What exactly is the story of the Frontiers album artwork?

by **tammy** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:33 pm

Today I was listening to the radio in the car and the DJ was doing a trivia question thing about what album art cover cost $60,000. I had to drop my kid off and when I got back in the car "Faithfully" was playing. I listened for another 1/2 hr and never heard the answer...so, does anyone know? Since Faithfully was playing it made me wonder if it was Frontiers....and, now what is the inspiration for this design anyway?

by **Glenn** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:34 pm

tammy wrote:Today I was listening to the radio in the car and the DJ was doing a trivia question thing about what album art cover cost $60,000. I had to drop my kid off and when I got back in the car "Faithfully" was playing. I listened for another 1/2 hr and never heard the answer...so, does anyone know? Since Faithfully was playing it made me wonder if it was Frontiers....and, now what is the inspiration for this design anyway?

From what I know it had artwork already done and Perry wanted it changed to that alien dude.

I'd love to see what the original looked like.

by **jrnyfan@nc.rr.com** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:55 am

His name is "Elmo" (thus Elmo's Theme opened the Frontiers tour shows) and didn't I always hear he's to be the driver of the scarab?

by **Saint John** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:58 am

I believe Andrew posted the original art wrok in the Herbie interview a while back. Big mistake by Perry. The original artwork was so much better. The Frontiers cover is one of the worst in the history of rock. WTF is that thing?

by **mikemarrs** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:11 am

two huge mistakes were made....

1.taking off only the young and ask the lonely for two other songs.

2.changing the artwork

by **Rick** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:16 am

Saint John wrote:I believe Andrew posted the original art wrok in the Herbie interview a while back. Big mistake by Perry. The original artwork was so much better. The Frontiers cover is one of the worst in the history of rock. WTF is that thing?

He posted an alternate ROR artwork. I'd like to see the Frontiers one also.

Here's the ROR art.

by **Hollywood** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:18 am

Andrew did not post original Frontiers artwork, although he did post one of the alternate ROR covers. I have looked high and low for an image of the original Frontiers cover and have never seen it. I know it was designed by Kelley/Mouse. For me I’m just curious more than anything as I am TOTALLY biased. I love the Frontiers cover more than any other. This is probably due to the fact that it was my first exposure to Journey. I was 9 and starting noticing music and my brother gave me a Frontiers button to wear to school and I was hooked.

If any one has it or knows where to see please share with us.

by **Tito** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:28 am

Saint John wrote:I believe Andrew posted the original art wrok in the Herbie interview a while back. Big mistake by Perry. The original artwork was so much better. The Frontiers cover is one of the worst in the history of rock. WTF is that thing?

I actually like the little f-cker. I think they missed out on some marketing opportunities with it. They should've made masks and/or helmets for the fans to buy and wear. Comparable to this http://www.styxcollector.com/roboto.html . I still think they should find a hockey goalie who is a fan and they could have their goalie masks like Elmo and one has scarab too, comparable to this: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multim ... ent.1.html

Both could probably still be done. Although sale of the Elmo mask for fans would not be that great now. Would've been better back then.

As an aside, I forgot Elmo was also going to have an appreciation thread.

by **Tito** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:54 am

by **Rick** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:59 am

by **Michigan Girl** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:10 am

Rick wrote:

Best looking Aliens I've ever seen!!!! :wink:

by **Tito** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:10 am

I saw some guy wearing that shirt last week too. It's popular.

by **Rick** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:22 am

Tito wrote:I saw some guy wearing that shirt last week too. It's popular.

Debbie got it at Walmart for like $8.

by **Saint John** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:26 am

Rick wrote:
He posted an alternate ROR artwork.

He sure as shit did.

by **RedWingFan** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:29 am

Saint John wrote:
Rick wrote:
He posted an alternate ROR artwork.

He sure as shit did.

Don't feel bad dude. You were one of the first to predict Arnel.....aah, nevermind. :lol:

by **tammy** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:43 am

So no one has seen the original Frontiers cover? Any description? Is this an alien (aka Elmo) or does it have to do with the movie, "Tron" which had a Journey song in it? Still curious to know the trivia answer to what album cover cost $60,000.

by **Rick** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:39 am

tammy wrote:So no one has seen the original Frontiers cover? Any description? Is this an alien (aka Elmo) or does it have to do with the movie, "Tron" which had a Journey song in it? Still curious to know the trivia answer to what album cover cost $60,000.

It was a typical scarab based Journey styled album cover is what I heard.

by **Monker** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:38 pm

Tito wrote: I still think they should find a hockey goalie who is a fan and they could have their goalie masks like Elmo and one has scarab too

Yeah, Jason on Friday 13 would have looked a lot scarier, too.

by **Matthew** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:14 pm

Come on...the band HAD to get rid of all the scarab and flames and feathers imagery. In 1983 it would have seemed incredibly dated....

by **Glenn** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:27 am

Matthew wrote:Come on...the band HAD to get rid of all the scarab and flames and feathers imagery. In 1983 it would have seemed incredibly dated....

No more so than the Frontiers cover with Elmo and the ROR cover.

Should have gone with the plan...

I'd also like to see what the Liberty album cover looks like.

by **Matthew** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:07 am

JSS Rocks! wrote:
Matthew wrote:Come on...the band HAD to get rid of all the scarab and flames and feathers imagery. In 1983 it would have seemed incredibly dated....

No more so than the Frontiers cover with Elmo and the ROR cover.

Should have gone with the plan...

I'd also like to see what the Liberty album cover looks like.

