Analyzing album covers: Tusk

[Villavic]

This the first album cover of this lineup where no member appears (I assuming is Ken's foot since it's his dog ;) ).

I don't like the cover. I miss a member face there, but anyway I like Tango in the Night and even Behind the Mask (sorry for those who hate that cover) more than Tusk. I never got it.

Mick doesn't comment about the cover. Like in Mirage, he explains only about the album title in his book, though I don't see the relationship of what he said with the Tusk song:

The title refers to a jocular term of affection for the Male Member: old habits die hard in Fleetwood Mac. (When Stevie heard that we had decided to name the album Tusk, she threatened to quit the band in revulsion. But I chose to ignore her and nothing ever came of it.)

http://pixhost.me/avaxhome/3d/18/001e183d_medium.jpeg

[Villavic]

This inner art picture is not nicer but more interesting. And the woman with the big elephant tusk has more to do with Mick's explanation than Ken's dog in the front cover.

http://www.brain-magazine.fr/images/stories/TOP/TopJeffJank/tusk.jpg

[FierySequences]

hmm, I don't really like or dislike it. However, I love the inner sleeve pictures. Very mysterious and Stevie looks absolutely beautiful and bewitching.

[KarmaContestant]

I detest the Tusk cover. It feels like a copout; a lazy shortcut; an effortless afterthought.

But then - you open it, and inside are all of these glorious photos, collages, and bits of art. I feel like that that was part of the intention, part of the deception that Tusk was, following on the heels of Rumours. Not what people expected, just like the packaging inside is unexpected after a cursory glance at the unispired cover art.

[Artemis]

I love the Tusk cover for how weird it is. I just imagine it being revealed and everyone just going "...huh" :laugh:

I'm more interested in what the band members think of it, I think Stevie hates it, didn't Ken write in his book that she hated the dog for "stealing" the album cover that should have been "hers"?

[vivfox]

This cover sucks.

First of all I've never been a dog lover. They annoy the heck out of me with the loud barking. Plus I think most dogs are dangerous as this dog shows. I wouldn't want one to put its jaws around my foot even if it was just playing.

I think the shadow under the dog pic represents a tusk. I know it is not thin like a tusk but it becomes that for me based on the album's title. This album came at a time when the whole world was waiting to see the band's newest creation. When you have that kind of attention a nice cover pic of the group would have been more appropriate IMHO.

[TheWILDheart]

I don't like or dislike the Tusk cover really - I don't get it. Love the rest of the artwork for the album though. I also really like the idea of somebody finding a discarded photo left on a sandy beach (which is kind of the impression I get from the cover), but I just don't get the dog thing - maybe it would've been better if it had a photo of the band instead of the dog? Almost like a kind of accidental re-discovering of the band after the Rumours hype had faded as though the listener were stumbling across the album by accident like somebody finding this old photograph in the sand? But the dog totally ruins that theory.

[michelej1]

I'm more interested in what the band members think of it, I think Stevie hates it, didn't Ken write in his book that she hated the dog for "stealing" the album cover that should have been "hers"?

Stevie said she wouldn't have put a dog who looked like he was trying to take your leg off on the cover.

And the dog may have seemed ferocious to her, because although he was friendly, he was always after Stevie and Christine's little female dogs and Stevie and Christine did not like him as much as the men did.

Michele

[michelej1]

I don't like or dislike the Tusk cover really - I don't get it. Love the rest of the artwork for the album though. I also really like the idea of somebody finding a discarded photo left on a sandy beach (which is kind of the impression I get from the cover), but I just don't get the dog thing - maybe it would've been better if it had a photo of the band instead of the dog? Almost like a kind of accidental re-discovering of the band after the Rumours hype had faded as though the listener were stumbling across the album by accident like somebody finding this old photograph in the sand?

That would have been a good idea and it wouldn't even have to be a posed, illuminating shot either. It could have been a "candid" where parts of them are obscured, they're turned away from the camera. That would have added to the sense that you're catching this glimpse of them by accident.

Michele

[WildHearted]

This the first album cover of this lineup where no member appears (I assuming is Ken's foot since it's his dog ;) ).

I don't like the cover. I miss a member face there, but anyway I like Tango in the Night and even Behind the Mask (sorry for those who hate that cover) more than Tusk. I never got it.

Mick doesn't comment about the cover. Like in Mirage, he explains only about the album title in his book, though I don't see the relationship of what he said with the Tusk song:

The title refers to a jocular term of affection for the Male Member: old habits die hard in Fleetwood Mac. (When Stevie heard that we had decided to name the album Tusk, she threatened to quit the band in revulsion. But I chose to ignore her and nothing ever came of it.)

http://pixhost.me/avaxhome/3d/18/001e183d_medium.jpeg

I definitely see the relationship between Mick's explanation for the word 'tusk' and the song. What else would Tusk mean? :lol:

However, I'm not really a big fan of the cover. It just seems like a rather random afterthought, as someone else said above. I like the overall color scheme and everything but they could have chosen a different picture that tied more into the themes of some of the song or the band itself.

