Hipgnosis were an English art design group based in London, that specialised in creating album cover artwork for rock musicians and bands.[1] Their commissions included work for Pink Floyd, Def Leppard, T. Rex, the Pretty Things, Black Sabbath, Wishbone Ash, UFO, 10cc, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Scorpions, The Nice, Paul McCartney & Wings, the Alan Parsons Project, Yes, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Electric Light Orchestra, Rainbow, Styx and Al Stewart.

Hipgnosis consisted primarily of Cambridge natives Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell, and later Peter Christopherson.[2] The group dissolved in 1983, though Thorgerson worked on album designs until his death in 2013. Powell has worked with Paul McCartney and The Who in film and video production, and is the creative director for both Pink Floyd and lead guitarist David Gilmour. Christopherson went on to produce music videos for many bands and shot some of the earliest promotional photography for the Sex Pistols, but worked primarily as an electronic musician in the bands Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV and Coil until his death in 2010.

History

In 1968, Thorgerson and Powell were approached by their friends in Pink Floyd to design the cover for the group's second album, A Saucerful of Secrets. This led to additional work for EMI, including photos and album covers for the Pretty Things, Free, Toe Fat and the Gods. Being film and art school students, they were able to use the darkroom at the Royal College of Art, but when they completed school, they had to set up their own facilities. They built a small darkroom in Powell's bathroom, but shortly thereafter, in early 1970, rented space and built a studio located at 6 Denmark Street.[3]

When first starting out, Powell and Thorgerson adopted their name from graffiti they found on the door to their apartment. Thorgerson said they liked the word, not only for punning on "hypnosis", but for possessing "a nice sense of contradiction, of an impossible co-existence, from Hip = new, cool, and groovy, and Gnostic, relating to ancient learning."[4]

Hipgnosis gained major international prominence in 1973 with their cover design for Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon. The final design was one of several versions prepared for the band to choose from, but according to drummer Nick Mason, the 'prism/pyramid' design was the immediate and unanimous choice. The record itself became one of the biggest-selling and longest-charting albums of all time, and the cover has since been hailed as one of the best of all time (VH1 rated it as No. 4, in 2003). After that, the firm became highly sought-after, and did many covers for high-profile bands and artists such as Led Zeppelin, Genesis, UFO, Black Sabbath, Peter Gabriel, the Alan Parsons Project, and Yes. They also designed the cover for the original UK paperback edition of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Adams would describe Thorgerson as "The best album designer in the world"),[5] as well as the original UK hardcover edition of Norman Spinrad's Bug Jack Barron.[6]

Peter Christopherson joined Hipgnosis as an assistant in 1974, and later became a full partner. The firm employed many assistants and other staff members over the years, including freelance designers and illustrators Richard Evans,[7] George Hardie,[8] and Richard Manning.[9]

Hipgnosis did not have a set fee for designing an album cover but instead asked the artists to "pay what they thought it was worth".[10] According to Thorgerson, this policy only occasionally backfired.[11]

Style

Hipgnosis' approach to album design was strongly photography-oriented, and they pioneered the use of many innovative visual and packaging techniques. In particular, Thorgerson and Powell's surreal, elaborately manipulated photos (utilizing darkroom tricks, multiple exposures, airbrush retouching, and mechanical cut-and-paste techniques) were a film-based forerunner of what would, much later, be called photoshopping. Hipgnosis mainly used Hasselblad medium format cameras for their work.

Hipgnosis covers were noted for their quirky humour, such as the cover for the Pink Floyd double-LP compilation A Nice Pair, which featured an array of visual puns. Another example was the album There's the Rub for Wishbone Ash using a picture of cricketer and ball.

Such humour once angered Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, when Hipgnosis created a visual pun based on "(tennis) racquet"/"(noise) racket" for the album Houses of the Holy. Hipgnosis almost lost Led Zeppelin as a client as a result.[12]

Another trademark was that many of their cover photos visually related to the album's lyrics, often depicting puns or double meanings of words in the album title. Since both Powell and Thorgerson were film students, they often used models and staged the photos in a highly theatrical manner. Hipgnosis covers rarely featured artists' photos on the outside, and most were in a gatefold cover format to provide ample space for their imagery.

