The Album Cover As Art - "Hipgnosis"

For those of us who came of age in the 1960’s and the 1970’s and who had more than a passing interest in the music of that time, the cover art of our record albums in many cases was inextricably linked to the music the albums contained. The album cover provided an exceptional opportunity for musicians and recording labels to personalize their product in a visual fashion. While album cover art has basically been around since recorded music has been commercially available, it was the vast increase in sales of records associated with the rise of popular music that coincided with the concept of the album cover as being more than just a place to write the name of the recording artist. There are more than a few publications relating to this subject, and it is not the intention of the author to add to that total. However, I would like to focus on a company from England who became famous for the large number of album covers their artwork graced. That company was called “Hypgnosis”.  

According to a 2010 interview with a Ms. Helen Dorion in the Guardian newspaper, the company was started as a design studio in 1960’s London. Their intention was not necessarily to specialize in album cover art, but their friends in the band Pink Floyd approached them in 1968 to design the cover for the group’s second album, A Saucerful of Secrets. The rest, as they say, is history.  

It would take more space than I am prepared to fill to try identifying and describing the entire list of album covers Hypgnosis was responsible for creating. There were ones (such as Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon) that became famous, as well as many more that have remained obscure and known only to those who purchased the record album the art work adorned. Many of the covers they produced have become so iconic that they are inseparable from the music contained in the records from within the album cover. What those of us who are fans of album cover art find so attractive about Hypgnosis though is the originality and brilliance displayed in their designs. A review of their work seems to indicate that the majority of their clients were recording artists from the British Isles. While this could simply be a by-product of their being an English firm, I tend to think it is not. It would seem to me that there was something unique in their art that appealed to their clients. 

One of my personal favourites from the list of albums featuring Hypgnosis cover art is Argus, a recording from the group “Wishbone Ash”. This particular album is generally considered the band’s best work, (and is a personal favourite of mine). Wishbone Ash were a typical English rock band of the time, their lineup comprising of two electric guitars, bass and drums, with their bassist also being their lead singer. While the music the band recorded for this record was typical of the guitar based rock of the period (the album was released in April, 1972), the context of the songs for this particular record, (including their lyrics) were based on the medieval imagery that was so popular at the time. And so, subsequently, the album cover was designed to reflect this. The initial cover was of the gatefold design, which opened up to provide photographs of the band members inside. It was the exterior though that captures your imagination. The photograph on the front was of a soldier from some much earlier time.  The soldier is wearing a helmet with a visor, so we are unable to see his face (I’m assuming the soldier is male). He is standing and holding a spear, as if he is on guard and overlooking a green valley filled with mist. When you look closely at the cover however, the ghostly image of a flying saucer can be seen, coming out of the mist, flying across the valley. The picture has always struck me as very enigmatic. One the one hand, the early medieval scene, and then the contrast with the twentieth century concept of space travel, and "U.F.O.'s". Then you have the depiction of the verdant countryside, very symbolic of pre-industrial England, with the emphasis on green fields and nature. Of course, as mentioned earlier, the music contained within the album had a specific theme, and the cover art beautifully reflects this in a very understated yet effective manner. 

Hypgnosis album cover art was intrinsically linked with many outstanding recordings in the late 1960’s and 1970’s (primarily the latter).  A great place to find examples (available for purchase of course!) of these recordings is "Alleycats Music & Art" in downtown Orillia at 95 Mississaga Street East.   

http://alleycats-music.myshopify.com