Hipgnosis
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Hipgnosis were an English art design group, based in London, that specialised in creating album cover artwork for rock musicians and bands.[1] Their commissions included work for Pink Floyd, Def Leppard, T. Rex, the Pretty Things, Black Sabbath, Wishbone Ash, UFO, 10cc, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Scorpions, the Nice, Paul McCartney & Wings, the Alan Parsons Project, Yes, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Electric Light Orchestra, Rainbow, Styx and Al Stewart.
Hipgnosis consisted primarily of Cambridge natives Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell, and later Peter Christopherson.[2] The group dissolved in 1983, though Thorgerson worked on album designs until his death in 2013. Powell has worked with Paul McCartney and the Who in film and video production, and as the creative director for both Pink Floyd and their lead guitarist David Gilmour. Christopherson went on to produce music videos for many bands and shot some of the earliest promotional photography for the Sex Pistols, but worked primarily as an electronic musician in the bands Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV and Coil until his death in 2010.
History
In 1968, Thorgerson and Powell were approached by their friends in Pink Floyd to design the cover for the group's second album, A Saucerful of Secrets. This led to additional work for EMI, including photos and album covers for the Pretty Things, Free, Toe Fat and the Gods. Being film and art school students, they were able to use the darkroom at the Royal College of Art, but when they completed school, they had to set up their own facilities. They built a small darkroom in Powell's bathroom, but shortly thereafter, in early 1970, rented space and built a studio located at 6 Denmark Street.[3]
When first starting out, Powell and Thorgerson adopted their name from graffiti they found on the door to their apartment. Thorgerson said they liked the word, not only for punning on "hypnosis", but for possessing "a nice sense of contradiction, of an impossible co-existence, from Hip = new, cool, and groovy, and gnosis, relating to ancient learning."[4]
Hipgnosis gained major international prominence in 1973 with their cover design for Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon. The final design was one of several versions prepared for the band to choose from, but according to drummer Nick Mason, the 'prism/pyramid' design was the immediate and unanimous choice. The record itself became one of the biggest-selling and longest-charting albums of all time, and the cover has since been hailed as one of the best of all time (VH1 rated it as No. 4 in 2003).[5] After that, the firm became highly sought-after, and did many covers for high-profile bands and artists such as Led Zeppelin, Genesis, UFO, Black Sabbath, Peter Gabriel, the Alan Parsons Project, and Yes. They also designed the cover for a UK paperback edition of Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Adams would describe Thorgerson as "The best album designer in the world"),[6][7] as well as the original UK hardcover edition of Norman Spinrad's Bug Jack Barron.[8]
Peter Christopherson joined Hipgnosis as an assistant in 1974, and later became a full partner. The firm employed many assistants and other staff members over the years, including freelance designers and illustrators Richard Evans,[9] George Hardie,[10] and Richard Manning.[11]
Hipgnosis did not have a set fee for designing an album cover but instead asked the artists to "pay what they thought it was worth".[12] According to Thorgerson, this policy only occasionally backfired.[13]
Style
Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Hipgnosis's approach to album design was strongly photography-oriented, and they pioneered the use of many innovative visual and packaging techniques. In particular, Thorgerson and Powell's surreal, elaborately manipulated photos (utilizing darkroom tricks, multiple exposures, airbrush retouching, and mechanical cut-and-paste techniques) were a film-based forerunner of what would, much later, be called photoshopping. Hipgnosis mainly used Hasselblad medium format cameras for their work.
Hipgnosis covers were noted for their quirky humour, such as the cover for the Pink Floyd double-LP compilation A Nice Pair (1973), which featured an array of visual puns. Another example was the 1974 album There's the Rub for Wishbone Ash using a picture of a cricketer and ball.
Such humour once angered Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, when Hipgnosis created a visual pun based on "(tennis) racquet"/"(noise) racket" for the 1973 album Houses of the Holy. Hipgnosis almost lost Led Zeppelin as a client as a result.[14]
Another trademark was that many of their cover photos visually related to the album's lyrics, often depicting puns or double meanings of words in the album title. Since both Powell and Thorgerson were film students, they often used models and staged the photos in a highly theatrical manner. Hipgnosis covers rarely featured artists' photos on the outside, and most were in a gatefold cover format to provide ample space for their imagery.
