...I can't help but think the man has a surprise in store for us when the album hits retail. Or at least, I certainly HOPE this is the case.

What we've seen of the album cover so far, in my opinion, is butt-ugly. The photo of Prince is nice enough, and it makes for a good album cover image, but it's Photoshopped against a nasty looking background of vines, and the really shoddy "Musicology" logo looks like the product of a rushed-up Word Art job.

Now, I haven't been a huge fan of Prince's album covers in the past few years, but at least what we've seen in the past has shown a little more ambition. NEWS wasn't all that great to look at, but at least the fold-out compass package showed a bit of effort. I wasn't crazy about the cover of The Rainbow Children, though I know some people really like it - but at least the cover image showed some kind of enthusiasm for the art and concept of the album. ONA Live was a bit rushed-looking, but the overall package had a somewhat substantial feel to it.

We all know that Prince has an eye for how he wants his albums to look. He's more often than not been credited with the art design on all his albums, and has even put together cool images all by his lonesome, like the iconic cover image of the 1999 album. Even a garish idea like the hologram cover of "Diamonds and Pearls" stands out, even if it looks more than a little over-the-top.

So I'm thinking that what we're gonna see in stores hasn't been reproduced for us to see yet because it can't be easily photographed or reproduced (not unlike the D&P or symbol album covers). Maybe the vines will be embossed w/ metallic ink? Maybe the "Musicology" logo will be pressed onto the actual jewel case like the logo of the symbol album? Maybe it'll be another trip altogether?

I started a thread on the NPGMC forums a couple of weeks ago with a link to Amazon.com's pre-order page for Musicology, which featured the "alleged" album art, and the thread was yanked immediately. It seems as if the PPs want to keep the look of the new album under wraps. Maybe it's because what's being circulated isn't what we're gonna see?

All I know is, I've seen fan-art mockups of the album cover that look better than what's being passed off as the real thing. I love the music on this album, and while perhaps it shouldn't matter, I hope the visual aspect of the album does justice to the songs within and the enthusiasm with which Prince is promoting the new album.

Thoughts?

dont hold your breath.

but it would be a pleasant surprise.

My only thought is that I can't believe how amateurish the whole cover we've seen so far looks like. I'm not even sure, if I'd even like to buy my copy of such a thing.

He could just as well put it in a brown paper bag and write the song titles with a marker on it, and the end result would be much better.

• The cover of Rave is great - simplistic and stylish. Even the font is nice - it's just the original packaging (case) that was weak. The remix album was much better . . . I really like this cover image - it exudes a "youth" and "energy" that had been missing a little

• ONA would've been absolutely acceptable with a classy-looking font. That font is God-awful, amateurish, and ruins the whole thing. The eggs hatching was a nice idea . . . the CD label is awful

• The Rainbow Children: No complaints except I would've liked it in a jewel case. That's it. Maybe a different font for the cover (see a trend?)

• News: Nice. The only word I can use for it. Again, a jewel case would've been nice, and a booklet with vignettes of landscapes/poetry (like the online ad) would've been awesome. Either way, I was impressed with the CD label more than the cover . . .

• Musicology: Hmmm. Not impressed. The font is really weak. I too hope that the real one will be different, but I doubt it. I've heard a rumor that the branches are a subconscious tie-in to the cover of Purple Rain (the flowers). Who knows.

The cover should have just been the original photo. No writing or additional graphics are necessary.

Around The World In A Day (Disregarding the CD release);
Sign O' The Times - no writing on the cover (Disregarding the two CD set);
The Black Album - no nothing on the cover;
Lovesexy - no writing on the cover;
Batman - no writing on the cover.

Just how great are all those covers?

Novabreaker said:

Agreed. I am a graphic designer, and the CD labels and covers that I make up in 10 minutes are WAY better than Musicology. There are SO many photos of Prince, it's a shame to let covers like this see the light of day.

A few alternate ideas for the cover:

• A picture of the Telecaster, leaned up against a railing on an old porch. No people, just the guitar, an amp, and maybe an old folding lawn chair. Sound cool? The picture would look "old", like late 60's, early 70's . . .

• The cover would be a shot of a 45RPM record, with all the words needed (artist, album name) on the center. The back would be those old tags (red and white) that were in jukeboxes. 6 tags, 2 songs per tag. The CD label itself would also look like a 45RPM record . . .

I have a feeling that the actual CD is gonna be black with grooves on the top side like a record. I have seen blank (burnable) CD's like this and it seems fitting to carry out the whole old skool theme that way.

I'm a graphic designer that has had a life-long dream to design the artwork for his albums. When I first heard the title I had kind of a vision of this being the album cover, let me knwo if y'all think this woulda been cvooler than what u've seen so far for this album:\

Prince would be dressed as a Professor complete with the Sign O' the Times spectacles he's worn on occasion, but the outfit, though Professor-like (lab coat, etc...), would still be classic Prince (one side longer than the other, oversized buttons and whatnot...).
He would be standing in front of a BlackBoard with the word MUSICOLOGY written in chalk on it with him pointing to it behind him with a conductor's stick, BUT still facing us with his other hand holding the side of his glasses kind of down at the tip of his nose (ya know, like teachers do). The class could be in front of him but all we would see are the backs of their heads (I was thinking either children could be the class or maybe it could be the backs of the heads of the band members!?).

ANYWAY, the cool thing is that there would be NO need for a logo or font used on the cover because the word would be written in chalk on the board.

