About Journey's albums artwork

[*Laura]

Here's an interesting interview with Jim Welch,one of the guys that along with Mouse and Kelly was responsible for creating Journey's artwork back in the days.

http://members.tripod.com/~jrnyfan/welchinterview.html


He confirms what we already knew...Nice way to say it..

"These guys toured constantly and literally won fans throughout the USA without a hit song. They worked their butts off. They had ideas, but their schedules did not permit much in the way of directing any of the album art. They were thrilled with the quality of art and design in those days. They went along with management."


Looks like Welch was the one responsible for the "Elmo" symbol on the Frontiers cover...I wonder if it was entirely his idea,or SP had it and asked him to work on it?

"Mouse and Kelley were not involved with that cover. My vision for Frontiers was based on "tunnels" and the relativity of time and motion. Light stays the same, but time bends. It was Einstein theories for artist interpretation. The alien in Frontiers wasn't really an alien at all, he was a connection to a higher level of listening to Journey. We called him "Elmo".

[Shadowsong]

Steve Perry was involved either in real time or in hyperspace.
The man like his voice is forever reaching beyond the limits
It is his destiny to temper sound & time
His voice bending the reality of our illusion
His being just a transendental tribute to mankind

[NealIsGod]

Too deep for me. I like album covers like the one BJ should have used for this album...

[Matthew]

"Mouse and Kelley were not involved with that cover. My vision for Frontiers was based on "tunnels" and the relativity of time and motion. Light stays the same, but time bends. It was Einstein theories for artist interpretation. The alien in Frontiers wasn't really an alien at all, he was a connection to a higher level of listening to Journey. We called him "Elmo".

This has to be the most pretentious quote I've heard all year. Shame the guy could barely draw.

[*Laura]

Where's Fyre?

[Matthew]

Where's Fyre?

He'll be ALL OVER this thread when he discovers it.

[ohsherrie]

Where's Fyre?

Shhhhhhhhh, Laura. Don't call his name.

[Deb]

Too deep for me. I like album covers like the one BJ should have used for this album...

LOL, I remember that NIG. I remember JBJ talking about that cover in an interview. It was considered to risque for some back then, so they wanted them to come up with something else and running out of time he just ended up spelling out the words Slippery When Wet with his finger on a wet garbage bag.

[Ms_M]

Too deep for me. I like album covers like the one BJ should have used for this album...

LOL, I remember that NIG. I remember JBJ talking about that cover in an interview. It was considered to risque for some back then, so they wanted them to come up with something else and running out of time he just ended up spelling out the words Slippery When Wet with his finger on a wet garbage bag.

That just shows how much things have changed. By today's standards, that's about a "G" rated cover.

[cyndy!]

trivia time. do you all know how the name elmo came about?

[Lora]

trivia time. do you all know how the name elmo came about?

I do, I do, I do. Oh wait. I'm disqualified, huh.

[Rockindeano]

Oh look, the wonder women are here at the same time. Thanks for checking in.

You two have any idea what I would do to you if we were naked and partying?

[Saint John]

Oh look, the wonder women are here at the same time. Thanks for checking in.

You two have any idea what I would do to you if we were naked and partying?

Watch hockey?

[Lora]

Oh look, the wonder women are here at the same time. Thanks for checking in.

You two have any idea what I would do to you if we were naked and partying?

I think you are confusing me with the chick in the Slippery When Wet tee.

[Rockindeano]

Oh look, the wonder women are here at the same time. Thanks for checking in.

You two have any idea what I would do to you if we were naked and partying?

I think you are confusing me with the chick in the Slippery When Wet tee.

I thought that was you? You know I have a super duper crush on you. If not for the Twinkies enroute, aw, nevermind

[Lora]

Oh look, the wonder women are here at the same time. Thanks for checking in.

You two have any idea what I would do to you if we were naked and partying?

I think you are confusing me with the chick in the Slippery When Wet tee.

I thought that was you? You know I have a super duper crush on you. If not for the Twinkies enroute, aw, nevermind

awwwww. That's so sweet. We're heading off to dinner now but expect to see someone tackle that triva question soon!

[Rockindeano]

Oh look, the wonder women are here at the same time. Thanks for checking in.

You two have any idea what I would do to you if we were naked and partying?

I think you are confusing me with the chick in the Slippery When Wet tee.

I thought that was you? You know I have a super duper crush on you. If not for the Twinkies enroute, aw, nevermind

awwwww. That's so sweet. We're heading off to dinner now but expect to see someone tackle that triva question soon!

Next time we go out, dinner is on YOU two!

[Shadowsong]

Let's see

Hmmmm

Could it be....

Extra Lettuce Mayo Onion....

Hold the pickle.

