some things apparently improve with age

I had grim memories of how bad this record sleeve I drew for the band Sukpatch twenty odd years ago was, but coming across it on eBay it was not as bad as I recalled it. The circumstances were probably the main problem - I was staying with a band member in, um, where was it? Cincinnati? It was after a Cannanes show and he asked me if I'd draw the cover of their new record for them. Of course I was honoured and Denise Drysdalishly I never say no to anything. But it was late, I was tired, and he and his girlfriend were smoking reputedly killer pot which I wanted some of. Or perhaps, of which wanted some I. I did this instead. It's weird that I, who have had a million opportunities to smoke pot and declined, because it makes me weird, paranoid, tense and unhappy, would somehow remember that particular time for that particular issue. Anyway. This record cover has no meaning or purpose, except to put a record in, it's not particularly attractive, but it's enough of a curate's egg for me to now feel some affection for it. OK, as you were.

(Later: I note with wistful rue that I had actually already blogged about this, four years ago. I take solace from the fact that, although I had forgotten telling the story before, I told pretty much the same story, which means it must be either true or reaffirmed with constant retelling.) 

some of my drawings for record covers, 1986-2010 pt I

Over the centuries I have been asked, but more commonly taken it upon myself, to draw covers for various records. Because this happened again recently I fell to contemplating earlier efforts and scanned some here for you to enjoy.

I am not sure if you'd enjoy this one more or less by the fact that you can barely see it in this image. This is a compilation album called Periscope from 1994 - in fact, I dated it as executed on my 29th birthday. It depicts one creature using another as a periscope by peering into its anus and apparently seeing out the end of its tail. My fond memory relating to this image is that, when it was on sale at (I think I recall this bit right) the Yo Yo A Go Go festival a stall operator witnessed a prospective customer pick up the CD, regard the image and comment to his or herself 'ass-looker'.

This is an early effort also Olympia-related. I was allowed two colours so tried to evoke the feel of the ice cream huts I recalled from early childhood. Calvin Johnson had come up with the term 'lo-fi' and it was a novelty concept you had to think about and deduce as the opposite of hi-fi. This was 1986.


This was a commissioned illustration for an EP released on the Japanese label Clover Records almost a decade ago (the picture is dated 25 April 2001). When I came across this I couldn't remember it at all, it's called Melbourne Holiday. I tried to find a picture of the record online and what I found suggests the illustration was not used. Clearly I put a lot of work into it but it is arguably not really on topic, though presumably I was asked to do whatever I felt like.


This is the cover of the Huon single 'Fluoro'. This was a single from an LP released roughly at the same time and the two were conceptually related, but it's too big to scan.


This is one side of the single. I was about to say I couldn't imagine why I'd chosen the Chrissie Amphlett reference then I got it. Fluoro. Very clever.


Another rejected design, which is a shame because it was for one of my favourite bands. This time I did get a reason for the rejection: 'Mark didn't like it'. Though the person who relayed this was, by the way, the most amazing liar I have ever met, so who really knows. This isn't a great cover but what was used instead was gross and banal.