I don't know if I have captured the feel of what I would have done but it woulda been one part funky, one part cool, and one part funny and a WHOLE lot more classic looking than just his profile with a cheesy font. ALSO it would hhave captured the theme behind this word and his tour in a clever and more fun way.

PRINCE, if you're reading this, hire me next time... I'll make sure your music gets the funkiest look and design it deserves!

I think he should let Sabotage do the artwork for the cover

Se7en said:

Cool! Se7en, I REALLY like the sound of that! The cover of Buddy Guy's 'Swet Tea' album sprang immeadiately 2 mind...

...u care 2 make a mock-up?

eleven said:

I'm totally picturing this right now . .. one of those really LARGE college classes (where the seating is stadium-style) and he's down in front . . .

The whole labcoat thing would be cool too. Instead of a stethoscope - headphones. And, on the labcoat's right shoulder - the studs from the purple trenchcoat days. Too far, OK.

On the walls of this classroom - the greats: James Brown, Sly, even a nod to the Jackson 5 and Motown artists. Maybe a Mozart or Beethoven. These would all be "portraits" in frames.

Ooh, I'm diggin' this idea now . . . BUT - instead of him standing, he's sitting in a chair, all relaxed, with his feet up on the desk . . .

Se7en said:

Dontcha think that's a tad TOO obvious tho? Bordering on naff?

bananacologne said:

Awesome! Right idea, but more of an urban setting . . . you know, where on a hot day you'd bust the hydrant and play in the water. That kinda neighborhood . . .

Again, just imagine the Telecaster (the Cloud is totally wrong for this "retro" vibe) leaning on the railing/column, with a really OLD amp, beat up (something that looks like it's from a pawn shop) and an old chair. Prince wouldn't necessarily be IN the picture, but there could be little "clues" scattered throughout . . . like the address of the house could be 7758 (birthday) or 319. Get the idea?!

But I really like this! I don't have the resources right now to do a mockup, or to upload it to the Org, but I'm going to work on it as soon as I get home to Michigan (I'm in California right now).

See, already in this thread we've come up with SEVERAL viable options . . . too bad no one is listening

eleven said:

I was just thinking, you and I should open a convenience store . . . hmmm . . . what to name it . . .

bananacologne said:

OK, let's take this idea and backpedal a little bit . . .

Same classroom - Prince is in the front of the class, sitting, playing the Telecaster. There is "Musicology" on the chalkboard, with some musical notes and such (the same way we learned to write the ABC's, with those ruled lines).

A little less campy, and more serious.

Anyway, the capacity of the classroom is about 100, but there are only 12 people in the class - taking notes and really paying attention.

The more I think of this idea, I think it would work better as a VIDEO. But it's a great premise, either way. I love it!

Just for a joke, you could have a Britney lookalike in the back, face down, sleeping at her desk . . .

Se7en said:

I love the Britney thang! I like your ideas..., I was definitely thinking the more intimate classroom-- it would be fun to add all sorts of hidden references to the songs in the photo, but subtlety would be essential (like someone passing a note {a "cinnamon girl" perhaps} to another student and all that's visible would be "...maybe we should write a letter" -- a line for Dear Mr. Man-- Ya know, stuff like that.

eleven said:

OK, just had ONE more idea . . .

In the front of the classroom are the greats, performing (James, Sly, Stevie), and PRINCE is the only one in the class - taking notes and paying attention.

What do you think? He's the ONLY one in the classroom other than the teachers . . .

I don't think he'd ever do this, because it means he might be "copying", but I had to say it . . .

Ya'll trying to steal my idea or something?

At least a week ago, on another thread, I said the cover should have a classroom feel to it and there should be a gal in the front row with I LUV U across her eyelids like in Raiders of the Lost Ark

Se7en said:

Good Gawd!!! Ya know if took me 15 minutes to FINALLY get your joke!! It was a good one too!

Se7en said:

BRILLIANT IDEAS! Think the last one would have been cool 2 have on the inner sleeve, so when u opened it up, u got a surprise and a laugh - that in itself making u think: 'hmmm...good vibes'

We should get BinaryJustin in on this one 2 - Ill go holla... he did this FANTASTIC CD cover 4 his compilation with that cool Prince pic from 89, dressed in red, playing that cool-assed guitar...as this is a mock up, maybe that could be used or sumthin?

But i LOVE the idea of just the hohner on its own...iconic.

Time 4 a new 'nana challenge methinx!

Nothinbutjoy said:

Beyonce?!?

Lord help me!!

eleven said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

Not trying to steal your ideas! Great minds just think alike! Sorry we didn't see your post . . .

bananacologne said:

You mean this cover, 'Nana?





I'm not sure if I'm feeling the teacher in a classroom scenario...

I like these retro covers too . . . a lot . . .

That's my point! There are already at least FOUR great ideas on this thread, and any one of them would rock!

Personally, I am hoping for the 45RPM look. Nothing like the look of vinyl.

Good job BinaryJustin! Reminds me of something you'd see from a Motown artist . . .

BinaryJustin said:

BTW, what's that font you're using? Is it a Mac font?

Awwww that's so sweet se7en! I wasn't miffed though, just jokin

If I MAY inject my humble opinion though...no old pictures.

A whole new photo shoot. Even if it's a bit from the Musicology video (which is old to me cause I've already seen it )

I wish I knew how to do the wonderful things ya'll do when making these covers. I have a vision, but no way to show you.

Se7en said:

Its called Dynomite from Fontalicious Fonts.

Here's my Musicology mock-up... This is on a proper, complete and utter retro tip.



I just thought, why not take a picture out of the equation altogether?