What a difference a decent Art Director can make #1

Last weekend on Record Store Day saw the re-release of an old Wreckless Eric classic – Le Beat Group Electrique. Back in ’89 when it was first released the cover (like the record) had a very home made feel. A bit shit is probably the term I’m looking for. Eric’s covers always fall into two categories. ‘Really Good’ or ‘A Bit Shit’. His early releases on Stiff were designed by the late great Barney Bubbles (responsible here for the Wrrckless Eric logo on the sleeve, as it’s been lifted straight from the cover of his Whole Wide World single. Art Direction is all about the choices you make. Both covers use exactly the same elements, but it’s where and how you choose to place them and the choice of colours that you use. I don’t know who did the original cover (it could have been done by Eric – a former Art Student), but John Foster the AD on the new re-packaged version has made some great choices. The music’s still good to.