Many of Hipgnosis' covers also featured pen and ink logos and illustrations designed to appear high-tech (often by graphic designer George Hardie), stickers, fancy inner sleeves, and other packaging bonuses. One of the extras created by Hipgnosis was the specially printed inner sleeve for Led Zeppelin's In Through the Out Door LP, which was black and white but turned to colour when dampened with water (tying in with the main cover's photographic theme).

Work

YearArtistAlbum
1968Pink FloydA Saucerful of Secrets
Alexis KornerA New Generation of Blues
The GodsGenesis
Pepe JaramilloTill There Was You
The Aynsley Dunbar RetaliationThe Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation
1969Pink FloydMore
The Gun Gun Sight
The GodsTo Samuel a Son
Pink FloydUmmagumma
Panama Limited Jug BandPanama Limited Jug Band
Humble PieTown and Country
Island Records artistsYou Can All Join In
1970The Greatest Show on EarthHorizons
Pink FloydAtom Heart Mother
QuatermassQuatermass
The Pretty ThingsParachute
The Greatest Show on EarthThe Going's Easy
Syd BarrettThe Madcap Laughs
The NiceFive Bridges
Toe FatToe Fat
CochiseCochise
Harvest Records artistsPicnic – A Breath of Fresh Air
Panama LimitedIndian Summer
Sounds NiceLove at First Sight
Gravy TrainGravy Train
Syd BarrettBarrett
The Aynsley Dunbar RetaliationRemains to Be Heard
ArgentRing of Hands
Jackson HeightsKing Progress
TwinkThink Pink
Probe Records artistsHandle With Care
1971T. RexElectric Warrior
Toe FatToe Fat 2
TreesOn the Shore
Marvin, Welch & FarrarMarvin, Welch & Farrar
The NiceElegy
Pink FloydMeddle
Electric Light OrchestraThe Electric Light Orchestra
AudienceHouse on the Hill
Edgar Broughton BandEdgar Broughton Band
Wishbone AshPilgrimage
Climax Blues BandTightly Knit
Tear GasTear Gas
StackridgeStackridge
Daddy LonglegsOakdown Farm
The Masters ApprenticesMaster's Apprentices
John WilliamsChanges
Pink FloydPiper at the Gates of Dawn (Italian reissue)
Rory GallagherRory Gallagher
1972FlashFlash
Wishbone AshArgus
The NiceAutumn '67 – Spring '68
FumbleFumble
The HolliesDistant Light
RenaissancePrologue
Edgar Broughton BandInside Out
AudienceLunch
The Pretty ThingsFreeway Madness
Pink FloydObscured by Clouds
Emerson, Lake & PalmerTrilogy
Blue MinkA Time of Change
Roger CookMeanwhile...Back at the World
GlencoeGlencoe
DantaDanta
The HolliesRomany
Olivia Newton-JohnOlivia
Labi SiffreCrying Laughing Loving Lying
1973Electric Light OrchestraELO 2
Pink FloydThe Dark Side of the Moon
Roger CookMinstrel in Flight
Electric Light OrchestraOn the Third Day
Edgar Broughton BandOora
Al StewartPast, Present and Future
ArgentIn Deep
Led ZeppelinHouses of the Holy
AudienceYou Can't Beat 'em
Roy HarperLifemask
RenaissanceAshes Are Burning
Wishbone AshWishbone Four
Live Dates
FlashOut of Our Hands
Various artistsMusic from Free Creek
Humble PieThunderbox
Vinegar JoeRock 'n Roll Gypsies
Babe RuthAmar Caballero
Pink FloydA Nice Pair
Public Foot The RomanPublic Foot The Roman
The ShadowsRockin' with Curly Leads
1974SharksJab It in Yore Eye
UnoUno
GenesisThe Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Wishbone AshThere's the Rub
NazarethRampant
RenaissanceTurn of the Cards
Roy HarperValentine
Peter FramptonSomethin's Happening
Roy HarperFlashes from the Archives of Oblivion
Bad CompanyBad Company
Blue MinkFruity
FumblePoetry in Lotion
Syd BarrettSyd Barrett
10ccSheet Music
The Pretty ThingsSilk Torpedo
UFOPhenomenon
Cyril HavermansMind Wave
The HolliesHollies
SweetDesolation Boulevard
1975UFOForce It
The Pretty ThingsSavage Eye
Pink FloydWish You Were Here
Bad CompanyStraight Shooter
RenaissanceScheherazade and Other Stories
Roy HarperHQ
Edgar Broughton BandA Bunch of 45s
The Greatest Show on EarthThe Greatest Show on Earth
10ccThe Original Soundtrack
The Pretty ThingsS.F. Sorrow / Parachute, double reissue (UK version only)
Al StewartModern Times
WingsVenus and Mars
