ABBA Cover Artwork + Photo Sessions Scans

    

thatABBAdude, thank you for the shout out.
It is always a relief to see some people are picking up graphic designing
And go out there and make mock artworks
Not only for building up skills
But also realise the thoughts from one and put it into the canvas. (yeah, pseudointellectualism rubbish but why not.)

Also, congratulations on getting Carl Magnus Palm to evaluate your sleeve artworks. That is holy status right there

I think I may have posted these here before at some point, but here are a couple of fun items for what they're worth:



 Box set lids and content details (possibly for magazine ads)









Slipcase for a 2 CD set


Album cover possibilities 




Single sleeves:

Thanks Jonathan. I indulge some fantasies where licencing is easier and where the vaults are not so tightly controlled, allowing for fan-pleasing re-issues and retrospectives. I genuinely believe that the Shine box set should be possible. With regard to the bonus material I listed, I have a hunch that a 12" mix of Twist In The Dark might exist, because it was originally earmarked for lead single and has a glossy video. I have only recently discovered that there seems to be an entirely new single version of Shine recorded specifically for the US market. It seems the American label didn't like the album and this new version of the title song was made with an eye on the American charts. It was never released, however. Clearly, such a track would be a fantastic bonus for a set like this.



I really like what you have done for your LAYLOM sleeve. The treatment of a photo sits very well with the electronic feel of the track. The font is very elegant - what is it? 

I love the simplicity of the Like An Angel.... cover. In some ways, I wish ABBA had exercised such classy restraint during their heyday. Not that I minded seeing their smiling faces but from an artistic, enigmatic point of view, it works to retain some mystery.

And the Frida/ Career design is inspired! I could actually see that on the shelves at HMV!

I totally agree with you. I also think that When All Is Said And Done should've been released and The Visitors would've been a better A-Side choice in my opinion. So I did these covers recently. (I used the maxi banner just to make it a bit more exciting)

I must also agree! Epic takes the cake of worst picture sleeves (Italy's Epic sleeves for example, like their Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! looks stunning!) Alex, these are totally going on the blog haha! You did such a great job with these! I haven't forgotten about making my interpretation of a better-looking One Of Us Epic design. I'll get working on that. Also, Tony, thank you for the follow on my ABBA Covers blog! I'd love to see some more covers from you to upload there! Your "I Am The City" one is just simply magnificent!

Well, thank you again for the lovely words. I must say that the real credit goes to Tang Yau Hoong, a wonderful artist whose image "Beware of those hands!" is what I based the sleeve around.  I fell in love with his work a while ago and I bought a few pieces to frame at home - including this one. When I saw it, I was struck by the way it reminded me of the work on ABBA The Album. So I hope nobody was labouring under the mistaken idea that I'm some kind of genius artist! 

I love your One Of Us sleeves. The image on the first one is my favourite. If SILOC wasn't listed on the front cover (or shrunk to fit directly under the main title), you might feel better about it? I really think it's an elegant design idea.  I agree that the third one has terrific impact. You are a true ABBA purist, including the B-side title on the front of the sleeve.  They seemed to do that more than most artists, I think.

^^ 
thatABBAdude , way ahead of you, but a coincidence otherwise, as I did it years ago :-)

Speaking strictly of the current situation where licencing is a nightmare, the Gold artworks you made would have worked well,
but the logo for Frida doesn't quite get a zing and a catch all "legacy" hearkening back to their heydays as your Agnetha Gold does,
instead reminding me of the grey market "European Union copyright expired music" covers.
Excuse my harshness, I didn't mean to, but that's how I would view it.

In my opinion the artwork Frida Gold should have worked best with "Frida ensam era" Frida logo, or the "Something's Going On era" Frida logo. My artwork for Frida Gold had Frida's signature, but that's because I would have envisioned the "ABBA Gold boxed set" as accompanying and thought my interpretation of the Agnetha Gold and Frida Gold artwork would have coupled well with the standard ABBA Gold/ORO cover.

Nonetheless - you executed the concept very well.

8.7/10

(The Polar Music AB "so-called unrestrained licenced" version)
abbachat.boards.net/post/11765/thread (Frida Gold)
abbachat.boards.net/post/11764/thread (Agnetha Gold)

(A comprehensive Agnetha compilation album chronicling her particular solo years, the Sony Music version)
abbachat.boards.net/post/11760/thread

Liked most of the single covers but only remember the Uk getting photographic covers from Angeleyes on. Before they were just in simple yellow or orange sleeves with a hole in the middle to show the middle of the single. Did not like One of Us or TDBYC covers. Album wise hated the first attempt at an Abba live album...... a sketch of a stage which just looked so 80s and cheap. And what a horrible dull cover for Greatest Hits 2. Did not like the photograph or the dull colour of the cover. Favourite album covers GH1, Arrival and The Album. Wish they had came up with a better cover for Gold and better picture on the reverse.

Rubber Ball Man and thatabbadude, I love your artwork. The photographs are stunningly beautiful. I wish I had both your artistic flairs. A great job.

These photos are absolutely beautiful. So much better than the actual old '7 inch record picture sleeves. I love looking at them. Great work.