Explore the significance of album art in shaping fan identity, with a focus on Devo's album art and their philosophy of de-evolution. Discover the symbolism behind using a golfer's image on the cover of an album and the legalities of using someone's name without permission. Learn about the haunting and uplifting outsider masterpiece created by a music teacher and his elementary school students. The podcast also features ads for Article and BetterHelp.
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Quick takeaways
Album art was a crucial part of the music experience, setting the visual tone for the music contained within and becoming a defining representation of a band's unique style.
The unconventional recordings of The Langley School Music Project captured a haunting and melancholic feel, resonating with listeners and vindicating the unconventional teaching approach of Hans Fingar.
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The Significance of Record Album Art
Record album art played a crucial role in the music industry before digital downloads became prevalent. The design of a record cover set the visual tone for the music contained within. It was a ritual for listeners to examine the fonts, liner notes, and artwork. While the essence of a band was encapsulated in the album art and became part of fans' identity, the importance of album art should not be underestimated. The influence of record covers on our perception and connection to music was profound.
The Story Behind Devo's Album Art
Devo, the avant-garde punk band, found their album art cover for their first major label album in a department store. They stumbled upon a package of practice golf balls with an illustration of the golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez on the cover. Intrigued by its absurdity, they used the image as an expression of Devo's unconventional and subversive artistic philosophy. However, they faced a legal challenge and had to mutate Chi Chi's face on the album cover to avoid a potential lawsuit. The album art became a defining representation of Devo's unique style.
The Langley School Music Project: Unconventional Youth Choir
In the 1970s, music teacher Hans Fingar created recordings of his elementary school students singing in a gymnasium, resulting in The Langley School Music Project. The recordings, rediscovered years later, captured a haunting and melancholic feel, despite being feel-good songs. The unconventional nature of the recordings, along with their unique and different sound from other school choirs, resonated with listeners. The success of The Langley School Music Project vindicated Hans Fingar's unconventional teaching approach and left a lasting impact on his students.
It’s hard to overstate just how important record album art was to music in the days before people downloaded everything. Visuals were a key part of one's experience with a record or tape or CD. The design of the album cover created a first impression of what was to come. Album art was certainly important to reporter Sean Cole, one particular album by one particular band: Devo. This is the story of Devo’s first record and the fight over the arresting image of a flashy, handsome golf legend on the cover.
Plus, former 99pi EP Katie Mingle gets the backstory of the Langley Schools Music Project LP, a haunting and uplifting outsider artist masterpiece.