I'm not talking about now JSS Rocks. The Frontiers cover looks more dated now than all those quasi-mystical, stonerish covers that came before it...but in 1983 a scarab with feathers on it would been as stylish and commercial as wearing flares....

by **Lora** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:48 am

I don't recall that there ever was an alternate album cover for Frontiers. That cover was designed by Journey's then in-house graphic artist, Jim Welch. The alien dude on the cover was dubbed "Elmo" as some said there was a resemblance between him and Elmer Fudd. They even made up a crew t-shirt with a morphed image of the Frontiers alien and Mr. Fudd. If I can find my shirt, I'll put up a pic of it.

by **StoneCold** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:01 am

Lora wrote:I don't recall that there ever was an alternate album cover for Frontiers. That cover was designed by Journey's then in-house graphic artist, Jim Welch. The alien dude on the cover was dubbed "Elmo" as some said there was a resemblance between him and Elmer Fudd. They even made up a crew t-shirt with a morphed image of the Frontiers alien and Mr. Fudd. If I can find my shirt, I'll put up a pic of it.

Do you know why Mouse didn't do one for Frontiers?

by **Lora** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:56 am

StoneCold wrote:
Lora wrote:I don't recall that there ever was an alternate album cover for Frontiers. That cover was designed by Journey's then in-house graphic artist, Jim Welch. The alien dude on the cover was dubbed "Elmo" as some said there was a resemblance between him and Elmer Fudd. They even made up a crew t-shirt with a morphed image of the Frontiers alien and Mr. Fudd. If I can find my shirt, I'll put up a pic of it.

Do you know why Mouse didn't do one for Frontiers?

If I ever knew I don't recall now.

by **StoneCold** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:35 am

Lora wrote:
StoneCold wrote:
Lora wrote:I don't recall that there ever was an alternate album cover for Frontiers. That cover was designed by Journey's then in-house graphic artist, Jim Welch. The alien dude on the cover was dubbed "Elmo" as some said there was a resemblance between him and Elmer Fudd. They even made up a crew t-shirt with a morphed image of the Frontiers alien and Mr. Fudd. If I can find my shirt, I'll put up a pic of it.

Do you know why Mouse didn't do one for Frontiers?

If I ever knew I don't recall now.

Thanks. I always liked his work.

Welch did a good job on the Frontiers cover. I remember friends saying what the heck is this but Star Wars was in full swing so they liked it.

by **ParkRNDL** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:01 am

StoneCold wrote:
Lora wrote:I don't recall that there ever was an alternate album cover for Frontiers. That cover was designed by Journey's then in-house graphic artist, Jim Welch. The alien dude on the cover was dubbed "Elmo" as some said there was a resemblance between him and Elmer Fudd. They even made up a crew t-shirt with a morphed image of the Frontiers alien and Mr. Fudd. If I can find my shirt, I'll put up a pic of it.

Do you know why Mouse didn't do one for Frontiers?

In at least one of the interviews with Herbie Herbert, he says that there WAS a Mouse cover all ready to go for Frontiers (he actually says it was by Kelley/Mouse, whoever Kelley was) but Steve Perry vetoed it and that was why the Elmo one came to be, although HH got them to keep the Frontiers name. Also, according to HH's grand plan, the followup to Frontiers was to be named Freedom and the art would presumably would have continued the scarab theme, but SP took creative control and changed the plan...

(I just read these interviews last night... they were pretty cool...)

--rick

by **bru87tr** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:34 pm

so does anyone have a pic of the original cover ?

seems like myth to me. for years I have heard of it but still no one can produce.

like the ROR cover, cant say I like it over the one used. but very cool.

by **tammy** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:23 am

Lora wrote:I don't recall that there ever was an alternate album cover for Frontiers. That cover was designed by Journey's then in-house graphic artist, Jim Welch. The alien dude on the cover was dubbed "Elmo" as some said there was a resemblance between him and Elmer Fudd. They even made up a crew t-shirt with a morphed image of the Frontiers alien and Mr. Fudd. If I can find my shirt, I'll put up a pic of it.

So that's how it got the name, Elmo...hope you find your shirt, Lora. You must have a lot of nifty stuff.

(p.s. it was great to finally meet you and chat a bit last week)

by **AnnieOprah** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:30 am

Hollywood wrote:Andrew did not post original Frontiers artwork, although he did post one of the alternate ROR covers. I have looked high and low for an image of the original Frontiers cover and have never seen it. I know it was designed by Kelley/Mouse. For me I’m just curious more than anything as I am TOTALLY biased. I love the Frontiers cover more than any other. This is probably due to the fact that it was my first exposure to Journey. I was 9 and starting noticing music and my brother gave me a Frontiers button to wear to school and I was hooked.

If any one has it or knows where to see please share with us.

I jus thought it was weird (and I remember Rolling Stone noting this) that in the span of 2 weeks, the two biggest bands in the US at the time, Journey and Styx, released seperate albums both with Robot looking dudes on them...

by **Art Vandelay** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:09 am

I do recall once seeing artwork on some Storm-related web page (I'm thinking either Kevin Chalfant on Ron Wikso's home page). Can't find it now.

Whoever the page belonged to, they said that Ross Valory had the artwork and passed it on to them. It was supposed to be artwork for a Journey album. It actually resembled the Revelation artwork, but with more sky blue.

Perhaps this was it? Or maybe that was for the Freedom album that eventually became ROR?

Hope this helps.

MR

What exactly is the story of the Frontiers album artwork?

What exactly is the story of the Frontiers album artwork?

Re: What exactly is the story of the Frontiers album artwork

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