[redbird]

I like it for the fact that it's random and weird in a totally different way than the whimsical surrealness of the previous two covers. Tusk is much less a costume ball affair and much more a deconstruction. But as a visual it's just there for me, neither hate nor love. I like the pictures inside, I'm fine with the cover itself, and that's about it.

[bluecalmsea]

I do not like this cover. I don't *hate* it, but it doesn't give me good feelings haha. I think it being more silly and random compared to the other covers doesn't appeal to me.

But the Tusk-era photoshoot is my favorite set ever! So I will forgive the cover :laugh:

http://i.imgur.com/b2eEyTP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Chjd1kE.jpg

[cantgoback]

Well it's definitely a strange one. Like the album it's odd and un-FMish I personally like the inner art on the sleeves more than the actually cover. Just out of curiosity, I ordered my copy on amazon and it came with a fold out poster of 4 men who are not in Fleetwood Mac (not in a sexual position, they were fully clothed) I have no idea what it is and why it's in there, if it's supposed to be apart of the album, please let me know.

[shackin'up]

Tusk has the most intriguing and interesting artwork of all Mac-albums. I love it, from cover to all innersleeves. I could write Two pages about it, but I don't think anyone over here would be interested. I'll leave it to the fact that a very good artteacher from my university, whom I bought a second hand vinylversion of Tusk. He was intrigued by the music, but totally psyched about the artwork. I love it.

[Villavic]

Tusk has the most intriguing and interesting artwork of all Mac-albums. I love it, from cover to all innersleeves. I could write Two pages about it, but I don't think anyone over here would be interested. .

Hey I would be!! Specially about the front cover cause it doesn't make me think anything. The inner artwork is other story. That is intriguing!

[starshine]

Again the LP cover isn't the greastest esp when they have sooooo many wonderful outtake photos that never have seen the light of day again a missed boat. Why take tons of band photos and never 'show' the band except on the inside. I think its all messed up. I mean I guess to some its creative but is it so hard to pick a nice group shot. Plus they could've put more of those outtakes in the Tusk tourbook too......sad but so true at least IMO:shrug::]

[Bandon]

I don't (and never did) care for the dog pic, but the rest of the cover and the inner artwork are totally cool!:thumbsup:

[vivfox]

Just out of curiosity, I ordered my copy on amazon and it came with a fold out poster of 4 men who are not in Fleetwood Mac (not in a sexual position, they were fully clothed) I have no idea what it is and why it's in there, if it's supposed to be apart of the album, please let me know.


First of all I love your sig pic. It is very creative! The poster was put in there by mistake. Maybe it is a poster of The Eagles?

[WatchChain]

The album cover, like the material on the record, was like a sucker punch out of left field. At the time, "Tusk" was the most unexpected thing Fleetwood Mac could have done. "Tusk" was like flipping the middle finger at the machine that is the music industry. No one saw this coming, including the record executives.

Someone once said that, when the band sat down in a conference room to play the final/finished product to the businessmen and record executives at Warners, the company execs saw their Christmas bonus checks flying out the window. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in that room during this little "listening party". I would imagine some pale and confused faces by the time "The Ledge" played early in the session. So, the cover is fitting for such an eclectic piece of work from a band that was expected the stick with the PROVEN $$$Formula$$$$..........

[cantgoback]

First of all I love your sig pic. It is very creative! The poster was put in there by mistake. Maybe it is a poster of The Eagles?

haha thanks i made that myself, and now that I think about it, it very well could be the eagles, thanks for the clear up, I opened it and was like "wtf is this"

[CADreaming]

I kinda like it. It's different and it's gets your attention.

[michelej1]

[B]
Someone once said that, when the band sat down in a conference room to play the final/finished product to the businessmen and record executives at Warners, the company execs saw their Christmas bonus checks flying out the window.

Lindsey said it, about 3,291 different times.

Michele

[Bandon]

The album cover, like the material on the record, was like a sucker punch out of left field. At the time, "Tusk" was the most unexpected thing Fleetwood Mac could have done. "Tusk" was like flipping the middle finger at the machine that is the music industry. No one saw this coming, including the record executives.

. [/U]

No one saw it coming including the public. I remember when the radio DJ played it for the first time, he said, "That's Fleetwood Mac????" and couldn't stop laughing. I will never forget that. :nod:

[FierySequences]

Hey I would be!! Specially about the front cover cause it doesn't make me think anything. The inner artwork is other story. That is intriguing!

Yes, a good read for me, as well. So, you have been called to task, shackin'up:nod:

We'd love to read it.

[FierySequences]

Well it's definitely a strange one. Like the album it's odd and un-FMish I personally like the inner art on the sleeves more than the actually cover. Just out of curiosity, I ordered my copy on amazon and it came with a fold out poster of 4 men who are not in Fleetwood Mac (not in a sexual position, they were fully clothed) I have no idea what it is and why it's in there, if it's supposed to be apart of the album, please let me know.

Sorry I am LOL at your post, I'm just curious as to why you would need to explain this? Is it b/c of the meaning behind Tusk?

and what If the Eagles briefly joined FM in 79?, would that mean you have a collectors item? (ok, I'm a little jeal if you do!):D

[shackin'up]

The album cover, like the material on the record, was like a sucker punch out of left field. At the time, "Tusk" was the most unexpected thing Fleetwood Mac could have done. "Tusk" was like flipping the middle finger at the machine that is the music industry. No one saw this coming, including the record executives.

Someone once said that, when the band sat down in a conference room to play the final/finished product to the businessmen and record executives at Warners, the company execs saw their Christmas bonus checks flying out the window. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in that room during this little "listening party". I would imagine some pale and confused faces by the time "The Ledge" played early in the session. So, the cover is fitting for such an eclectic piece of work from a band that was expected the stick with the PROVEN $$$Formula$$$$..........

Exactly. Tusk was a deliberate bite in the anckles of what was expected. Not only to the board of WB, but also at the big expectations that they built up themselves in their audience, that bought 20 million records in a couple of years with their brand on it. It's also a very selfabsorbed cover; we don't want to do what you want from us. And we know, that we are only able to show this attitude BECAUSE you spent this huge amount of money on us collectively, so we will use that money and position to put out the opposite of what you want from us. We are artists, and not expectationfillers.

Don't say that you love me. Just tell me that you want me. I'll tusk you.
And... What makes YOU think you're the one, recordindustry? Everything you do has been done, and it won't last forever.

On the inside, there's that pretty sepia pic of Lindsey preparing a room, sitting on his knees. Some insight in , or metaphore for the artistic sparkle for the album, experimenting alone and bring the result to the band in a later stadium,and there's the whole african scrapbook of small photographs and handwritings, that fit with Lindsey's own idea of being a refined primitive, something that can be said about Mick, and to a certain extend, about John too. I'll leave some space for others to fill in other perspectives than Lindsey's but I'm convinced that he was largely responsible for the "story of the album", so I read it that way. The colourphotographs are something else. They leave room for projecting meaning about flying around in space without feet on ground, and then leave, but not without leaving traces. I could ramble on, but I know there are a lot of people over here that are oversensitive for Lindsey's artistic ethics and the conflicting reality of making big chunks of money with it. I believe in his unadult behaviour towards the industry, and maybe he overstretches with his cocky, therapeutic talk. Still, he was the beating heart of Tusk, and his attitude is still alive, although he can look at it now with more life-experience and relativation. (Some of this rant will not be in correct english. Keep in mind, I'm Dutch.)

Also the sexual connotation, the history of dildo's in the early FM performances and the tusk as a male sybol, add to the primitiveness of the whole album and it's cover. Oh there's a lot more to say. But I'll leave it here.

To me, Tusk means "f*ck you", in all it's layers of meanings.

[FierySequences]

Exactly. Tusk was a deliberate bite in the anckles of what was expected. Not only to the board of WB, but also at the big expectations that they built up themselves in their audience, that bought 20 million records in a couple of years with their brand on it. It's also a very selfabsorbed cover; we don't want to do what you want from us. And we know, that we are only able to show this attitude BECAUSE you spent this huge amount of money on us collectively, so we will use that money and position to put out the opposite of what you want from us. We are artists, and not expectationfillers.

Don't say that you love me. Just tell me that you want me. I'll tusk you.
And... What makes YOU think you're the one, recordindustry? Everything you do has been done, and it won't last forever.

On the inside, there's that pretty sepia pic of Lindsey preparing a room, sitting on his knees. Some insight in , or metaphore for the artistic sparkle for the album, experimenting alone and bring the result to the band in a later stadium,and there's the whole african scrapbook of small photographs and handwritings, that fit with Lindsey's own idea of being a refined primitive, something that can be said about Mick, and to a certain extend, about John too. I'll leave some space for others to fill in other perspectives than Lindsey's but I'm convinced that he was largely responsible for the "story of the album", so I read it that way. The colourphotographs are something else. They leave room for projecting meaning about flying around in space without feet on ground, and then leave, but not without leaving traces. I could ramble on, but I know there are a lot of people over here that are oversensitive for Lindsey's artistic ethics and the conflicting reality of making big chunks of money with it. I believe in his unadult behaviour towards the industry, and maybe he overstretches with his cocky, therapeutic talk. Still, he was the beating heart of Tusk, and his attitude is still alive, although he can look at it now with more life-experience and relativation. (Some of this rant will not be in correct english. Keep in mind, I'm Dutch.)

Also the sexual connotation, the history of dildo's in the early FM performances and the tusk as a male sybol, add to the primitiveness of the whole album and it's cover. Oh there's a lot more to say. But I'll leave it here.

To me, Tusk means "f*ck you", in all it's layers of meanings.

Wow, some very good observations. The thing that is unique, I think that the band and LB was not really concious to these metaphores and allegories while writting and putting together the theme on the album/pictoral layout. But that is part of the artistry and appeal about Tusk.

I think you are spot on with your assesments and this is a theme that would carry over into Mirage. Although in Mirage the pop-sounding music returned, it was laced with dark undertones once found in Tusk (album) and pioneered (by the BN era) in earlier songs like GDW and ISA. Artistical evolution of a band at it's finest.

[GypsySorcerer]

Exactly. Tusk was a deliberate bite in the anckles of what was expected. Not only to the board of WB, but also at the big expectations that they built up themselves in their audience, that bought 20 million records in a couple of years with their brand on it. It's also a very selfabsorbed cover; we don't want to do what you want from us. And we know, that we are only able to show this attitude BECAUSE you spent this huge amount of money on us collectively, so we will use that money and position to put out the opposite of what you want from us. We are artists, and not expectationfillers.

Don't say that you love me. Just tell me that you want me. I'll tusk you.
And... What makes YOU think you're the one, recordindustry? Everything you do has been done, and it won't last forever.

On the inside, there's that pretty sepia pic of Lindsey preparing a room, sitting on his knees. Some insight in , or metaphore for the artistic sparkle for the album, experimenting alone and bring the result to the band in a later stadium,and there's the whole african scrapbook of small photographs and handwritings, that fit with Lindsey's own idea of being a refined primitive, something that can be said about Mick, and to a certain extend, about John too. I'll leave some space for others to fill in other perspectives than Lindsey's but I'm convinced that he was largely responsible for the "story of the album", so I read it that way. The colourphotographs are something else. They leave room for projecting meaning about flying around in space without feet on ground, and then leave, but not without leaving traces. I could ramble on, but I know there are a lot of people over here that are oversensitive for Lindsey's artistic ethics and the conflicting reality of making big chunks of money with it. I believe in his unadult behaviour towards the industry, and maybe he overstretches with his cocky, therapeutic talk. Still, he was the beating heart of Tusk, and his attitude is still alive, although he can look at it now with more life-experience and relativation. (Some of this rant will not be in correct english. Keep in mind, I'm Dutch.)

Also the sexual connotation, the history of dildo's in the early FM performances and the tusk as a male sybol, add to the primitiveness of the whole album and it's cover. Oh there's a lot more to say. But I'll leave it here.

To me, Tusk means "f*ck you", in all it's layers of meanings.

:thumbsup:

Spot on analysis, Gerald.

[shackin'up]

Thanks, GypsySorcerer and FierySequences. I'm really still very much inspired by Tusk, Its music, Its artwork and its darkness and cry for artistic freedom. And the position it has as the afterburner following Rumours and FM. Not only on LB's songs, but all delicate arrangements on CMs and SNs songs are focussed on depth and meaning within the songs, not towards the effect on a big audience or radiofriendliness. The only song close to a single was Think About Me, but it did not succeed as such. To me, that is still one of the best songs Chris wrote, and to this day, I love Anglo-american Fleetwood Mac because of Sisters, That's Enough For Me, Over and Over, Why, Not That Funny/IKINW, Tusk, Red Rover, Illume, EOTW, Murrow, Storms, Never Forget, That's Alright, and World Turning.

And definately not because of Everywhere, Oh Diane, Little Lies, Seven Wonders, Family Man and Big Love. The Tuskattitude made me a fan for life, I'm holding my breath for the new songs, that -I'm Afraid - will be deliberately popsongs, called "typical" Fleetwood Mac, which COULD mean, not MY typical FM.

The Tuskcover just represents why I fell in love with them for life.

[GarboSpeaks!]

I also love it for about all the reasons people have mentioned. To me it signified the "WE WILL NOT MAKE RUMOURS II" and the picture conveys the "biting back" and/or standing their ground on the bands decision. And kudo's to them, because IF ONLY they could make such bold statments now instead of rehashing the same ol' over and over again. Despite anyone that may not like it...you gotta admit this was the one and only time in the Rumours lineup where they tried something new. It was bold, dangerous and sadly never repeated. Not to say that I want a Tusk II...but I think FM and all those involved past and present have chops and I'd have liked to see them explore more creatively. For most favorite album ever I'm always tied between Tusk & Mirage.