Many of Hipgnosis's covers also featured pen and ink logos and illustrations designed to appear high-tech (often by graphic designer George Hardie), stickers, fancy inner sleeves, and other packaging bonuses. One of the extras created by Hipgnosis was the specially printed inner sleeve for Led Zeppelin's In Through the Out Door (1979) LP, which was black and white but turned to colour when dampened with water (tying in with the main cover's photographic theme).Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Catalogue
| Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Pink Floyd | A Saucerful of Secrets |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | A New Generation of Blues | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Genesis | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Till There Was You | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation | |
| 1969 | Pink Floyd | More |
| The Gun | Gun Sight | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | To Samuel a Son | |
| Pink Floyd | Ummagumma | |
| Panama Limited Jug Band | Panama Limited Jug Band | |
| Humble Pie | Town and Country | |
| Island Records artists | You Can All Join In | |
| 1970 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Horizons |
| Pink Floyd | Atom Heart Mother | |
| Quatermass | Quatermass | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Parachute | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | The Going's Easy | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | The Madcap Laughs | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Five Bridges | |
| Toe Fat | Toe Fat | |
| Cochise | Cochise | |
| Harvest Records artists | Picnic – A Breath of Fresh Air | |
| Panama Limited | Indian Summer | |
| Sounds Nice | Love at First Sight | |
| Gravy Train | Gravy Train | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Barrett | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Remains to Be Heard | |
| Argent | Ring of Hands | |
| Jackson Heights | King Progress | |
| Twink | Think Pink | |
| Probe Records artists | Handle With Care | |
| 1971 | T. Rex | Electric Warrior |
| Toe Fat | Toe Fat 2 | |
| Trees | On the Shore | |
| Marvin, Welch & Farrar | Marvin, Welch & Farrar | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Elegy | |
| Pink Floyd | Meddle | |
| Electric Light Orchestra | The Electric Light Orchestra | |
| Audience | House on the Hill | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Edgar Broughton Band | |
| Wishbone Ash | Pilgrimage | |
| Climax Blues Band | Tightly Knit | |
| Tear Gas | Tear Gas | |
| Stackridge | Stackridge | |
| Daddy Longlegs | Oakdown Farm | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Master's Apprentices | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Changes | |
| Pink Floyd | The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Italian reissue) | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Rory Gallagher | |
| 1972 | Flash | Flash |
| Wishbone Ash | Argus | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Autumn '67 – Spring '68 | |
| Fumble | Fumble | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Distant Light | |
| Renaissance | Prologue | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Inside Out | |
| Audience | Lunch | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Freeway Madness | |
| Pink Floyd | Obscured by Clouds | |
| Emerson, Lake & Palmer | Trilogy | |
| Blue Mink | A Time of Change | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Meanwhile...Back at the World | |
| Glencoe | Glencoe | |
| Danta | Danta | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Romany | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Olivia | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Crying Laughing Loving Lying | |
| 1973 | Electric Light Orchestra | ELO 2 |
| Pink Floyd | The Dark Side of the Moon | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Minstrel in Flight | |
| Electric Light Orchestra | On the Third Day | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Oora | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Past, Present and Future | |
| Argent | In Deep | |
| Led Zeppelin | Houses of the Holy | |
| Audience | You Can't Beat 'Em | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Lifemask | |
| Renaissance | Ashes Are Burning | |
| Wishbone Ash | Wishbone Four | |
| Live Dates | ||
| Flash | Out of Our Hands | |
| Various artists | Music from Free Creek | |
| Humble Pie | Thunderbox | |
| Vinegar Joe | Rock 'n Roll Gypsies | |
| Babe Ruth | Amar Caballero | |
| Pink Floyd | A Nice Pair | |
| Public Foot the Roman | Public Foot the Roman | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Rockin' with Curly Leads | |
| 1974 | Sharks | Jab It in Yore Eye |
| Uno | Uno | |
| Genesis | The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway | |
| Wishbone Ash | There's the Rub | |
| Nazareth | Rampant | |
| Renaissance | Turn of the Cards | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Valentine | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Somethin's Happening | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Flashes from the Archives of Oblivion | |
| Bad Company | Bad Company | |
| Blue Mink | Fruity | |
| Fumble | Poetry in Lotion | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Syd Barrett | |
| 10cc | Sheet Music | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Silk Torpedo | |
| UFO | Phenomenon | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Mind Wave | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Hollies | |
| Sweet | Desolation Boulevard | |
| 1975 | UFO | Force It |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Savage Eye | |
| Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here | |
| Bad Company | Straight Shooter | |
| Renaissance | Scheherazade and Other Stories | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | HQ | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | A Bunch of 45s | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | The Greatest Show on Earth | |
| 10cc | The Original Soundtrack | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | S. F. Sorrow / Parachute, double reissue (UK version only) | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Modern Times | |
| Wings | Venus and Mars | |
| Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias | Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias | |
| Caravan | Cunning Stunts | |
| Sassafras | Wheelin 'n' Dealin | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | First Starring Role | |
| Strife | Rush | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | The Winkies | |
| Solution | Cordon Bleu | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Subtle as a Flying Mallet | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Specs Appeal | |
| 1976 | AC/DC | Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (International edition) |
| Golden Earring | To the Hilt | |
| Montrose | Jump on It | |
| Kevin Coyne | Heartburn | |
