Worst looking CD/LP artwork

[Madiel]

Wilson brought elegance to everything she did.

The plastic patio chair did not.

At the time, a plastic chair of that type was probably ultra-modern. We might think of this as cheap tacky furniture now, but the first all-plastic chair was designed in 1965 and they didn't become common until the 1980s (noting it's unclear whether the base of that chair is plastic).

So I rather doubt that the audience when this album was released in 1966 had a reaction like yours. They probably thought the chair was just as elegant as the person sitting in it.

[KevinP]

Oh, I know. It just doesn't work today.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

The usual disclaimer here. It's hardly the worst, but...

Why does this cover look bad to some people, or everybody except for me??

[Pohjolas Daughter]

At the time, a plastic chair of that type was probably ultra-modern. We might think of this as cheap tacky furniture now, but the first all-plastic chair was designed in 1965 and they didn't become common until the 1980s (noting it's unclear whether the base of that chair is plastic).

So I rather doubt that the audience when this album was released in 1966 had a reaction like yours. They probably thought the chair was just as elegant as the person sitting in it.

Wilson brought elegance to everything she did.

The plastic patio chair did not.

Oh, I know. It just doesn't work today.

Taking a quick look on eBay (re price of this album used), I suspect that the chair (now retro/vintage) would probably fetch more money than the LP. 

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Why does this cover look bad to somebody, or everybody except for me??

I like it--particularly appreciate it more after watching her dance.

PD

[DavidW]

Why does this cover look bad to some people, or everybody except for me??

Not bad to me.  But I've never seen anyone dance to Biber's Mystery Sonatas before.

[JBS]

Why does this cover look bad to some people, or everybody except for me??

I find it odd, rather than bad.
But it's a bit like the Levin/Egarr/AAM cover I questioned not long ago in the Purchases Thread--it has no instantly discernible connection to the CD's contents, but there was in fact a logical connection, and once explained it becomes much more acceptable.

[Re the Levin/Egarr/AAM CD: Levin's Mozart concerto cycle started off with Klee paintings as cover art until Decca intervened. So now that he's finally finished the cycle, Levin chose to revert to Klee for the cover art.]

[KevinP]

As the one who brought it back into the discussion, I will agree with the above two responses. On its own, it's not a bad picture at all. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I like it. It's just a very odd juxtaposition with Biber's Rosary sonatas.

Of course you could argue that after 216 pages of a 16 year-old thread, we should be used to that by now.

[Madiel]

As the one who brought it back into the discussion, I will agree with the above two responses. On its own, it's not a bad picture at all. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I like it. It's just a very odd juxtaposition with Biber's Rosary sonatas.

Of course you could argue that after 216 pages of a 16 year-old thread, we should be used to that by now.

It's not an odd juxtaposition when that is what she is actually dancing to.

You might think it's odd to dance to those sonatas, but that's not the fault of the image.

[pjme]

Ok - let's introduce Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker again and her company Rosas.

It will become quickly clear that De Keersmaeker has an outspoken (good) taste in music: Bach, Mozart, Bartok, Reich, Beethoven, Schönberg...Biber, Eno, Grisey.
Dont expect narrative ballets or ballerina's in tutu and point shoes.
De Keersmaeker had and has a huge influence on contemporary dance - at least in Europe.

Personally, I don't like repetive/minimal music at all, so a lot of her choreographies I find (very) boring. But she definitely is a hugely respected artist. I think that some will classify most of her work as Euro trash? Or am I mistaken?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Teresa_De_Keersmaeker

[Peter Power Pop]

The looks on both of those guys' faces unsettle me in a major way. I guess the photographer wasn't asking for "natural".

[DavidW]

The looks on both of those guys' faces unsettle me in a major way. I guess the photographer wasn't asking for "natural".

They're five seconds away from doing this--

[Peter Power Pop]

The more I look at the photo, the more I'm getting "Kraftwerk in Tuxedos" vibes from it.

The looks on both of those guys' faces unsettle me in a major way. I guess the photographer wasn't asking for "natural".

[Wanderer]

The looks on both of those guys' faces unsettle me in a major way. I guess the photographer wasn't asking for "natural".

Strong "we hid the body inside the cello" vibes with this one.

[Peter Power Pop]

Strong "we hid the body inside the cello" vibes with this one.

Ha!

[Madiel]

The looks on both of those guys' faces unsettle me in a major way. I guess the photographer wasn't asking for "natural".

He was asking for Madame Tussaud.

[T. D.]

Yosuke Yamashita Trio and others, Arashi (1977)
Actually an accurate cover: the music is extremely gnarly Japanese free jazz performed live with Butoh dancers, one of whom is pictured.

But it sure looks ghastly.

[Peter Power Pop]

Yosuke Yamashita Trio and others, Arashi (1977)
Actually an accurate cover: the music is extremely gnarly Japanese free jazz performed live with Butoh dancers, one of whom is pictured.

But it sure looks ghastly.

Yep. Nightmare fuel.

[geralmar]

Maybe it's just me.

 
CD


1957

[Peter Power Pop]

Maybe it's just me.

 
CD


1957

I like how the crab monster has teeth.