Roots Archives Forum

Freddie Hubbard's Blue Note LP:

http://londonjazzcollector.wordpress.co ... blue-note/

Life Goes In Circles (Sounds From The Talent Corporation 1974 to 1979):

http://www.pressure.co.uk/store/PS52/va ... 4-to-1979/

Sure looks that way!

So fking what? It is not ripping off, it is paying hommage, like the Clash did with their London Calling cover which was inspired by an Elvis album, and so many others.

Those bastards

; )

gboubard,

I disagree. In your example, the band's lead singer/guitarist Joe Strummer (The Clash) was intentional, and the image used - him destroying his guitar - has meaning.

The boring Cowan face adds nothing to the mix and the Blue note album copied has no particular significance/relevance to Cowan, so there is no tribute - "hommage" in french - in this approach. It's all superficial graphics with no intention, no meaning which - by the way - if often the case in reggae albums, especially these days. I don't mind the rasta clichés poorly executed, as they are inspired by a belief.

Your McLean LP at least is intentional, connecting us to nostalgia via the use of a vintage turntable, the "good old days", which makes sense since you are recycling old riddims.

Now, whoever said that reggae compilations were an act of grandiose creativity? No one! And that Pressure sound artwork proves the point: graphic design with no meaning whatsoever. Not that it matters, of course. But at least we can be aware that higher grounds are possible in cover art, even for compilations.