Here is the thing. Maybe I am nostalgic, but that's what happens with age, I guess. On the other hand, if I just compare now to then, then now looks bleak.

The outlook of the Paisley Park art design was classy. Good photography, good lettering (still have my Madhouse t-shirt) and all beautifully brought together.
I think it was the nice combination of Prince's dreams and the artistry of Laura LiPuma(-Nash, these days) and Jeff Katz.
Laura LiPuma's art design was always a perfect fit with the photography of Jeff Katz. Look at the tongue-in-cheek Madhouse covers and the sleek and sexy cover of the self titled Sheila E. album.
But my thoughts go also to the entire period; Around The World In A Day, Parade, Sign 'O' The Times; all the detail that went into every single release, including the b-sides output. It was, for me, a magical period. And the people who made that visual were Laura LiPuma and Jeff Katz.



Just the entire Sign 'O' The Times album cover, lettering, inside sleeve photography. These days we get computerised pics. Drawings that to me are not entirely cutting edge; the drawings on the NPGmc site and the New power Soul cover I think are (don't laugh) scary.
The Emancipation sleeve had some nice photgraphy, but the art design got in the way.
I liked the Rave Un2 THe Joy Fantastic album LOTS, but the vynil should have been WHITE, hehehe. The last thing (besides Rave) I liked were Come & The Gold Experience, because there was a certain kind of personal attention to the design/photograpgy.

And I might break some rulez here, but alas; I think the One Nite Alone cover SUCKS.
I can not wait until the new Bjork release, called Family Tree. Guess what; they postponed the release because the special packaging for this project needs extra attention. I just LOVE Bjork...

gooeythehamster said:

I agree. After the Gold Experience, it all went down the

And I'm talking about the both design and photography.

I've posted before on this but, if you look at at his WB releases more carefully you'll see that after the last release the design sucked, which was Gold Experience.

Why? Well, because WB could afford and had the knowledge to hire GOOD design school educated designers. People with typography, color theory etc. backgrounds. They were schooled in the art of design.

Not only was LiPuma great but so was many other designers working on Prince's projects. I met a few years back when I was a design student, Margo Chase, she was the one who created some of the best lettering in Prince's work. Lovesexy, Around The WOrld In A Day, the lettering for Sign"O"The Times!

Sign"O"'s lettering was all done by hand. COmbined with Katz photography, Prince's inspiration and whella! Magic!

I may start a thread on Prince album artwork and design soon. I'll get into all the details then.

And it's true, now it's all about FLASH. Like the software. Which shows you that being flashy is more important than communicating an idea or style, communicating being the operative word.

Technology can suck the life out of what seemingly looks cool. (again) Why? Because the computer doesn't design. The Designer does. Who cares about platforms or OS this OS that is better, nope, your thoughtful approach and design skills come first. Many of those great albums were done without computers! You took time to design them, the approach was much better then.

It's all around you , movies, packaging, effects are so pushed that they start to backfire and look fake, over the top, impossible. I find some really "kewl" websites and think all that way out flashy design and still, boring.

The NPGMusicClub kinda suffers from this. Too much emphasis on making a "really cool looking site" rather than an easy to use, fast loading, clean, user friendly, PRINCE inspired (not fashion artwork inpired) site! Once you do that I think then you will find the right design.

AND I think design matters to Prince, the One Night Alone album cover was not great, but it had some ideas that I think Prince wanted to convey. BUT they were translated unsuccesfully. The design fell flat and looked Kinko-ish. It could, like New Power Soul and Rave, beed done way better.

You just have to TRUST your designer and photographer and give them your ideas, inspiration, and NOT loom over their shoulders, then the designer is a mere tool, like a computer.



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[This message was edited Tue Aug 27 11:28:55 PDT 2002 by FlyingCloudPassenger]