I'm fascinated by the photograph of the Beatles in the open gatefold of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which was released 50 years ago today. From left to right sit Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, clad in colorful psychedelic military garb against a yellow background. All four Beatles have unkempt versions of their classic mop-top haircuts as well as four very un-classic mustaches. John, wearing glasses, is the only one smiling, a toothy grin that's a bit unsettling. Taken on its own, the photo is completely ridiculous.
But compared to the rest of the album's packaging, particularly the cover, this portrait of the Beatles is practically quaint. As Bill DeMain writes in Sgt. Pepper at Fifty, the decision to include a relatively straightforward photograph of the Fab Four was an effort to ground the visual aesthetics of the album. The band had initially wanted a psychedelic painting by a London-based design collective called The Fool to grace the cover, until an Eton-educated art dealer (and Paul McCartney friend) named Robert "Groovy Bob" Fraser recognized the painting as "not good art" and suggested that two of Fraser's clients design the cover. When Paul and the boys still wanted the "fiddly little acid-y drawing" (which Pepper at Fifty, a book otherwise full of terrific photos, does not reproduce) in the gatefold, Fraser pushed for photographer Michael Cooper's portrait instead.
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ReplyDeleteThose 50 years went by pretty quickly.
Did I miss something or is that Paul with the toothy grin?
ReplyDeleteLooks like paul has the grin.
DeleteYes, and he was the walrus.
ReplyDeleteOne of the seminal records of its time. Recorded on a paltry 8-track with the use of bouncing tracks and transferring. Shame that Sir. George Martin, John Lennon or George Harrison wasn't alive to see its birthday. It was one of Sir. Martin's greatest masterpieces. Given the time it was recorded, its unique recording procedures were way ahead of their time.
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