifs of fascism, spirituality, and youth. The design was actually based off of a postcard found by Magnum of a bathing resort.
Radiohead “Faust Arp” – In Rainbows
Designed by longtime visual collaborator Stanley Donwood, the cover to Radiohead’s seventh release was the unique result of putting prints into acid baths. The packaging itself includes stickers that can be placed onto a standard jewel case in order to make your own In Rainbows album art.
Radiohead “Faust Arp” – In Rainbows
Designed by longtime visual collaborator Stanley Donwood, the cover to Radiohead’s seventh release was the unique result of putting prints into acid baths. The packaging itself includes stickers that can be placed onto a standard jewel case in order to make your own In Rainbows album art.
Buzzcocks “Orgasm Addict” – Orgasm Addict
The infamous iron-headed woman who adorns the Manchester group’s debut single is one of the freakiest image I have come across by far. Designed by visual artist Linda Sterling, she described the piece as commentary on the comodification of sexuality, a theme the groups would often turn to in their music. Freaky, just really freaky.
Thrush Hermit “1991” – Rock and Roll Detective
I had never heard of the group until Dave from Revolution Rock pulled out this single. A beaver in a wood paneled living room. Yes, you can bet they are Canadian.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor “Sleep” – Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
The themes of political exploitation and social unrest often tackled by Godspeed are superimposed by imagery of dismembered hands, skeletal masked figures, and scissors. As a bonus, the vinyl edition features a diagram that illustrates the song names and lengths.
Talking Heads “Stay Hungry” – More Songs About Buildings and Food
Showing that art-school pays off, Heads front man David Byrne conceived and executed the design for the front cover, a photo mosaic of the group composed of 529 close-up Polaroid pictures.
The Velvet Underground “There She Goes” – The Velvet Underground and Nico
Sometimes referred to as the "banana album" due to its print of a banana on the cover as provided by one Andy Warhol. Initial pressings of the album invited the owner to "Peel slowly and see"; peeling off the banana skin revealed a flesh-colored phallus underneath. Warhol claimed it to represent the monkey-on-the-back which was drug addiction that the Velvets so freely sung about.
The Tranzmitors “Teen Man” – Tranzmitors
Looking all blue and science-fictiony, this Vancouver based power-pop quartet know how to strike a pose. A little generic but neat looking.
The Rolling Stones “You Gotta Move” – Sticky Fingers
The album featured a zipper that opened on the jeans to reveal a man in his undies (YIKES!). Conceived by Andy Warhol, photographed by Billy Name and designed by John Pasche. Aside from being both provocative and unique, this album cover also comes with a little bit of a mystery. Though Joe Dallesandro is credited as the model whose crotch was depicted, many involved at the time of the photo shoot claim that Warhol had several different men photographed and never revealed which shots he used. The possibilities range from Warhol’s lover at the time Jed Johnson to Factory artist Corey Tippin. Also noteworthy is an alternative cover for the album in which a can of beans is opened to reveal a set of dismembered digits floating about.
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