September 8 in Pop History
On this day, September 8th, in:
• 1979 - Led Zeppelin registered their 8th # 1 album in the U.K. when In Through the Out Door rose to the top.
The album was a huge commercial success, particularly in the United States where it reached the No. 1 slot on Billboard’s album chart in just its second week on the chart, as well as hitting No. 1 in the UK, Canada and New Zealand, and the Top 10 or 15 in several other countries. In Through the Out Door was the band's final studio release to reach the top of the charts in America.
In Through the Out Door
6 Variant Album Covers
(Source: hubpages.com)
The last studio album released by Led Zeppelin was In Through the Out Door, and it was a masterpiece of album art creativity. Zeppelin employed design team Hipgnosis, who they worked with on their prior three albums, to design the package and marketing for this, their eighth album, which was finally released August 15, 1979. The album was originally released with a brown paper bag slip cover that had a rubber stamp identifying the band and album title, which had a minimalist look and feel, very reminiscent to how live bootlegs were being packaged and released at this time. However the bags design was for concealing the cover image. When the paper slip cover was removed it revealed a sepia style scene inside a bar which was on both the front and back covers.
Why the concealment? For marketing purposes six different jackets were produced and tucked inside the brown paper sleeve which kept the buyer unaware of the cover they were purchasing. The hope was that sales would be increased, while fans and collectors tried to obtain all six versions. although the six LP covers are very similar in appearance, side by side there are noticeable differences.
Each album cover front and back has a point of view that you are seeing through each one of the six people in the bar scene. When looking at either the front or back album cover, you can see who's eyes you are looking through, by turning the cover over, the person in the center, will be the person who's eyes you were looking through on the other side. Within the six albums we are able to look through everyone's eyes.
*(You can see all 6 covers below in this blog entry, and/or on my Instagram post.)
Btw, as to the album’s name: The album was so named by the group as a description of there troubles fueled by alcohol and drug addictions midst the death of Robert Plant’s son coupled with the bands taxation exile from the United Kingdom which resulted in the band being unable to tour the UK for over two years. It was said that trying to get back into the public mind would be like trying to get "In Through The Out Door.”
Listen and enjoy Led Zeppelin on Spotify, the song: Fool In The Rain:
More Led Zeppelin on Spotify from In Through The Out Door — the song: All My Love:
Also, on this day in…
• 1962 - The Loco-Motion by Little Eva (written by Carole King) remained # 1 on the R&B chart for a third week
• 1973 - Marvin Gaye enjoyed his second # 1 hit on the Billboard Pop chart with Let's Get It On. He would place 7 more records on the list by 1982, giving him a total of 40
• 1979 - Michael Jackson moved into the # 1 position on the R&B chart with Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
• 1994 - Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley (daughter of Elvis) made their first public appearance as a married couple at the MTV Video Music Awards
In Through the Out Door
6 Variant Album Covers
