15
votes
Why does Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" album cover show someone spontaneously combusting?
It looks like the Wikipedia article for the Wish You Were Here album has a section on the reasoning behind the cover art. Some excerpts:
The concept behind "Welcome to the Machine" and "Have a ...
- 4,325
13
votes
Accepted
What do the symbols mean on Led Zeppelins iconic fourth album?
Plant, Jones and Bonham have long been explained. The answers on the Wiki page are canonical.
Jones' symbol, which he chose from Rudolf Koch's Book of Signs, is a single circle intersecting three ...
- 7,119
8
votes
Why does Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" album cover show someone spontaneously combusting?
The album artwork has four images, two on the cover and two on the inner sleeve. Each of the pictures references one of the four elements:
Fire
Earth
Air
Water.
I don't think it goes any deeper ...
- 89
8
votes
Why do artists not release backing tracks, instrumentals, and acapellas in their singles?
I like the way you think. It makes perfect sense on the surface. But the music industry and legalities surrounding it are complex. There are a few reasons why this practice has not become common in ...
- 324
7
votes
Accepted
Was Miles Davis involved with free jazz?
I think what you're looking for is Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet, which, aside from Davis, featured four young, untried musicians:
Ron Carter — bass
Tony Williams — drums
Herbie Hancock — piano
...
- 4,325
7
votes
What makes an album "deluxe"?
Wikipdia has a general page called Special Edition, which also contains a good definition of Deluxe Editions.
In terms of musical albums, the term "deluxe edition" refers to a re-release of ...
- 1,163
6
votes
Too much similar music nowadays
There are really 3 separate answers to this question:
It "all sounds the same" is a common complaint for unfamiliar
genres. When you first hear a style of music you are unfamiliar
with, all you ...
- 15.3k
6
votes
Accepted
Which album's inside cover featured a policeman running after the band on a motorcycle?
I found the answer. The art is featured on the inside cover of the Chicago X album.
I miss the days when albums came with great art. Here's a scan:
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6
votes
Accepted
Most studio album releases before finally scoring a number one album?
I believe I've found an answer to this that should be very hard to counter: David Bowie. The last release in his lifetime, Blackstar, was put out on January 8, 2016, two days before his death. It was ...
- 4,325
5
votes
Accepted
Why does Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" album cover show someone spontaneously combusting?
This isn't a definitive answer, but the album's lyrical content suggests existential themes of reaching out for some kind of genuine human connection within contexts that are dehumanized, ...
- 15.3k
5
votes
One-colour album cover with nothing else that one colour (no writings, no shades)?
If the "Explicit Lyrics" sticker doesn't count, then Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 album has a completely black cover.
According to Wikipedia:
[the album] ...
5
votes
One-colour album cover with nothing else that one colour (no writings, no shades)?
Depends on the edition, but Prince's Black Album has typically been released with a fully black cover and just a sticker. It peaked at 47 on December 10th, 1994.
Another all-black one is the This is ...
4
votes
Accepted
What are the nights in the Eric Clapton's 24 nights album?
From Wikipedia:
The album is a "best of" from the 42 concerts Eric Clapton did at the
Royal Albert Hall in those two years. Clapton set a record by playing
a run of 24 nights at the London ...
- 2,845
4
votes
Accepted
What was the first "band xxx performs album yyy in its entirety" type of event?
From my preliminary research, which includes a Quora question, a RateYourMusic list, and a couple of other references, it seems like it may have been The Who, who played their classic double album ...
- 4,325
4
votes
Was "Interstella 5555" the first film that visually realized an album?
The Who released both Tommy and Quadrophenia, which were eventually made into movies. Tommy, the album, was released in 1969 and Quadrophenia in 1973. The movies were released in 1975 and 1979 ...
- 7,119
4
votes
Accepted
Albums for classical songs played by electric guitar?
Uli Jon Roth is your man.
In his album Metamorphosis of Vivaldi's Four Seasons
he plays his version of Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
Also there is his album Prologue to the symphonic legends
in which he ...
- 915
4
votes
Accepted
What is the role of an A&R credit in an album?
From Wikipedia:
Artists and repertoire (colloquially abbreviated to A&R) is the division of a record label or music publishing company that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the ...
- 56
3
votes
What's the difference between a record and an album?
My understanding is that a 'record' could refer to any recording that was pressed onto a vinyl disc. It could mean a single song, or a collection. The capacity of the discs changed as the technology ...
- 31
3
votes
What is the difference between a LP and an EP?
EP's are either shorter than twenty-five minutes or less than four songs (not counting alternative versions of featured songs, if present).
- 31
3
votes
What was the first "band xxx performs album yyy in its entirety" type of event?
Reasoning: It's a great way of re-selling an old artist 'back from the wilderness' but with nothing new on offer.
Who first: I bet that's going to be harder to nail down - there's been a huge ...
- 7,685
3
votes
Is it implied that a publisher also holds the copyright of a song?
The above means the copyright is held by EMI Blackwood Music and Dam Rich Music.
The owner of copyright differs depending on the contract. The copyright holder is not always the same as the ...
- 74
3
votes
Too much similar music nowadays
I think part of the problem with "pop music" in the "chart sense" or "x factor" sense is the production process.
Everyone "sounds" the same. There's not a lot of sonic diversity.
The same digital ...
- 31
3
votes
Shortest album in length?
I believe that Elvis Presley's "It Happened at the World's Fair" held this record officially for some years. According to Wikipedia, it is 21:21 in total, somewhat longer than Billy Bragg ...
- 721
3
votes
1953 Loretta Young Decca Records The Littlest Angel
The front sleeve says NORKIN, what does that mean?
Sam Norkin (1917-2011), was an artist who created over 4000 published drawings.
Sam Norkin was also hired to create many record covers over the ...
- 164
3
votes
Accepted
Does the artist name need to be on an album cover?
Does the artist['s] name need to be on an album cover?
No.
Is there a rule that governs this?
Sure. Some form of some name should be on the cover or spine or people won't know what they're buying; ...
- 193
2
votes
Albums for classical songs played by electric guitar?
For Vivaldi's "Four seasons", try albums by At Vance:
No Escape, featuring "Summer"
Only Human, - featuring "Spring"
Ride The Sky, featuring "Summer" (another version)
There are other classical ...
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Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible