one more time, i’m posting this amazing record cover. it’s the cover of the LP (issued in 1967, a few months after “sgt. pepper” hit the streets) of the mothers of invention’s “we’re only in it for the money.” the delicious parody of the sgt. pepper cover is beyond cassic. it’s beatles anti-matter.
the story goes that frank zappa (ever the gentleman) actually called up paul mccartney and told him about the cover parody. he wanted to make sure the beatles were cool with it before they unleashed it. sir paul had NO IDEA who this crazy fucker on the phone was. so, he said “no way, jose”. years later when asked about that phone call, sir paul expresses his regrets and ignorance (at that time). he claims he was stoned.
zappa was stuck. he had a record to get out and suddenly had no cover design. his solution was to fold the entire gatefold record cover (they parodied the entire package right down to the nifty little cut-outs stuffed inside the sleeve) INSIDE OUT. the result was that the record cover you actually SAW in the record stores was that famous image of the mothers in drag (against a piss-yellow background). the cover you saw was originally the INSIDE cover and the actual designed cover (shown here) was folded INSIDE the gate fold. the whole thing was issued inside out!
it’s fun to look at the two covers (“sgt. pepper” and “we’re only in it for the money”) side by side. it’s hilarious to spot the changes and sneaky commentary. the faces used are every bit as hilarious in their choices as the beatles faces were. and that guy standing on the far right is actually the real live jimi hendrix, who just happened to be recording “are you experienced?” Lp down the hall in another studio at the same time this was shot. (the black guy on the far left is the producer.)
down in front on the far right is the artist/designer who made the cover here – cal schenkel. he’s holding a carton of eggs (naturally.)