Alberto y Lost Trios ParanoiasAlberto y Lost Trios Paranoias
CaravanCunning Stunts
SassafrasWheelin 'n' Dealin
Bob SargeantFirst Starring Role
StrifeRush
The WinkiesThe Winkies
SolutionCordon Bleu
Dave EdmundsSubtle as a Flying Mallet
The ShadowsSpecs Appeal
1976AC/DCDirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (International edition)
Golden EarringTo the Hilt
MontroseJump on It
Kevin CoyneHeartburn
WingsWings at the Speed of Sound
Al StewartYear of the Cat
The Alan Parsons ProjectTales of Mystery and Imagination
Black SabbathTechnical Ecstasy
GenesisA Trick of the Tail
10ccHow Dare You!
Led ZeppelinThe Song Remains the Same
Led ZeppelinPresence
Brand XUnorthodox Behaviour
WingsWings over America
Jon AndersonOlias of Sunhillow
NazarethClose Enough for Rock 'n' Roll
UFONo Heavy Petting
Wishbone AshNew England
GenesisWind & Wuthering
John MilesStranger in the City
The HolliesRussian Roulette
1977Wishbone AshFront Page News
Justin HaywardSongwriter
UFOLights Out
The Alan Parsons ProjectI Robot
10ccDeceptive Bends
Roy HarperBullinamingvase
Brand XMoroccan Roll
Livestock
Sammy HagarSammy Hagar
Al StewartThe Early Years
Sammy HagarMusical Chairs
Bad CompanyBurnin' Sky
Pink FloydAnimals
Electric Light OrchestraThe Light Shines On
Peter GabrielPeter Gabriel (I) (aka "Car")
YesGoing for the One
Fabulous PoodlesMirror Stars
Steve Harley & Cockney RebelFace to Face: A Live Recording
HawkwindQuark, Strangeness and Charm
SpaceDeliverance
Status QuoLive!
StrawbsDeadlines
The Moody BluesCaught Live + 5
Paul McCartney (as "Percy 'Thrills' Thrillington")Thrillington
Wishbone AshClassic Ash
[[rowspan="28" |1978Manset2870
PezbandLaughing in the Dark
Be-Bop DeluxeDrastic Plastic
Richard WrightWet Dream
David GilmourDavid Gilmour
StyxPieces of Eight
WingsWings Greatest
Todd RundgrenBack to the Bars
XTCGo 2
Robin TrowerCaravan to Midnight
YesTormato
Genesis…And Then There Were Three…
Wishbone AshNo Smoke Without Fire
Peter GabrielPeter Gabriel (II) (aka "Scratch")
Al StewartTime Passages
The Alan Parsons ProjectPyramid
Black SabbathNever Say Die!
RenaissanceA Song for All Seasons
SynergyCords
UFOObsession
10ccBloody Tourists
The MotorsApproved by the Motors (version 2)[13]
John MilesZaragon
Hot ChocolateEvery 1's a Winner
The Walker BrothersNite Flights
WingsLondon Town
Gerry RaffertyGerry Rafferty
NovalisVielleicht Bist Du Ein Clown?
1979UFOStrangers in the Night
ScorpionsLovedrive
The Alan Parsons ProjectEve
Bad CompanyDesolation Angels
The DukesThe Dukes
Edgar Broughton BandParlez-Vous English (as The Broughtons)
10ccGreatest Hits 1972–1978
Led ZeppelinIn Through the Out Door
Brand XProduct
Manfred Mann's Earth BandAngel Station
Gary BrookerNo More Fear of Flying
Steve HillageLive Herald
Godley & CremeFreeze Frame
U.K.Danger Money
Mick TaylorMick Taylor
AshraCorrelations
Ralph McTellSlide Away the Screen
Throbbing Gristle20 Jazz Funk Greats
Judie TzukeWelcome to the Cruise
WingsBack to the Egg
SynergyGames
1980The Michael Schenker GroupThe Michael Schenker Group
The Pretty ThingsCross Talk
Brand XDo They Hurt?
Mike RutherfordSmallcreep's Day
10ccLook Hear?
Peter GabrielPeter Gabriel (III) (aka "Melt")
ScorpionsAnimal Magnetism
UFONo Place to Run
John WettonCaught in the Crossfire
Wishbone AshJust Testing
Leo SayerLiving in a Fantasy
The PoliceDe Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
Wishbone AshLive Dates 2
1981UFOThe Wild, the Willing and the Innocent
Pink FloydA Collection of Great Dance Songs
RainbowDifficult to Cure
Nick MasonFictitious Sports
Roger TaylorFun in Space
Def LeppardHigh 'n' Dry
Yumi MatsutoyaSakuban Oaisimashō
Herman RarebellNip in the Bud
Cozy PowellTilt
Rick Wakeman1984
1982John McLaughlinMusic Spoken Here
Paul McCartneyTug of War
RainbowStraight Between the Eyes
The Alan Parsons ProjectEye in the Sky
Bad CompanyRough Diamonds
Led ZeppelinCoda
1983RainbowBent Out of Shape
Yumi MatsutoyaVOYAGER

