Worst looking CD/LP artwork

[71 dB]

That cover could work for Björk, but that's about it... 

[Omicron9]

...snip....

...but it's more of a "What?" cover to me than an "Oh no" cover.

There are SO many "what?" covers in the classical music world.  I always imagine the release being behind schedule and someone at the label frantically yelling "Just put a photo of _____ on the cover!"    It always looks like unrelated clip art to me.  But I don't know if it's worse or better than a big close-up of the performer's face as the album cover.  And frequently with the composer's name in smaller font than the performer's name.  That has to stop.

[TheGSMoeller]

But I don't know if it's worse or better than a big close-up of the performer's face as the album cover.  And frequently with the composer's name in smaller font than the performer's name.  That has to stop.

Your comment reminded me if this recent release, which the cover drove me bonkers. Mahler Song Cycles, and the cover is just a close up of conductor Marc Albrecht.

[amw]

.... is he picking his nose?

[Omicron9]

Your comment reminded me if this recent release, which the cover drove me bonkers. Mahler Song Cycles, and the cover is just a close up of conductor Marc Albrecht.

At least the composer's name is larger than the performer's name.

[Florestan]

Music for the great unwashed? 

[André]

[Peter Power Pop]

.... is he picking his nose?

My first thought was that he was blowing a raspberry.

[Madiel]

Can't see a lot wrong with this one, though it is very much of its time. For one thing it's clearly on topic.

[André]

Well, yeah, the lady is clearly on top of things !

Now, moving from top to bottom, how about that one ?

[SimonNZ]

Your comment reminded me if this recent release, which the cover drove me bonkers. Mahler Song Cycles, and the cover is just a close up of conductor Marc Albrecht.

Alice Coote getting payback for snubbing Julius Drake on this cover:



pianists having a long tradition of being treated unfairly on lieder album advertising

but at least his name here is as large as the singers, unlike the insultingly small type for this reissue:

[Turner]

.... is he picking his nose?

It's a fine recording, though.

[You did it]

A very nutritive meal alla Brahms.

That's quite a psychedelic breakfast 

[NikF]

My kinda gal.

[Mahlerian]

Yes, I get the point of the cover.

No, that doesn't excuse its strangeness and artificiality.

[Turner]

Yes, I get the point of the cover.

No, that doesn't excuse its strangeness and artificiality.

I think it´s ok, cf. the original painting (a better version goes beyond the permitted MBs here)

[Mahlerian]

I understood the reference, but I don't see the point.  Is the cellist taking Bach's place in recreating the works?  Why the sidelong glance at the viewer?  Is it ironic?

[Turner]

Probably referring to the musian recreating Bach and his works. At least there´s no wig, period costume etc. I think the sideglance is likewise in the painting.

Too much text though, I think.

Also, we´ve had some fashionable, quite neo-Rembrandtesque painters and creative artists in Scandinavia, including portraitists, whose style is maybe inspiring the cover design on a less conscious level (Thomas Kluge, Odd Nerdrum etc.).

[Mahlerian]

Probably referring to the musian recreating Bach and his works. At least there´s no wig, period costume etc. I think the sideglance is likewise in the painting.

Too much text though, I think.

Also, we´ve had some fashionable, quite neo-Rembrandtesque painters and creative artists in Scandinavia, including portraitists, whose style is maybe inspiring the cover design on a less conscious level (Thomas Kluge, Odd Nerdrum etc.).

Points all well taken.  It really doesn't belong in a "Worst-looking" thread, perhaps, I just had a negative reaction to it.

[Turner]

If it was only pure, uniformly ridiculous stuff that was presented here, things could certainly get too boring as well ... I understand if some people don´t like this one.
But I don´t think it is meant as a joke, it´s more a suggestion of a connection, more or less well conceived.