Polk Salad Annie (FTD)

[Manhattoe]

POLK SALAD ANNIE (FTD)


I wasn't too happy with the existing covers for this fine FTD release and so I decided to create one on my own.

However, it proved to be quite difficult to find adequate pictorial material from February 1970. Consequently, I had to make use of b/w-pix and decided to make the whole thing look like a hommage to the original On Stage LP cover.

I know some fellow designers here think that covers with a "simple" black background are not original, but in my eyes they still convey a live/showroom atmosphere better than designs with superimposed colors for colors' sake.

My intention was recreate a kind of Vegas feeling, with lights glowing in darkness andsoforth. I hope I was successful and you like it and will let me know. If you don't like it, please tell me, too.



To download this cover please go to www.ep-tunes.de > specials > covers > Big Apple Productions

While you are there, give this site a try. It's well worth the time.

[Manhattoe]

Thanks for your thoughts and nice comments, Ron.

As for the barcode and the sidewings, I will have a look at both of them.

Are you sure, the pix are from the Houston Astrodome?

I found most of them under both dates, and as a matter of fact, the picture choice was a real dilemma. So I had no problems using some pix taken a few days later with Elvis wearing one of his Vegas suits.

[U.S. Male]

I think you've hit a homerun with this design Christian

Regardless of when these photos were taken, they still depict the Las Vegas shows from that time, plus I like that "On Stage" type of font style.

An all around fine job my friend, congratulations

[Manhattoe]

Thanks Mike, I am glad you like it.

[U.S. Male]

Thanks Mike, I am glad you like it.

Who's Mike?

[spinout-designs]

You've put together a very appealing design, Christian, I like the layout very much.

I know some fellow designers here think that covers with a "simple" black background are not original, but in my eyes they still convey a live/showroom atmosphere better than designs with superimposed colors for colors' sake.

There is certainly a lot of room for both creativity and originality even when using largely black backgrounds on a cover, and I think you've done some very interesting things on this design.

What a great picture choice for the front cover, if ever there was a photo tailor made for a CD entitled 'Polk Salad Annie', that one catching Elvis in full flight and mid gyration must surely be the one.

You'd probably be hard pressed to find a photo of Elvis from this period in which he isn't looking great; all the photos are fantastic. Yes, some or even many of them are from the Astrodome, but that doesn't really detract from the impact of the overall design. Some of the photos do suffer on the full size version from not having been sourced from higher resolution scans i suspect and I guess you'd have enjoyed working with the same photos in a higher resolution .

The technique you have used with the dotted line effect seems quite original to me and combining it with a colourful gradient effect produced a stunning result.

I assume you've also treated us to the 'On Stage' logo you crafted which you mentioned some time ago in another topic. The way in which you have managed to take a cover dominated by black and featuring only greyscale images and yet make it seem so colourful is perhaps this designs crowning glory.

However, I'm not sure you serve your designs well by offering them in their uncropped state via pdf file, I also suspect you may be limiting your potential audience by offering the full size versions in this format. Just an observation.

Enjoyed this project though - any more in the pipeline, Christian ?

[richardo316]

great job manhattoe. it is definately better then the one on the ftd cd. thank's for fixing this up for us

[Manhattoe]

Who's Mike?

You, Steve, aren't you?

Sorry for the mistake.
Jungleroom76 is a Mike, isn't he?

[Manhattoe]

Thanks for your comments, Mark. I really appreaciate your keen awareness for the seminal elements of a cover deisgn.

What a great picture choice for the front cover, if ever there was a photo tailor made for a CD entitled 'Polk Salad Annie', that one catching Elvis in full flight and mid gyration must surely be the one. [...] and I guess you'd have enjoyed working with the same photos in a higher resolution .

Exactly. This shot seemed perfect for the title and thus the whole design became a b/w one. And yes, I would have loved having better pix, so this whole design is kind of a makeshift solution.

The way in which you have managed to take a cover dominated by black and featuring only greyscale images and yet make it seem so colourful is perhaps this designs crowning glory.