| Wings | Wings at the Speed of Sound | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Year of the Cat | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Tales of Mystery and Imagination | |
| Black Sabbath | Technical Ecstasy | |
| Genesis | A Trick of the Tail | |
| 10cc | How Dare You! | |
| Led Zeppelin | The Song Remains the Same | |
| Presence | ||
| Brand X | Unorthodox Behaviour | |
| Wings | Wings over America | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Olias of Sunhillow | |
| Nazareth | Close Enough for Rock 'n' Roll | |
| UFO | No Heavy Petting | |
| Wishbone Ash | New England | |
| Genesis | Wind & Wuthering | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Stranger in the City | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Russian Roulette | |
| 1977 | Wishbone Ash | Front Page News |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Songwriter | |
| UFO | Lights Out | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | I Robot | |
| 10cc | Deceptive Bends | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Bullinamingvase | |
| Brand X | Moroccan Roll | |
| Livestock | ||
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Sammy Hagar | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | The Early Years | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Musical Chairs | |
| Bad Company | Burnin' Sky | |
| Pink Floyd | Animals | |
| Electric Light Orchestra | The Light Shines On | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Peter Gabriel (I) (aka "Car") | |
| Yes | Going for the One | |
| Fabulous Poodles | Mirror Stars | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Face to Face: A Live Recording | |
| Hawkwind | Quark, Strangeness and Charm | |
| Space | Deliverance | |
| Status Quo | Live! | |
| Strawbs | Deadlines | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Caught Live + 5 | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". (as "Percy 'Thrills' Thrillington") | Thrillington | |
| Wishbone Ash | Classic Ash | |
| 1978 | Manset | 2870 |
| Pezband | Laughing in the Dark | |
| Be-Bop Deluxe | Drastic Plastic | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Wet Dream | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | David Gilmour | |
| Styx | Pieces of Eight | |
| Wings | Wings Greatest | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Back to the Bars | |
| XTC | Go 2 | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Caravan to Midnight | |
| Yes | Tormato | |
| Genesis | …And Then There Were Three… | |
| Wishbone Ash | No Smoke Without Fire | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Peter Gabriel (II) (aka "Scratch") | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Time Passages | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Pyramid | |
| Black Sabbath | Never Say Die! | |
| Renaissance | A Song for All Seasons | |
| Synergy | Cords | |
| UFO | Obsession | |
| 10cc | Bloody Tourists | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Approved by the Motors (version 2)[15] | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Zaragon | |
| Hot Chocolate | Every 1's a Winner | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Nite Flights | |
| Wings | London Town | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Gerry Rafferty | |
| Novalis | Vielleicht Bist Du Ein Clown? | |
| 1979 | UFO | Strangers in the Night |
| Scorpions | Lovedrive | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Eve | |
| Bad Company | Desolation Angels | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | The Dukes | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Parlez-Vous English (as the Broughtons) | |
| 10cc | Greatest Hits 1972–1978 | |
| Led Zeppelin | In Through the Out Door | |
| Brand X | Product | |
| Manfred Mann's Earth Band | Angel Station | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | No More Fear of Flying | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Live Herald | |
| Godley & Creme | Freeze Frame | |
| U.K. | Danger Money | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Mick Taylor | |
| Ashra | Correlations | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Slide Away the Screen | |
| Throbbing Gristle | 20 Jazz Funk Greats | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Welcome to the Cruise | |
| Wings | Back to the Egg | |
| Synergy | Games | |
| 1980 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | The Michael Schenker Group |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Cross Talk | |
| Brand X | Do They Hurt? | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Smallcreep's Day | |
| 10cc | Look Hear? | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Peter Gabriel (III) (aka "Melt") | |
| Scorpions | Animal Magnetism | |
| UFO | No Place to Run | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Caught in the Crossfire | |
| Wishbone Ash | Just Testing | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Living in a Fantasy | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da | |
| Wishbone Ash | Live Dates 2 | |
| 1981 | UFO | The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent |
| Pink Floyd | A Collection of Great Dance Songs | |
| Rainbow | Difficult to Cure | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Fictitious Sports | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Fun in Space | |
| Def Leppard | High 'n' Dry | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Sakuban Oaisimashō | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Nip in the Bud | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Tilt | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 1984 | |
| 1982 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Music Spoken Here |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Tug of War | |
| Rainbow | Straight Between the Eyes | |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Eye in the Sky | |
| Bad Company | Rough Diamonds | |
| Led Zeppelin | Coda | |
| 1983 | Rainbow | Bent Out of Shape |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Voyager |
References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ The photodesigns of Hipgnosis The Goodbye look. Vermillion Hutchinson Publishing Group. 1982 Template:ISBN
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Thorgerson, S: Hipgnosis • Walk Away René, page 87. Paper Tiger, 1978.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". (The italics are present in the original.)
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Version 1 of the album shows an image of all four members. This first cover was designed by Cooke Key Associates. After Ricky Slaughter and Bram Tchaikovsky left The Motors the album was reissued with a new cover. That new cover is designed by Hipgnosis.
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External links
- AllMusic album credits
- Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs
- Unofficial Hipgnosis website
- Squaring the Circle: the story of Hipgnosis
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