[Friday On The Turntable] Album Design: Peter Saville - Factory Records & Beyond

[@senateguard33]

Great video Bret! Looking forward to more of these. It never occurred to me that "So" and "Low-Life" are almost the same cover. Very cool. Good choice on displaying "Within the Realm..." there in the background. That is the album that got me into DCD, I took a chance on it because the artwork was so cool. Glad I did!

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks! Yeah, that DCD record - and its cover - are beautiful for sure. Thanks for watching! - Bret

[@DarkSideOfTheZoom]

Hi Bret. This was great! Please keep this video series going. I love art and that is one of the attractions for me as a vinyl collector, the 12 inch cover designs are great. Have a great weekend! Cheers, David.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks David! I appreciate the kind words. Will definitely keep this series going with a new episode in the near future. Cheers!

[@TheMiserable01]

Simply great! Congrats.

[@StaffsOwl]

Bret , this is the first time that I have all 5 albums you've shown in a video. The first uk issue of Lowlife actually had a transparent paper "over" sleeve which had the name of the band running down the right hand side of the sleeve - , great idea for a theme , im not sure id collect vinyl albums if the sleeves were all plain - John

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

John, you have that version of Lowlife? I believe I've seen it show before - or maybe I'm thinking of the CD reissue from a few years back. - Bret

[@Paneeks1960]

Artwork and record collecting used to go hand in hand. I remember going to exhibits in Boston that featured album art. This was fascinating Bret. Do you remember the album called 'Total' that Peter created for for the New Order/Joy Division release? The lettering was fantastic but I think the ended up using just the 'O'. But that was also very cool. Artwork sells albums. I know that Unknown Pleasures is an album who's artwork we remember. But it probably would not be one that I would put in an album frame. But comparing the art to the music the way that you did was perfect. Music does not have to be complicated to be good. That is what iconic artwork is supposed to do. Really nice job. My favorite album art artist will always be Storm. He was amazing~ Thanks B~ Rob/Boston

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Hey Rob! Yeah, I do remember 'Total.' I never picked it up, but like all of the JD / NO releases, the artwork was always stellar. Even if it was just something simple like 'Substance' - the simplicity made a bold statement. Storm was a legend. Thanks for tuning in, Rob - I hope it's starting to warm up a bit for you guys out there! - Bret

[@CarstenPeterOlsen]

Keep the videos in this series coming. I love it :)

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks Carsten. Will do!

[@astral_null]

It was Bernard Sumner who found the image for Unknown Pleasures, not Stephen Morris

[@darkdubh]

Fantastic idea for a video.Saville is a legend,I diden't know he did the sleeve for Avalon.If this is a continuing series make sure you cover Malcom Garrettt.I met him recently and got him to sign my copies of Magazines The Correct Use Of Soap and After The Fact.And he went to school with Peter Saville.Hes a really nice guy too and deserves further reqognition for his efforts.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks for watching! I have several designers on the list, so I'm gonna revisit this theme in the very near future. Very cool that you got to meet Malcolm! :)

[@Damonkeysays]

Bret, great vid as always. As soon as you showed the color code on the New Order album I had to run to the shelves for my copy of Peter Gabriel - Secret World Live. Sure enough, there's a very similar thing going on in the lower left of the album. Any correlation? - Scott

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Hey Scott, interesting you brought up the PG record - didn't even think of that, but now that you mention it - several of his records (and also those done through his Real World label) have that color bar on the edge of the front cover and onto the spine. I'm not sure if Peter Saville was involved with that, but I speculate that it is perhaps his 'logo' for that label. Very interesting - will have to do some more research on that. Thanks for watching and commenting. - Bret

[@michealdill]

Hope this does turn into a series.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks Michael. Will definitely keep it going in the near future.

[@reneschraven]

Great designer! Love his work. How come you didn't go with OMD's first LP with the grid sleeve? Or don't you have that one?

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Rene! I think I left you a response to this question on FB... I don't have it - I have the one that combines tracks from the s/t & Organisation - a great comp, but the first LP was never released in the States, so I've never come across it. I always check the 'O' section for it! :)

[@seattlebeard]

It was released in the states, but without the die cut sleeve. The prettiest version was the Japanese versions of the first four albums, because they contain lyrics. However they are somewhat incorrect. @@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog

[@dereckvon]

Dropping straight knowledge.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks Dereck. :)

[@theraabbot]

Thanks Bret, Might be cool if you did some follow ups to this idea, maybe Hipgnosis or Anton Corbijn etc. could be cool to see more of these :) Cheers from South Africa

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Hey Heath, thanks for watching. Anton is definitely in the queue. :) I appreciate you tuning in. - Bret

[@chromeeyelashes]

I'm obsessed with Joy Division/New Order album art. It matches the music so perfectly, but you could never really explain to someone why. It feels so deliberate, so on point. Just the beauty of art I guess =p

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Well said, Alex. I had a hard time deciding whether to show Closer or Unknown Pleasures - granted, I could've shown them both, but wanted to get in some other choice covers as well. Ah yes, the New Order designs are so excellent as well. Could've done the entire video on JD/NO! Thanks for watching - have a great weekend. - Bret

[@senateguard33]

Bret Helm's Life On This Planet Blog On that note, is there any chance of a JD/NO album ranking in the future?

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

senateguard33 - A New Order ranking is definitely on the list. :)

[@MrLovell1971]

The Great Peter Saville Awesome Documentary Bret his cover artwork is legendary. Joy Division covers Killer.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks Lovell. I enjoyed seeing your post of the Suede record he designed - I definitely need that one on vinyl! :) Thanks for watching.

[@RadekLoquendo]

can you do storm thorgerson? also rip storm

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks for the suggestions.

[@camreid4128]

Do Stanley Donwood (radiohead)

[@ArtsyFartsyTimo]

You know I dig this shit. Aw, yeah... dig talk about design

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Aw yeaaaaah. I knew you'd dig.

[@ArtsyFartsyTimo]

Next time I expect it to be addressed personally, "This is for ArtsyFartsyTimo

[@paralisisraymi7]

FACT14

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Ah, would LOVE to have one of the original sandpaper covers.

[@paralisisraymi7]

I wouldn't think of the Durutti Column as an abrasive band -judging from the FACT14 cover- but the concept behind the sleeve design was quite brilliant.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

paralisisraymi7 Brilliant indeed.

[@Fuddydutty]

Great feature Bret on a great artist. I did not know he did "So" by PG. That was cool you put it up next to "Low Life". I totally got the context then. Saville did great OMD singles sleeves too. I especially like the "Joan Of Arc" single with the red & white colors.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks Mark. Love his work on the OMD records - still hunting for the first album with the die cut sleeve - I never see that one around.. Thanks again!