Q: How many graphic designers does it take to change a light bulb? A: Does it have to be a light bulb?
A real thigh-slapper huh? What the punchline is (attempting to) make fun of is how designers are taught (or should be) to question assumptions when presented with a problem. These days they call this "thinking outside the box" but I won't because I don't want to be the sort of person who says things like thinking outside the box. Like, does a record sleeve have to be a cardboard square that opens at the side? Why can't it be round? In a tin banister? Die-cut like a floppy disk?
The original UK sleeve of Elvis Costello's 1978 album "Armed Forces" takes similar liberties with the traditional sleeve format. On the front (above) is a rather naff painting of elephants (which I've always assumed was some conceptual joke about the military) with the amateur, crack-handed quality of art you'd find at a jumble sale. But flip it over and things get a bit more interesting. The album doesn't open at the side but has four brightly-decorated, interlocking flaps..
... that open out like an Origami puzzle...
...into a riot of Jackson Pollock-, Kandinsky-, Pop Art-, and Mondrian-inspired graphics.
Remove the inner sleeve and you get the image that was on the front of the American version of the album (they added "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?" to the deregulating too, which sound-wise doesn't fit in with the rest of the album at all.)
This is the work of a designer called Barney Bubbleswho is a cult figure among other designers but is barely known outside the field. Unlike contemporaries and followers like Peter Servile,Neville Brody, and Vaughan Oliver there has never been a book published or a museum exhibition of his work. Barney was publicity shy, never gave interviews and was rather nonchalant about credits (his name doesn't appear anywhere on the "Armed Forces" sleeve) reasoning that it was just packaging and there's no designer credit on a box of soap powder. He was closely associated with happy rockers Headwind before making the transition to a more punk/new wave aesthetic working for Stiff Records in the late 70s where he produced an amazing body of work marked by a wit and conceptual brilliance that have kept them fresh today. He designed all Costello's sleeves up to the "Imperial Bedroom" album and other notable work included The Damnedest "Music For Pleasure" and Ian Diary's"Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick," but his most famous design is probably the brilliant "Blockhead" logo.
"Armed Forces" is probably his Sistine Chapel though, an inspired example of what a great designer can do when given the opportunity to stretch his wings. Costello's previous album "This Years Model" was a big hit so I imagine Barney was told to make a splash with the sleeve of the next one. Above all, it looks like he's having fun, piling on the visual puns and references in a way that matches the intricate, dense wordplay of Costello's lyrics.
In 1960, Inejiro Asanuma,chairman of Japan Socialist Party(JSP),was assassinated by 17-year- old boy. Japanese photographer Yasushi Nagao won the Pulitzer Prize for his photo of this assassination.
acua21 (3 weeks ago) Show Hide 0 Poor comment Good comment Marked as spam Reply | Spam Bellooooooooo, lindo, I love Boy George gmansgal1 (1 year ago) Show Hide 0 Poor comment Good comment Marked as spam Reply | Spam Amen Sister - He is the REAL Deal - as a performer, as a songwriter and as an artist. He aint no lightweight! mytrueloves7724 (1 year ago) Show Hide 0 Poor comment Good comment Marked as spam Reply | Spam WOOT!! Three Cheers For the Boy! gmansgal1 (1 year ago) Show Hide 0 Poor comment Good comment Marked as spam Reply | Spam Smokin' HOT performance of The Deal - even with a chest cold. Dayum! I loved how he went right on into that gripping rendition of "Knocking on Heaven's Door". Hold me back! Barbiculatum (1 year ago) Show Hide 0 Poor comment Good comment Marked as spam Reply | Spam ohhhhhh how beauuutifullll he isss!!!!!!!!!!!.....
OHhhhhhhh thank you so much, totally stunning!!! Ohhh Boy George my hero forever boygeorge4ever (1 year ago) Show Hide 0 Poor comment Good comment Marked as spam Reply | Spam wow....great wonderful everything! doxa113 (1 year ago) Show Hide 0 Poor comment Good comment Marked as spam Reply | Spam singing like angel wow with love mexico suzyegirlboygeorge (1 year ago) Show Hide 0 Poor comment Good comment Marked as spam Reply | Spam great ! thanxs for sharing..... beautiful George! aj7654321 (1 year ago) Show Hide 0 Poor comment Good comment Marked as spam Reply | Spam WOW so good to here ths song again. the first time i heard george sing this made me tingle great perormance...... Moyet (1 year ago) Show Hide 0 Poor comment Good comment Marked as spam Reply | Spam WAU!Great performance!!!!Which year has that gig been?
THIS IS A WEIRD SONG THAT I'VE NEVER HEARD IN MY LIFE.
Lyrics:
Debbie: I have heard, among this clan, you are called the forgotten man. Iggy: is that what theyre saying? well, did you evah! Both: what a swell party this is!
Iggy: and have you heard the story of a boy, a girl, unrequited love? Debbie: sounds like pure soap opera. I may cry. Iggy: aw... Both: what a swell party this is!
Iggy: what frails! Debbie: what cocks! Iggy: what broads! Debbie: what jocks... Iggy: what furs! theyre beautiful! Debbie: why, Ive never seen such... Both: yuppity! Debbie: neither did I. Iggy: its all just too... Both: swellegant!
Debbie: this french champagne... Iggy: (domestic!) Debbie: so good for the brain. Iggy: thats what I was gonna say! Debbie: well, you know youre a brilliant fellow. Iggy: thank you, I am! Debbie: hehe, drink up Jim.
Iggy: so... have you ever been out to L.A. lately? Debbie: well no, not recently. Iggy: well, I went there and had a rent-a-car and all... Debbie: oh, really? Iggy: yeah and I got invited to Pia's house... Pia Zadora's house... Debbie: really? oh. Iggy: yeah. Debbie: was it nice? Iggy: well, I didnt... I didnt go! Debbie: oh! hehe. Iggy: it woulda been swell though! Debbie: shoulda gone! Iggy: it woulda been elegant! Debbie: elegant. Oh wait, look... look whos coming in now... can you believe it? Iggy: ...I hear they dismantled pickfair. Debbie: they did. Iggy: it wasnt elegant enough. hehe! Debbie: yeah. probably full of termites. Iggy: yeah.
Both: its great! Its grand! Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wonderland! La la la la la la la la la la la la la. We sing so rare, like old camembert.
Iggy: have you heard that Diane Star - she got bit in the Asster bar. Debbie: sauced again! well, did you evah... Both: what a swell party this is!
Have you heard? Its in the stars. Next July we collide with Mars. Well did you evah!
What a swell party. What a swell party. What a swellegant elegant, (sm) party... Debbie: smarty? Iggy: party... yeah! Debbie: a smarty party? Iggy: I am! a smarty! Im pretty smart! Debbie: you are a smarty for coming to this party. Iggy: yeah, thats right! Debbie: well piss off. Iggy: hehehe, thats good! I like that.
The first half of an unsold 1958 pilot- produced by Jay Ward!- that would have focused on jazz combos performing in actual jazz nightclubs.
As Mort Sahl, the "substitute" host says at 1:25, John Crosby, well-known and respected "arts" and TV critic for the New York HERALD-TRIBUNE at the time, was supposed to be host, but couldn't make it! In this segment, Dave Brubeck {piano}, Paul Desmond {alto sax}, Eugene Wright {bass}, and Joe Morello {drums}, demonstrate WHY they became famous..
