The bridge that connects the visual and audio craft

A Presentation Exhibit by Nicholas Trimble

Survey of Art History

Spring Semester

Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon, 1973

Mankind has always been gifted with the skill of creation. All forms of cultured art have been expressed through the centuries for our own enjoyment while here on earth. We have created scenery to

mark historical periods and changes, all the while creating arrangements of sound through vibrations that are pleasing to the ear. Inspiration can be drawn from these enchanting sources which has brought us to the vast ocean of artwork we see today. Since the culture bomb in the United

States and the birth of Rock and Roll, the visual conception of an idea has been paired with the audio conception as a means of

multi-sense expression and marketing. For an audience to have a higher sense of reception for the expression of the artist, a single image is provided by the artist that can help deliver emotions through the consumer, this image is called the Album Artwork.

Boston, Self-titled, 1976 Carrie Underwood, Blown Away, 2012 Michael Jackson, Bad, 1987 Blondie, Parallel Lines, 1978

Led Zeppelin, self-titled, 1969

The Clash, London Calling, 1979

Christina Aguilara, Bionic, 2010 Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, 1959 Ramones, Self-Titled, 1976 Rush, Permanent Waves, 1980

There are untold millions of examples within the music industry, and

millions more are created every day. The ultimate decision of content for

an artists album artwork is an incredibly difficult one to make.

The image itself is paired with recordings performed by the artist

ranging anywhere from a single song to a full collection. This image

is responsible for speaking what the artist cannot say to a consumer,

as the product is mass produced and released into the market for

sales. How does an artist encompass everything he or she needs to

say within an image? It is the same as any other painter or sculptor

throughout history. In the case of the marketable music industry, It can also

be answered through the deliverance and the target audience. To

some, the purpose of sales is for monetary gain, but to a true artist

with passion, it means you have reached a calculated number of

people, and those people appreciate your work enough to have

purchased it.

Foo Fighters, In Your Honor, 2005

The Offspring, Days Go By, 2012

Norah Jones, …Little Broken Hearts, 2012

Arkhaven, Self-titled, 2014Queen, Queen II, 1974

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Californication1999The Joy Formidable, Roarities 2011Radiohead, In rainbows, 2007

Metallica, …And Justice For All,1988

For the purpose of a keeping a focus on artwork within a brief

presentation, this exhibit will place five examples under the spotlight

across five decades of the “Rock” genre. Artwork shown is that of a design

made directly by (or for) the artist, and not of photographs used as artwork

(e.g. Led Zeppelin 1969, Rage Against the Machine 1992)

With respect to each artist, only one piece has be used to represent the

respective decade and does not reflect favoritism…

…Please Enjoy

Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures, 1979 Kiss, Love Gun, 1977 Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced,1967

Green Day, Dookie, 1994Lorde, Pure Heroine, 2013Ray Charles, Genius & Friends, 2005Muse, The Resistance, 2009

1956 Debut Album

Elvis Presley, also known as “The King”, can be seen as the pioneer of Rock Music.

With his Blues inspired musicianship on the guitar and his endearing voice, he was made famous

through urban clubs while captivating the hearts of many. His debut album artwork displayed

exactly what you would see and feel at a live performance. With his slick hair, nice clothing and

swing in his playing he was sure to have the crowd dancing, crying, or whichever emotion he

wished for you to convey. The photograph used for his debut record was taken live in Tampa,

Florida.

Revolver (1966)

The Beatles are widely accepted as the most famous band that had ever lived. Supremely

artistic, and masterfully talented, the members of the Beatles went international to lead the biggest legacy

that the music industry may ever see. Within a mere ten years, The Beatles had achieved so much while

marketing the fascinating images on the covers of their records. The Revolver album is one such record that

is unique and iconic. While most album covers feature a photograph, Revolver features charismatic

drawings of each member’s face with many other wild images in between. Clad in black and white, the

image is a good example of the abstract conceptualism used in the 1960’s.

Wish You Were Here (1975)

The Album Artwork for Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here record is famously figurative

much like the creative output of the band. One of the most inspiring bands of all time, Pink Floyd

embodied the true meaning of creating art within music. The 1975 artwork for the featured album is

metaphorical and relative to it’s title. The photograph was taken at the Warner Bros. Studios in

California while the man was indeed aflame, and extinguished immediately after being captured in

the photograph. It is symbolic in that writer Roger Waters is reflecting upon the “fire” that used to be

present within the band, before the tragic absence of previous member Syd Barrett. The art itself can

be perceived in many different ways relative to the lyrics within the music however, as the man on

the left may suggest “Wish you were here, that I could take your place,” while the man who is

engulfed in flames may suggest “Wish you were here, that I could take your place.” This concept

shows the two sides of human nature while one would offer sacrifice, the other would willingly take

it to save himself.”