Yep, the was the challenge here, exactly. I am glad you like the solution.

However, I'm not sure you serve your designs well by offering them in their uncropped state via pdf file, I also suspect you may be limiting your potential audience by offering the full size versions in this format. Just an observation.

I always thought this would be worth a thread on its own. I will install it today. So let's get technical there. As a matter of fact, the pdf format has many advantages, but some disadvantages as well.

Enjoyed this project though - any more in the pipeline, Christian ?

Yep, but only limited time to work on them:
- March 22, 1975 M/S (the Vegas show form the Profile box)
- At Full Blast (I will re-design my first version, made about 3 years ago)

I have just finished Blazing into the Darkness. You already know that one in its first state, but I exchanged some pix and added others. It will be online here very soon.

[U.S. Male]

No problem Christian, I've been called much worse, LOL

[Manhattoe]

great job manhattoe. it is definately better then the one on the ftd cd. thank's for fixing this up for us

Thanks for your comment, Richardo.

I assume you've also treated us to the 'On Stage' logo you crafted which you mentioned some time ago in another topic.

Yes, I did. I had already used it for cover for Here I Go Again which I posted here about half a year ago. I had re-created it as an Illustrator vector graphic, so it was fairly easy to modify the colours to my needs.

[spinout-designs]

Yes, I did. I had already used it for cover for Here I Go Again which I posted here about half a year ago. I had re-created it as an Illustrator vector graphic, so it was fairly easy to modify the colours to my needs.

Ah yes, I'm glad you brought up the subject of your 'On Stage' logo once more as I meant to add a follow up comment regarding the discussion that took place some time ago on this matter.

I feel, after having compared your 'On Stage' logo with that of Unchained's on his PSA cover, that my opinion of it being more satisfying that each designer crafts their own logos has been largely vindicated.

Though you have both aimed to create a similar logo, they are not identical by any means. This certainly adds to the individuality of each design, something that would be sadly lacking if everyone were to be using 'identikit cut and paste' versions of such iconic logos.

Crafting this kinda stuff oneself does help to keep the 'alternate cover scene' fresh and interesting, in my opinion anyway.

[jeanno]

I really like the movement you gave to your design : the title is combined perfectly by the b/w pic (in the front cover). And, though all the pics inserted through all the artwork are not from Vegas - as SPINOUT pointed out before -, I think they give coherence to the whole design (with EP wearing the same jumpsuit).
Talking about the jumpsuit, I also prefer much more this one than the original that appears in the 1970 RCA release.
Congratulations!

[Jungleroom76]

Jungleroom76 is a Mike, isn't he?

YES HE IS!!!

And I must say Manhattoe that your latest design is simply STUNNING!!! I really think using the b/w photos helps to showcase your overall design!!

EXCELLENT WORK MY FRIEND!!!

TCB!
Mike

[Manhattoe]

Thanks, Ste... aaah Mike.

I am glad you like it.

You did not abandon your inimitable Empire State typography, didn't you?

[Albert]

Wow! This is by far your greatest design ever

It has "put me in the store and buy me" all over it. This really makes me wish even more that BMG would use some of the great talents among the Elvis fans for the designs of the FTD's.

[Tommy]

Wow what a pro job you did! Love the whole layout. Great Photos! Excellent!

Tommy

[Jungleroom76]

Thanks, Ste... aaah Mike.

I am glad you like it.

You did not abandon your inimitable Empire State typography, didn't you?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!

I LOVED your latest design....KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK MY FRIEND!!!

TCB!
Mike

[Manhattoe]

Wow! This is by far your greatest design ever

Thanks, Albert, but personally I think I have made better covers than this one.
Anyway, I am glad you enjoy it that much.

And thanks, Tommy, I feel happy that you like it, too.

[poormansgold]

It's Great Cover Of Polk Salad Annie, One Problem For Me, I Can Download it I can't open The File From The Site, ,

TB