HOS: Richard Kelly (Photographer)

[pullquote author="Rick on Rod Stewart's 'Atlantic Crossing"]It’s actually the point for me where he went shit[/pullquote]
Richard is a long-time friend of Simon and mine and has been a supporter of Cosmic Disco and, now, Makin Music.

Given Rick’s a hugely talented Photographer I wanted to get the lowdown on his favourite album sleeves to see whether our very own Nathan Barley was too-cool-for-school or a fan of ropey, 1970′s, borderline porn Funk sleeves.

Please make sure you all check out Rick’s online presences World of Horsebones and the soon to be updated R Kelly Photo (sadly not a collection of photographs of everybody’s favourite RnB child molester [allegedly])

Rod Stewart – Atlantic Crossing

The reason I picked this was, when I first started going in Sifters record shop in Burnage, this album was always in the bargain bit in the middle section.

I had no interest at the time in Rod as I was all about the Grunge (I’m not going to pretend I was listening to Balearic when I was 6) and only listened to it when I’d got into the Faces and some of Rod’s solo stuff.

It’s actually the point for me where he went shit.

The albums up to this were great but after this he became a bit of a joke for me.

Roxy Music – Country Life

This was another that was always in the bargain section.

I think, like the Rod one, I used to walk past this one all the time so would see it a lot.

I liked the graphic strong colours and the golden yellow skin tones. I’m not going to pretend I was into it from a photographic point of view when I used to see it when I was 15 but i’ve always been image based and I liked the immediateness of it.

Looking at it now I like the simplicity of it.You could imagine Terry Richardson shooting this type of cover these days.

Millie Jackson – Had To Say

As I said I’m image lead and regularly buy vinyl on the cover alone. It means I’ve bought a lot of terrible albums but at least you have the covers to look at. Occasionally I buy one one the cover alone and it turns out to be actually quite good which is a bonus. This album is one such case. I ‘ve bought some of her other albums which can be hit and miss but on her mid 70′s one there’s always a eye catching cover at least. (see back to the sh**t).
I think I much prefer the “set up” image when it comes to album art. The Clash’s London Calling cover shot by Pennie Smith might sum up rock n roll but give me a studio based dry atmosphere concept image any day

Niles