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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsHappy 48th anniversary, this picture:
Album cover
The cover was designed by Apple Records creative director Kosh. It is the only original UK Beatles album sleeve to show neither the artist name nor the album title on its front cover, which was Kosh's idea, despite EMI claiming the record would not sell without this information. He later explained that "we didn't need to write the band's name on the cover ... They were the most famous band in the world".
Imagery
The front cover design, a photograph of the group on a zebra crossing, was based on ideas sketched by McCartney, and taken on 8 August 1969 outside EMI Studios in Abbey Road. At 11:35 that morning, photographer Iain Macmillan was given only ten minutes to take the photo whilst he stood on a step-ladder and a policeman held up traffic behind the camera. Macmillan took six photographs, which McCartney later examined with a magnifying glass before deciding which of the shots would be used upon the album sleeve.
In the image selected by McCartney, the group walk across the street in single file from left to right, with Lennon leading, followed by Starr, McCartney, and Harrison. McCartney is barefoot and out of step with the other members. Apart from Harrison, the group are wearing suits designed by Tommy Nutter. To the left of the picture, parked next to the zebra crossing, is a white Volkswagen Beetle which belonged to one of the people living in the block of flats across from the recording studio. After the album was released, the number plate (LMW 281F) was stolen repeatedly from the car. In 1986, the car was sold at auction for £2,530 and in 2001 was on display in a museum in Germany. The man standing on the pavement to the right of the picture is Paul Cole (7 July 1911 13 February 2008), an American tourist unaware he had been photographed until he saw the album cover months later. On the original cover, McCartney holds a cigarette; in 2003 several US poster companies airbrushed this cigarette out of the image, without permission from either Apple or McCartney.
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Happy 48th anniversary, this picture: (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
Aug 2017
OP
You're welcome. I collect Beatles photos, digitally, and so there are few
Dark n Stormy Knight
Aug 2017
#5
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)1. K&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t
DonaldsRump
(7,715 posts)2. 1962-1969
I simply love the Beatles.
Listening to their albums from the early 1960's until this one in 1969 reveals an almost a perfect progression of people growing in wisdom, maturity, and musicality. You can literally hear them growing up.
Happy Anniversary, Fab Four!
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,771 posts)3. Fun to look at some of the outtakes from that shoot.
Pretty complete set here: http://www.shootingfilm.net/2013/04/behind-scenes-of-iconic-abbey-road.html
VOX
(22,976 posts)4. Terrific! Never saw these (until now). Thank you! n/t
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,771 posts)5. You're welcome. I collect Beatles photos, digitally, and so there are few
I haven't seen. Always a treat when a few new-to-me ones crop up, though. Happy to supply that sort of a treat to others!
zanana1
(6,125 posts)6. That's my favorite Beatles album. nt