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“I didn’t expect the albums to last the way they have. If I’d known, I would have done better. The bands might say that too!” Genesis sleeve artist Colin Elgie started with the vaguest brief imaginable, and won a whole year in the limelight
Illustrator Colin Elgie has reflected on designing the cover for Genesis's 1976 album A Trick of the Tail, marking its 50th anniversary. The commission, given in 1975, was notable for its almost non-existent brief: Elgie had no songs or lyrics to work from and had not even met the band, yet the sleeve helped launch his career as one of rock's notable album-cover artists.
Elgie, who studied at East Ham Technical College under George Hardie of Hipgnosis fame (designer of covers for Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, and 10cc's Sheet Music), has spoken candidly about the unlikely path that led to the commission, calling himself "a lucky bugger". The piece traces how a tutor's advice helped him break into the industry at a time when work prospects for young designers were scarce, culminating in the enduring image that became inseparable from Genesis's first post-Peter Gabriel record.
In short
- Colin Elgie recalls designing Genesis's A Trick of the Tail cover in 1975.
- He had no songs, lyrics or band meeting to work from.
- Marks the album's 50th anniversary and Elgie's career breakthrough.
Explained simply
Genesis is one of rock music's major bands. In 1976, they released A Trick of the Tail, their first album following the departure of frontman Peter Gabriel, and the cover was designed by a young illustrator named Colin Elgie.
Elgie's commission was highly unusual: he was given almost no creative brief, heard none of the songs beforehand, and had not met any band members. He had recently studied under George Hardie, a designer who created iconic album covers for acts including Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Securing this break was significant at a time when professional opportunities for young designers were scarce.
The sleeve Elgie created became inseparable from the album and established his reputation as one of rock's significant cover designers. In that era, album artwork played a central role in how musicians connected with audiences, making the work of designers like Elgie essential to an album's commercial and cultural impact.
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