Upcoming Xtc Vinyl Reissues - The Packaging, How far is too far? Options

[Andrew Swainson]

In tandem to Andy's thread about which XTC album you'd like to see next in line to get the boot polish applied, I thought I'd ask people's opinions on the packaging and specifically how far away from the original cover would be deemed acceptable.

Skylarking was unique in that the turquoise cover that everyone knew and loved was a last minute switcharoo and so the new vinyl version was released with a version of the cover closer to what Andy had originally envisioned. But titles like Drums and Wires, Oranges and Lemons and English Settlement have very striking (dare I say "iconic") sleeves that are, presumably, pretty much what Andy had in mind.

I know there were a few comments of outrage about the Dukes vinyls not being "exactly the same" as the originals but do you think they need to be exactly the same? I certainly don't imagine that future projects would stray that far away from the originals - definitely not to the same degree as Skylarking - but personally, as a fan, I'd like to see something new but retaining the "essence" of the original sleeves... English Settlement does have to be green and have the Uffington horse.

Thoughts?

[nightotter]

While I was not outraged by the Dukes reissuing being tattooed with "XTC as", it was a bummer that it had to be placed there, probably to make it more recognizable to general/newer fans. Part of the fun was that is was XTC in disguise, and...

...ok, well, you know what I mean.

Excellent question, about he rest of the albums. I don't see a need to improvise anything unless it has something to do with any extra elements that are need to make it a "deluxe" edition, such as pages for comments about the production and songs. I also wonder if Andy will split up a single album into two for better fidelity, like he did for Skylarking. That would change the original packaging. But I think the basic look (logo's, art, photos) should stay faithful to the originals for the most part.

This post has been edited by nightotter: Jan 10 2011, 10:30 PM

[Per Aronsson]

I certainly don't imagine that future projects would stray that far away from the originals - definitely not to the same degree as Skylarking - but personally, as a fan, I'd like to see something new but retaining the "essence" of the original sleeves...

I think that is a very good approach. I don´t mind at all changes in the original sleeves. If a change makes it better or more interesting or something else I am all for it.

A very challenging sleeve must be GO2. How much, if at all, can you change the words? The typography? The colour?

[Andrew Swainson]

I think that is a very good approach. I don´t mind at all changes in the original sleeves. If a change makes it better or more interesting or something else I am all for it.

A very challenging sleeve must be GO2. How much, if at all, can you change the words? The typography? The colour?

Well GO2 would have to be essentially the same but you could explore other ways of presenting the same design either through texture or with transparent overlays perhaps.

Otto - I believe that the "XTC as" was a stipulation of Virgin when handing over the vinyl rights.

[nightotter]

Otto - I believe that the "XTC as" was a stipulation of Virgin when handing over the vinyl rights.

Thanks Andrew. What was a surprise (maybe Andy deciding to put "XTC as" on the art), is no longer. That Virgin made it a stipulation is typical. One day a great Greek God (perhaps Norse), that was left out of the books for some reason, is going to come back to earth and smite all those who screwed with art in the name of commercialism.

Until then, I'll be having a beer, waiting...

This post has been edited by nightotter: Jan 11 2011, 01:29 AM

[Per Aronsson]

So many brilliant sleeves from XTC through the years. Drums & Wires, Apple Venus I and the the limited version of "Fossil Fuel" are personal faves. The title and the fossilied (?) plastic case is so cool and unexpected. I also dig Black Sea (much because it was the album that caught me) but it would be even better with the original title "Work Under Pressure". Too risky commercially, I suppose, to change the title for a remaster? Would be very confusing for those that don´t know the story.

[Tim Kendrick]

I actually like the idea of all new sleeve designs for each release.
I already have all the old vinyls...something different would be more appealing.

[Spastic Minnow]

I actually like the idea of all new sleeve designs for each release.
I already have all the old vinyls...something different would be more appealing.

The Nice thing about the book and gatefold cover designs is that it's quite easy and practical to have "two" front covers just like Skylarking did. The Original art can be on one side with the original back cover and track listing on the inside while the other side of the outer cover can have alternate cover art, possibly flipped so there isn't a real front cover and an alternate- the problem being that the sleeves in Skylarking open at the "top", you wouldn't want to flip the album art and have the LP fall out of the "bottom". Just about everyone who is buying these are already familiar with what songs are on the disc, we don't really need the remider on the back cover.

[Lenin McCarthy]

I actually like the idea of all new sleeve designs for each release.
I already have all the old vinyls...something different would be more appealing.

I like the idea of new designs too. It's something new to discover. The old covers are still there.

[Bimble]

One day a great Greek God (perhaps Norse), that was left out of the books for some reason, is going to come back to earth and smite all those who screwed with art in the name of commercialism.

He's going to be bloody busy.......

[sheph]

I think that is a very good approach. I don�t mind at all changes in the original sleeves. If a change makes it better or more interesting or something else I am all for it.

A very challenging sleeve must be GO2. How much, if at all, can you change the words? The typography? The colour?

Oh, no!!! Please don't. I love that cover. That's just simply awesome. The whole here's the whole marketing ploy while describing the marking ploy. It's brilliant. Do. not. change. that.

[sheph]

That's so silly. I have that Dukes of Stratosphere album (and it's wonderful by the way), but I have to file it under XTC now instead of Dukes because it's labeled that way. It screws up my whole flow. I have Chips from the Chocolate Fireball on CD and it's file under D and XTC as the Dukes of Stratosphere on LP under X. When I die, what are my kids going to do? They're going to be so confused (joking of course my oldest knows where everything goes).

This post has been edited by sheph: Oct 7 2011, 06:27 AM

[Mr Tein]

That's so silly. I have that Dukes of Stratosphere album (and it's wonderful by the way), but I have to file it under XTC now instead of Dukes because it's labeled that way. It screws up my whole flow. I have Chips from the Chocolate Fireball on CD and it's file under D and XTC as the Dukes of Stratosphere on LP under X. When I die, what are my kids going to do? They're going to be so confused (joking of course my oldest knows where everything goes).

Under D? Shouldnt it be under T for The Dukes... poor cataloging surely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[donavan]

My CD's and records are just filed where they land.