References

  1. "Helen Donlon interviews Hipgnosis". londongrip.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  2. The photodesigns of Hipgnosis The Goodbye look. Vermillion Hutchinson Publishing Group. 1982 ISBN 0 091506417
  3. Gioia, Ted (8 December 2014). "The Golden Age of Rock Album Covers". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  4. Thorgerson, S: Hipgnosis • Walk Away René, page 87. Paper Tiger, 1978.
  5. Sweeting, Adam (18 April 2013). "Storm Thorgerson dies aged 69: 'the best album designer in the world' – Art and design – guardian.co.uk". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  6. "Bug Jack Barron – book 1970". Hipgnosiscovers.com.
  7. "Biography". rdevans.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  8. "George Hardie | Alumni and associates | Arts and Humanities". Arts.brighton.ac.uk. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  9. "Hipgnosis album cover art". Richard Manning. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  10. Perrin, Jean-Éric [in French]; Rey, Jerôme; Verlant, Gilles (2009). Les Miscellanées du rock (in French). Paris: Éditions Fetjaine / La Martinière. p. 154. ISBN 9782354251307. [L]es deux de Hipgnosis avaient la particularité de ne pas réclamer de cachet fixe, mais de demander aux groupes de leur payer ce qu'ils estimaient être la valeur de leur travail! (The italics are present in the original.)
  11. "The Eye Of The Storm | Storm Thorgerson Exhibition". For Arts Sake. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  12. "LED ZEPPELIN 50th Anniversary | Create your playlist". lz50.ledzeppelin.com. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  13. Version 1 of the album shows an image of all four members. This first cover was designed by Cooke Key Associates. After Ricky Slaughter and Bram Tchaikovsky left The Motors the album was reissued with a new cover. That new cover is designed by Hipgnosis.
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