Digipack Deconstruction #2

The CD is London Calling by The Clash, first released in 1979 on Columbia Records.

FRONT COVER

One of the most iconic album covers of all time, London Calling shows bassist Paul Simonon about to smash up his bass onstage at New York Palladium on 21^st September 1979. The cover has become the representative image of punk rock and the album itself is frequently mentioned by musicians as being one of the most influential albums ever.
The front cover is a black and white photo, leaving it grainy and slightly blurred, reflecting the base idea of punk being DIY. The album title stands out far more than the band name, as ‘The Clash’ is in a small, plain white font at the top, but the album title 'London Calling' is in a large, bold, coloured font. Graphic designer Ray Lowry put together the artwork as a hommage to Elvis Presley's self-titled debut album.

 

DISC TRAY

In the disc tray is a black and white photo of the band, looking very serious. This creates familiarity between the band and the audience, but also allows the band to give themselves an image - they're not just the chaotic punks that smash guitars, like on the front cover, but they're also serious musicians and their music is more than jsut a laugh, it has a message.

 

THE DISC

The CD itself is incredibly plain, listing the songs as well as the usual credits found on CDs. This was common of CDs produced at the time, like the insert in the front being one piece of folded paper, rather than the more expensive booklet.

 

THE BACK

This layout is on the back of the case as well as the back of the insert. The two black and white photos show the band playing live, signifying the band's attitude towards their marketing i.e. they took the typical DIY punk approach of focusing on playing live, rather than making numberous albums and EPs. The font of London Calling is a similar style to the font on the front, but the black and white colouring allows continuity between the inside of the insert, the disc and the back of the case.