connoisseur series500 Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 This ought to be fun: let's hear your nominations for the worst 32jazz cover. Lots of strong candidates here. These covers are so awful that they must have hurt sales. I remember having to talk a friend who is new to jazz into buying Woody Shaw's "Little Red's Fantasy." I had to tell him to ignore the awful cheap looking cover, that the cd is terrific. I hate the Grant Green, "Iron city." Such a depressing picture that it seems to carry over into the music. Of course, it doesn't but it's all psychological. The worst of all, however, is Sonny Criss, "Crisscraft." That boat looks like it came out of a beginner's computer graphics course. Turn it over and you've got these waves with music notes dancing over them. Really pathetic! These covers are so bad you feel ashamed to show them to your friends who don't normally listen to jazz. Here you are trying to put on something good for them. They like it then ask who it is. You bring out the cd cover and...oh my! Quote
king ubu Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 Mobley / Walton, Breakthrough Sonny Stitt, 12! and all three you already mentioned... ubu Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted July 7, 2003 Author Report Posted July 7, 2003 Mobley / Walton, Breakthrough Sonny Stitt, 12! and all three you already mentioned... ubu Don't forget to describe the covers. That's the fun part! Quote
Claude Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 (edited) Where can one find pictures of the 32Jazz reissues? One good thing about the packaging (cover and awful black plastic box) is that these CDs sell very cheaply at second hand stores. Most shop owners think that these are low price reissues. Edited July 7, 2003 by Claude Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted July 7, 2003 Author Report Posted July 7, 2003 Where can one find pictures of the 32Jazz reissues? One good thing about the packaging (cover and awful black plastic box) is that these CDs sell very cheaply at second hand stores. Most shop owners think that these are low price reissues. I dunno, but if anyone can find them it would be you, Claude. I am just going on the stuff from my own collection. Hope you can locate some pics. That would be fun! Quote
Claude Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 (edited) I found some. I leave the description to you Edited July 7, 2003 by Claude Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted July 7, 2003 Author Report Posted July 7, 2003 I remember there was a particularly awful cover on a Sonny Stitt session, but I don't remember what it was. It looked like the outline of a body or something with a comicbook type of yellow or red filling in the picture. It was so awful it scared me off the disc. It's true, I can't help it but sometimes these covers shy me off the cd. I know there shouldn't be a connection but there is this psychological thing.... Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted July 7, 2003 Author Report Posted July 7, 2003 I found some. I leave the description to you Claude, That Criss cover was so bad that I got rid of the cd. Didn't care for the session either, but I'm sure I was poisoned/mesmerized by that awful cover. Looks like mold. The cd smelled like it had been stored in a basement corner as well. That musty appearance affected the look and smell. Sonny Criss should sue! Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted July 7, 2003 Author Report Posted July 7, 2003 Tell you what: psychological studies need to be performed on the fellah who designed that Walton/Mobley cover. Quote
king ubu Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 I remember there was a particularly awful cover on a Sonny Stitt session, but I don't remember what it was. It looked like the outline of a body or something with a comicbook type of yellow or red filling in the picture. It was so awful it scared me off the disc. It's true, I can't help it but sometimes these covers shy me off the cd. I know there shouldn't be a connection but there is this psychological thing.... ouch! Quote
The Mule Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 While all the above are certainly awful, I always found this picture of Sonny to be bizarre and disturbing. It looks like it was taken during an argument with a club owner who refused to pay... Quote
Templejazz Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 I might be the only one who kinda liked the covers. Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted July 7, 2003 Author Report Posted July 7, 2003 (edited) While all the above are certainly awful, I always found this picture of Sonny to be bizarre and disturbing. It looks like it was taken during an argument with a club owner who refused to pay... or continuing one of his alto battles into the after-session hours. Edited July 7, 2003 by connoisseur series500 Quote
Templejazz Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 I love this album but certainly don't particularly care for this cover all that much. Not the worst but not the best either Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted July 7, 2003 Author Report Posted July 7, 2003 I remember there was a particularly awful cover on a Sonny Stitt session, but I don't remember what it was. It looked like the outline of a body or something with a comicbook type of yellow or red filling in the picture. It was so awful it scared me off the disc. It's true, I can't help it but sometimes these covers shy me off the cd. I know there shouldn't be a connection but there is this psychological thing.... ouch! There it is!! Thanks Ubu. Looks like they cut-and-pasted all those boxer faces on that cover. Nowhere else is there such a shocking example of great time expenditure yielding so little! Quote
Templejazz Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 Sounds like a good album, though someone got a little too happy with the word art toolbar. Eggghh Quote
king ubu Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 (edited) Hellyeah! Now that's a fun thread! Edited July 7, 2003 by king ubu Quote
Claude Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 (not that bad, maybe not by the 32 Records design department ) Quote
Claude Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 (edited) Hey, check this free Photoshop plugin! This would have been nice if his name was "Clifforde" Enough for now. You can find more at Amazon.com by doing a label search on "32 Records" Edited July 7, 2003 by Claude Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted July 7, 2003 Author Report Posted July 7, 2003 Now ain't these nice for a change? ubu They shoulda just contracted their cover art out to Vogue magazine and gave the graphics director another job. On the other hand, the mind that was capable of coming up with these artistic concepts....is a mind best being placed in quarantine somewhere. Quote
Joe G Posted July 7, 2003 Report Posted July 7, 2003 I know it's not on 32jazz, but I always thought this album cover and title were most uncreative. Get it?? Danger High Voltage? With the box and wires and stuff? And I like Tenderly, but I don't consider that to be high voltage music. Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted July 7, 2003 Author Report Posted July 7, 2003 (edited) I know it's not on 32jazz, but I always thought this album cover and title were most uncreative. Get it?? Danger High Voltage? With the box and wires and stuff? And I like Tenderly, but I don't consider that to be high voltage music. This one sent me into a fit of giggles. Excellent example, Joe. Coleman looks like a reluctant participant in the dubious affair. Edited July 7, 2003 by connoisseur series500 Quote
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