The thread about colourful album covers mentioned the cover to Spinal Tap’s “Smell the Glove”, which, as you may know, is all black. Now here’s something I’ve been wondering for a long time: was the cover to Metallica’s eponymous album (frequently referred to as “the black album”) some sort of tribute or reference to Smell the Glove? I know the black album isn’t completely black, as you can see “Metallica” and a picture of a snake on it if you hold it to the light, but still. Does anyone know?
I thought this was going to be about Prince’s The Black Album.
It’s very possible that Metallixa was influenced by Spinal Tap for theri album cover, but other all-black covers had been done before. Comedian Murray Roman’s album Blind Man’s Movie, from circa 1969 or '70, not only had an all-black gatefold cover, but even had all-black pages bound inside. There was also a popular Beatles bootleg that closely parodied the “White Album” cover (complete with inserts and embossed logo), only in black.
I thought this was going to be about Prince’s The Black Album.
It’s very possible that Metallixa was influenced by Spinal Tap for theri album cover, but other all-black covers had been done before. Comedian Murray Roman’s album Blind Man’s Movie, from circa 1969 or '70, not only had an all-black gatefold cover, but even had all-black pages bound inside. There was also a popular Beatles bootleg that closely parodied the “White Album” cover (complete with inserts and embossed logo), only in black.
Strange–I definitely hit “Submit” only once, but it was taking so long to post that I finally had to log off and leave for work. But even with the double post, the Cafe Society page says there are no replies. So I’m only posting this to bump the thread up so Short Guy will know his question hasn’t been ignored!
Thanks for the info, Biffy. I sort of had the feeling there had to be other “black albums” before that.
Didn’t AC/DC have an album cover that was totally back with just an embossed AC/DC on it? Or was I high?
Read “back” as “black” – which reminds me…
Yes and yes. Back in Black had a cover that was all… umm… black.
hrh
What about the back?
Talking Heads’ Fear of Music was all black, except for the band name and title in the corner. The LP did have a simple repetitive pattern embossed on the cover, though that was also black. That came out in 1979.
I have seen the members of Metallica and Spinal Tap discuss this very point. Both bands played at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert that took place shortly after his death. It was a huge event in England, and was broadcast live on T.V. Quite what Spinal Tap were doing there I don’t know- but anyway. They had a backstage chance meeting with Metallica, and one of the Tap boys did raise the issue of Metallica “stealing” their album cover. Metallica seemed to take it well, and did, if memory serves me correctly, suggest it had been meant purely as a “tribute” to the mighty Spinal Tap, although I think they were rather bemused that Tap were there too.
You have to ask yourself, “how much more black could it be? And the answer is none. None more black.”
I guess I will be the first to mention the obvious:
The Beatles’ album know as “the white album” had not title other than “The Beatles”, which was embossed (not printed) on the plain white cover. Metallica’s album was most likely based on that, except using black instead of white. Not that they were necessarily the first to do so.
Believe it or not, English is my first language :rolleyes: