Jeremy Spencer cover art

[dansven]

I was studying the cover art of the Jeremy Spencer And The Children LP. I'm sure you're familiar with it. The Grim Reaper in the middle, and several images around him. Cars, sex, family, sports, superheroes, music and fire. I assume it was the state of modern world and humanity..? I don't know who drew or designed it. Perhaps Jeremy Spencer himself could shed some light?

Anyway, I noticed some records there too. Dylan's Highway 61 Revisitied, Beatles' Sgt. Pepper and another I can't remember. AND (partially hid by the guitar) a rider on a horse... It's Then Play On!!!

I wonder why they put that one there...? It would make more sense to me if they put Kiln House there (his last one with FM). Or Future Games, as if to show what direction they took after Spencer left. This was in 1972, and Then Play On was a few years back. The only thing common could be that those records represented some kind of chance in direction...
Btw, does anybody here recognise that grey record?

[FuzzyPlum]

Originally Posted by dansven

I was studying the cover art of the Jeremy Spencer And The Children LP. I'm sure you're familiar with it. The Grim Reaper in the middle, and several images around him. Cars, sex, family, sports, superheroes, music and fire. I assume it was the state of modern world and humanity..? I don't know who drew or designed it. Perhaps Jeremy Spencer himself could shed some light?

Anyway, I noticed some records there too. Dylan's Highway 61 Revisitied, Beatles' Sgt. Pepper and another I can't remember. AND (partially hid by the guitar) a rider on a horse... It's Then Play On!!!

I wonder why they put that one there...? It would make more sense to me if they put Kiln House there (his last one with FM). Or Future Games, as if to show what direction they took after Spencer left. This was in 1972, and Then Play On was a few years back. The only thing common could be that those records represented some kind of chance in direction...
Btw, does anybody here recognise that grey record?

Hi,
I don't own this record- would you recommend it?
Anyway, my initial reaction looking online was that the two kids are quite reminiscent of the kids on the Kiln House cover. Yes they are of different ages, but it’s the way one of the children in each image is pointing into the distance- surely it must be a nod to Christine’s artwork- perhaps the whole image is the opposite of that idyl depicted on KH. In general it looks to me to be a comment about capitalism/materialism/greed.
I'd hazard a guess Jeremy created the art.

[becca]

I don't know... grey record might be Cass Elliot's self-titled LP? Good point about the connection to the Kiln House motif.

[dansven]

Thanks for both comments!
The similarity between Kiln House and this one is interesting.

If I recommend it? Well I do like the music. The songs are a mix of country ballad style ala Mission Bell, and more rocky stuff with heavy lead guitar. The lyrics aren't that religious. The production job could have been better.

[lazy poker]

Originally Posted by becca

I don't know... grey record might be Cass Elliot's self-titled LP?

don't think so, becca - cass looks the opposite direction, and the photo's motif seems to be a different one . . . and, by the way, i just can't see any kind of obvious musical or artistic connection here. just my 2 cents on this one, though i can't offer any special idea at all about the real object.

[FuzzyPlum]

Drawing a blank on that album. Had assumed it to be an image of a woman but it could be a man I suppose- many men like John Mayall had really long hair around that time.

[lazy poker]

Originally Posted by FuzzyPlum

Drawing a blank on that album. Had assumed it to be an image of a woman but it could be a man I suppose- many men like John Mayall had really long hair around that time.

it could very well be a male artist, i thought about that, too - in fact, that's what i had in mind in the first place . . . but again - who?

jeremy - if you read this . . .

[Villavic]

I just watched a doc about David Berg, founder of Children of God, who was accused of molesting his granddaughter, promoting assaults on children and sexual abuse of women and children for decades. Along with his second wife Karen Zerby, he distributed throughout the group sexually suggestive photographic depictions of her (child) son Ricky with adult caretakers. At age 29 Ricky murdered one of his childhood sexual abusers and then died by suicide.

There have been multiple allegations of child sexual abuse made by past members of the Children of God, now called The Family. I never saw Jeremy Spencer's name mentioned in the articles I read about it, though it seems the reason of his 2014 tour cancellation was related to those legal complaints. But although I've always hoped he hasn't done anything wrong, the fact that he still belongs to that sect generates on me second thoughts. It's impossible that he hasn't been aware of the news about it. Even more so after seeing this album cover and learning more about those accusations and controversies.

[Sunburst]

Hi,

The grey album discussed here is most probably
"History Of Eric Clapton" relesead in March 1972.
US-Atco SD 2-803 / UK-Polydor 2659 012.

Love to all.

[lazy poker]

Originally Posted by Sunburst

Hi,

The grey album discussed here is most probably
"History Of Eric Clapton" relesead in March 1972.
US-Atco SD 2-803 / UK-Polydor 2659 012.

Love to all.

By golly - that looks very much like it indeed . . . well spotted, Sunburst!

[chriskisn]

Originally Posted by Villavic

There have been multiple allegations of child sexual abuse made by past members of the Children of God, now called The Family. I never saw Jeremy Spencer's name mentioned in the articles I read about it, though it seems the reason of his 2014 tour cancellation was related to those legal complaints. But although I've always hoped he hasn't done anything wrong, the fact that he still belongs to that sect generates on me second thoughts. It's impossible that he hasn't been aware of the news about it. Even more so after seeing this album cover and learning more about those accusations and controversies.

Not a discussion for here, but worth reading up on the 1995 British High Court judgement by Lord Justice Ward which named Jeremy amongst others (and which I believe Jeremy has previously denied all wrongdoing). Haven't read through it for a number of years, but does make somewhat disturbing reading.