Lee Morgan: The Rumproller
I’m not sure what the concept behind the distorted text is and I’m not 100% confident “Rumproller” is meant to be a reference to shaking your booty. It’s a great name for a roller coaster though.
I do know that it stands out when browsing by tiny thumbnail on a music site. Although this was the last thing on the designer’s mind back in 1965.
I remember playing around with this effect on the photocopier at uni. I even had a dream last week about photocopiers. Exciting I know.
The stark design and distorted text is certainly eye catching. I can’t help but this of Saul Bass when I see this and the subtle image of a shoe.
Was this just “something that looked cool” or is there a cultural message I’m missing in the distorted text?
Female fans can snap this up as a T-Shirt from Ropeadope.com which the site proclaims “Our most popular women’s item.”
I was surprised to find the label’s signature look can be attributed to one person. Reid Miles wasn’t the only designer who did covers for Blue Note but he was the major driving force behind it’s icon status in the design community. While Peter Saville and Vaughan Oliver seem to be quoted regularly as a source of inspiration I haven’t heard much talk about Reid Miles. This could be my own ignorance though. His WIKI page is sorely lacking too. Computer Arts has a quick feature on Reid Miles here. Worth a read if you want a more detail analysis of his career.
This wasn’t the first time Reid Miles had used the distorted type idea. The previous year he’s used it for “Art Blakey’s Indestructible” which in terms of high concept is more literal. I guess Reid wanted to have another crack at it for this release.
I prefer this more as a women’s tee not only for the colour but also it covers the boobs better. The Rumproller would make better sweat pants.
Theodore:
Reid Miles was the man!
# 26 Feb 08 at 10:59 pm
Chris Dixon:
Reid Miles was indeed the man. There is a book called (I think) “the art of blunote records”, or something like that. Very inspirational. Full of his work. Apparently he hated jazz…
# 29 Feb 08 at 8:23 am
Oi.:
the book is “Blue Note: Album Cover Art” by Graham Marsh. There’s 2 vols.
Don’t forget Francis Wolff who shot most of the great pics used on Miles Reid-designed Blue Note albums.
# 07 Mar 08 at 5:10 pm
Derrick Schultz:
I guess it must be depending on what circles you run in, but Reid Miles was one of THE most influential record cover designers ever. No offense, but to be running a site on record cover graphics and not know his name…well, it seems a bit odd.
I should also add that theres a funny story that has been going around for some time (no idea if its really true or not). But its been said that Reid Miles hated jazz. He would take his copies of the records and sell them so he could buy classical music. Rather humorous when you realize he created the iconic jazz cover. Its pretty much impossible to look for jazz covers without seeing that style imitated everywhere.
# 21 Mar 08 at 4:08 pm
Ash:
Hey Derrick,
I guess I roll in the web and print circles as opposed to music design scene.
Brody, Carson, V Oliver, Seville all seem to get more mentions than Reid Miles in the articles, books and sites I read.
I make no excuses as one of the reasons for starting this blog was not “to show how much I know” but actually “how little I know” and learn as I post.
# 23 Mar 08 at 1:21 pm