The worst record covers ever
Mon, Mar 7 2011, 6:57PM
#2
RE: The worst record covers ever
Come on she looks quite good there. I doubt whether it's her body though (judging from the chiselled physique), and a fair bit of airbrushing of the face has gone on too!
Tue, Mar 8 2011, 9:38AM
#3
RE: The worst record covers ever
My favourite is the ASV issue of Debussy "Prelude a l'Apres-Midi d'un Faune".
A "faune" is a mythological creature, half man and half goat. However someone at ASV thought it was a different kind of creature, and used a picture of a Bambi young deer.
Tue, Mar 8 2011, 11:23AM
#4
RE: The worst record covers ever
There was a terrible cover of a Philips Brendel Beethoven LP which pictures him with a large pimple on his nose in full colour. How did they pass that one?
And the Chandos cover of an embryo, can't remember the work, but it made me feel very uncomfotable.
Tue, Mar 15 2011, 12:34AM
#5
RE: The worst record covers ever
I seem to recall the embryo was on Delius's Mass of Life but the cover was subsequently changed (presumably due to adverse reaction).
Wed, Mar 16 2011, 5:14PM
#6
RE: Gapless Playback
In the review for the Yamaha NP-S2000, Gramophone reassures us that the unit "supports gapless playback," with no further qualification. Yet I had been led to believe that it was an inherent feature of mp3 files (that apparently tack on bits of non-audio data at the beginning and end of each file) that it does not allow gapless playback and that some sort of pause or click, however short, will be audible between tracks that should be contiguous.
It is clear that Gramophone will continue to report on advances in the download and storage of music, and I would expect nothing less. However, I still question whether there has been sufficient exposure of mp3 limitations on this score, particularly when dealing with assembled classical music tracks. If I am wrong on this point, I would welcome clarification.
A bigger question would be when (or if) we can ever expect an industry-wide adoption of a single format (FLAC?) that would meet audiophiles' expectations.
Wed, Mar 16 2011, 6:02PM
#7
RE: Gapless Playback
Way off topic in this thread, but there are a number of strategies available in order to give gapless playback, including buffering to ensure the gaps are covered. By no means all pieces of streaming hardware offer this facility, which does limit their appeal for the classical music listener.
Thu, Mar 17 2011, 8:02AM
#8
RE: The worst record covers ever
Thu, Mar 17 2011, 8:13PM
#9
RE: The worst record covers
Two of the worst, Decca the original cover of his decca recording of Berlioz symphonie Fantastique with the NYPO. An early LP from the beginning of the digital era. And finally: Ormandys Hindemith recording from Philadelphia from 1979 a LP.
Bjorn Sundkvist, Sweden
Thu, Mar 17 2011, 9:59PM
#10
The worst record covers ever
The worst and funniest ever is:
Concertos by Hindemith, Merikanto, Lindberg, Zimmermann. London Sinfonietta, Esa-Pekka Salonen; played by cellist Anssi Karttunen (FINLANDIA 4508-95865-2) or as it was advertised years ago in Gramophone: FACD 400
It shows portrait of sad Donald Duck, sitting in an armchair with his legs folded as in a "homage" (probably) to Lucien Freud...not!....but close... Does anyone know who painted this masterpice?
I'm sorry, there's no url link (I can't find it on www). I've got jpeg image and can't insert it here. I'm sending a copy of the cover to Mr James Inverne at Gramophone. What a great idea, to have the analysis of the main offenders!
Sincerely,
Peter M.
Fri, Mar 18 2011, 12:27PM
#11
RE: The worst record covers ever
It is a pictorial representation of the composer's dream as expressed in the music.
A brilliant cover that must have helped shift lots of discs if only because of peoples curiosity.
Sat, Mar 19 2011, 12:22PM
#12
RE: The worst record covers ever
Can I humbly suggest the CD cover for Biber's Violin Sonatas by Romanesca (that is one scrawny bird), also the Handel duets CD with Sarah Connolly and Rosemary Joshua showing two topless ladies, with one pinching the other's breast.
Sat, Mar 19 2011, 6:24PM
#13
RE: The worst record covers ever
I'm sure I read somewhere that John Adams thought that the cover of the Simon Rattle performance of Harmonielehre sucked (although the performance is very good).
It does look like it has something to do with sub GCSE collage.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adams-Orchestral-Music/dp/B002VSY898/ref=sr_1_5?...
Sat, Mar 19 2011, 6:24PM
#14
RE: The worst record covers ever
I'm sure I read somewhere that John Adams thought that the cover of the Simon Rattle performance of Harmonielehre sucked (although the performance is very good).
It does look like it has something to do with sub GCSE collage.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adams-Orchestral-Music/dp/B002VSY898/ref=sr_1_5?...
Sun, Mar 20 2011, 12:28AM
#15
RE: The worst record covers ever
You're right!
http://www.earbox.com/posts/101
(in the caption at the bottom of the post)
The idea was there, just not the organization.
Bartoli's Sacrificium for sure. Plus every other composite photo in the notes.