Nebraska (1982)

Bruce Springsteen, also known as “The Boss”, has had one of the longest and most successful career’s as

a solo artist and continues to play with great revenue. Born in New Jersey, one may wonder why The Boss would

release an album named after one of the United State’s most agricultural states. As the image may tell from his album

artwork, Bruce at the time was on an vast search for inspiration to produce optimal music as an artist. The story states

that Bruce would carry a tape recorder in his back pocket as he would go about his day playing things that would

come to mind, and would successfully develop his songs based on his surroundings amongst a darker mood. The

artwork itself takes a minimalist approach, showing the road from the seat of a car, looking out onto a completely

empty horizon. Along an empty road that stretches into the unseen horizon, the image reflects his songwriting which

contained darker themes than Springsteen was used to that would broaden his horizons as an artist.

In Utero 1993

Kurt Cobain, front man of legendary grunge band “Nirvana”, had quite the mind for art.

His concepts for emotion, poetry, and imagery had inspired an entire agenda for popular music of the

1990’s. With a lot of pain, and a lot to say, Kurt wrote about what he knew, deriving a lot of inspiration

for his expression through John Lennon of The Beatles. He had designed the Nirvana images himself

gaining famous recognition with his concept for the 1991 album “Nevermind” which reached Diamond

status in sales in the U.S., and massive success internationally. The concept for In Utero is inspired by

the bands desire to be more natural sounding, and less polished by the studio. We see a transparent

female with Wings over a cream colored back ground that signifies the inner grit of human nature. The

wings on her back are super imposed as a beautiful cover up of what nature has made us beneath the

skin.

It is amazing what the impact of music can do. It allows us to feel through

our ears, and see through our minds. When an artist markets their music, he or she has

the responsibility to provide escapism and to get a message across should we choose to

accept it. We receive guidance through the imagery that is provided to escape to that

point. If an artist can successfully move the consumer to a point where they can recall

exactly why they enjoyed such a piece, then they have reached something of a success.

Some albums have been so successful with their artwork that people tend to remember

the time and place where they had first been introduced to the art. Album artwork is not

just another drawing or a photograph, but a message to the consumer for what the artist

cannot say to the consumer in person. Sometimes that message is simply an

introduction, a band introducing themselves to the world like Elvis Presley on his debut

album, and other times it is the artist finding themselves trying to cope with change and

consequence like Nirvana, but even more so often we find an artist with an idea that

will relate to others and appeal to their needs. In the world today we are gifted with the

mass export of art, as it is easier for anyone with talent and skill to achieve success

through hard work. Hopefully we will continue to see more of the same passion and

skill shown by the legendary artists to consistently make the world a better place.

Jedd Beaudoin, “’Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were Here’: The Band's Most Haunting and Affecting Album,” Pop Matters, Published: July 1st, 2012, Web. Accessed May 1st 2014 This source is an article that describes the nature of pink floyd’s most iconic records. It directly supports the theme of an artist’s artwork reflecting the ideas of the record itself. The writing is useful in

that it provides biographical information and opinions of personal exchange with the music.

http://www.popmatters.com/review/160290-pink-floyd-the-story-of-wish-you-were-here/

Stephen Thomas Erlewine, “The Beatles: Revolver,” All Music, Web. Accessed May 1st 2014 Allmusic.com is a website in which someone can search for music, listen, and read reviews about the music itself. There is biographical information along with ratings and a track listing that completes

the package. The album artwork is used as a thumbnail and paired with the available music. This source was useful when searching for a writers opinion on the value of the album

http://www.allmusic.com/album/revolver-mw0000189174

”About the King: Biography,” Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., Web. Accessed May 1st 2014 Elvis Presley’s Official site offers everything needed to know about Elvis himself. There is little detail about the publisher, only that the title of Elvis is owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. From this

source, any viewer can read and be informed on the history of Elvis Presley’s accomplishments and influence featuring his highlighted album artwork.

http://www.elvis.com/about-the-king/biography_/1935_1954/1935-1957_page_4.aspx

David Fricke, “Nirvana, In Utero, DGC (David Geffen Company),” Rollingstone Reviews, Published: September 16th 1993, Web. Accessed May 1st

2014 Another Source from Rollingstone, this review was quick to explain the changes and articulate value of Nirvana’s work soon after their massive hit in 1991. What is excellent about this source is that it is

very detailed and prompt to address the features having been written at the time of the record’s release. The artwork is provided as a visual while the explanation of the record goes in depth on everything the artist was trying to do with the piece.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/in-utero-19930916

Alexandru Vita, “Most Famous Album Covers Ever,” AV Photography, Published May 14th, 2010, Web. Accessed May 1st, 2014 Alexandru Vita’s list of iconic album artwork is a refined opinion that spans across international history of music. It is lighthearted but gives credible justice to why such pieces were selected. This source

was necessary to find such pieces that are successful on the market and recognized for their achievements.

http://www.alexandruvita.com/blog/2010/05/14/most-famous-album-covers-ever/

Jann S. Wenner, “500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska,” Rollingstone Music, Web. Accessed May 1st 2014 Rollingstone magazine has been a very popular source for the music scene for decades. It’s website often publishes news, ideas, and conversation topic to discuss music across genres. In a

comprehensive list of their chosen 500 greatest albums of all time, Bruce Springsteen exists on the charts, and his 1982 album “Nebraska” is explained and described.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/bruce-springsteen-nebraska-20120524