[Playitloudforme]

I remember a radio thing they did and there was talk of Christmas toys, Tickle me Elmo being one of them... is that it?

[cyndy!]

I remember a radio thing they did and there was talk of Christmas toys, Tickle me Elmo being one of them... is that it?

nope. i think tickle me elmo was born way after frontiers was released.

[Playitloudforme]

I remember a radio thing they did and there was talk of Christmas toys, Tickle me Elmo being one of them... is that it?

nope. i think tickle me elmo was born way after frontiers was released.

I tried.. thanks tho!

[tammy]

Wasn't Jon the one to name it Elmo?

[Wildfire]

Cyndy, tell us the answer??????

[ProgRocker53]

I'm almost looking forward to the new album art just as much as the new music!

[Rick]

I'm almost looking forward to the new album art just as much as the new music!

That's funny. Me too! What's the scarab going to be up to on this one?

[Carlitto H@kk]

I'm almost looking forward to the new album art just as much as the new music!

That's funny. Me too! What's the scarab going to be up to on this one?

Who knows...
I just have 3 wishes:

1. Get Mouse back onboard and let him work his magic.
2. Make sure its better than the generic bullshit that graced Generations.
3. Please don't let it resemble, in any shape or form, WyngDynger's Av

[ProgRocker53]

I think it's appropriate to finally give this album the title of the long-lost project that would've been the true continuation of the Journey legacy:

FREEDOM.

With "Winds of Freedom" we could have a decent 'title' track, and it would be excellent symbolism with Journey being "free" from the troubles they had with Augeri. Plus, in this day and age, a little Freedom goes a long way... it'd tie in perfectly to all kinds of things going on in the world.

Even though WOF is a bit ballady, it's still epic and strong.... it's certainly got me looking forward to the rest of the album already. Good work, guys!

Here's what should be on the cover, Christopher Payne's work:

[Rick]

I think it's appropriate to finally give this album the title of the long-lost project that would've been the true continuation of the Journey legacy:

FREEDOM.

With "Winds of Freedom" we could have a decent 'title' track, and it would be excellent symbolism with Journey being "free" from the troubles they had with Augeri. Plus, in this day and age, a little Freedom goes a long way... it'd tie in perfectly to all kinds of things going on in the world.

Even though WOF is a bit ballady, it's still epic and strong.... it's certainly got me looking forward to the rest of the album already. Good work, guys!

Here's what should be on the cover, Christopher Payne's work:

Not too bad at all. I had been thinking Freedom as well. It had been mentioned in previous threads as the odds on favorite. I like it.

[*Laura]

Freedom sounds good and makes a lot of sense.The American Scarab artwork looks great also.

Couldn't help thinking...After 20 years,Herbie's dream might come true.

[Wheels Of Fyre]

Where's Fyre?

Hey! How'd I miss this?

"Mouse and Kelley were not involved with that cover. My vision for Frontiers was based on "tunnels" and the relativity of time and motion. Light stays the same, but time bends. It was Einstein theories for artist interpretation. The alien in Frontiers wasn't really an alien at all, he was a connection to a higher level of listening to Journey. We called him "Elmo".

I agree - that's pretentious but you have to love it! Being a pertnetious windbag as myself I find it pretty cool.

Jesus said in the Gnostic Gospels that proof of God is in motion and rest. Ecclessiastes echoes this by illustrating that water (among other things) flows about in its circuits back to rest in the ocean from whence it comes. The idea of time and motion is another one of those JOURNEY themes I've always been fascinated with.

One of the cool things about Frontiers to me is the inclusion of the disk or circle. Every JOURNEY cover (except the debut) has a disk, circle, or sphere as either the direct or indirect focal point. Of course, Frontiers has a disk or perhaps more to Jim's description a tunnel that emits from Elmo's forehead - more precisely his "third eye" from which is believed to be the center and place from which psychic power comes.

The disk/tunnel in Elmo's head distorts its shape into nearly that of an alien "Grey" or even an egg. Of course, an egg is the shape of "creation". This is an ancient idea and representation. I've often wondered if the egg shape heads of the Greys came from that same part of the brain that recognizes the egg and "third eye". Perhaps the Greys are from the future and are actually what we're going to eventually evolve into...? Perhaps the Greys are our future and we've simply evolved enough to "see" them - or rather, us.

I doubt all of that but find it intriguing.

There are certain symbols that resonate and have always resonated with the human psyche. It's cool that JOURNEY has been able to employ some of them in their art. It's cool that people have been pretentious enough to plug them in! I don't think anyone can argue that JOURNEY's cover art is intriguing. I always find comments like "The cover for TBF sucks." Basically, I hear this as, "Nothing about the TBF cover resonates with me." I think Frontiers is simple and straight-forward. Many people dislike it as it departs from the beloved scarab however many others like it - I wonder why...?