Mark Millington has been involved in hundreds of album (and single) covers over the years, as a designer, art director, and many of those through the company The Leisure Process, who were hired to create the cover for Ozzy Osbourne’s No Rest For The Wicked album in 1988. In our exchange below Mark recalls the project that The Leisure Process took, as well as his younger years, and touches on some of the other covers he created.
What drew you in to art, and specifically, creating album covers?
I went to art college after being made redundant from the Steel industry. I spent 4 years training to be a designer. My first job was a lucky mis called phone call and I got a placement with a design company Called XL Design, These guys were responsible for Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Grace Jones, Pet Shop, Boys, OMD, Propaganda, Art of Noise and many more. They liked my work and offered me a full time position.
How did this project come about?
The album was commissioned by Sharon his wife. She approached my boss John Carver who was a partner in the design Company ‘The Leisure Process’.
The photography was done by a guy called Bob Carlos Clarke. John wanted to create a one off image something quite new at the time and Bob’s style was perfect.
There was a lot of build up for the shoot as a set needed to be built, props and a cast of young models. Obviously the prince of darkness is the idea with the children of the damned.
Ozzy’s thrown made up for the core image. Bob’s photographic style was perfect. Look up Bob’s work he did a lot of erotic material and John knew Bob and was looking to commission him for a project this one seemed made to measure. Looking at the album now I would go for a full bleed photo to make the most of the image but 1988 was just before digital art arrived and retouching, especially extending artwork was an expensive process, much simpler these days. But this was John’s baby, I never had a creative roll in the artwork but the album was very well received as was the artwork.
Were you around for any of the photoshoot or have much input (even with suggestions or ideas? or get to meet Ozzy at the time)
You often find that company directors like to hog the limelight. John is a very good creative director but left it to his design team to pull the parts together. The shoot was a big production and meeting Ozzy and Sharon was a blast. If anything Ozzy was true Rock n Roll but no big head, lovely man to speak to and very polite.
I love the lettering on the front cover, though I must confess, with the color scheme, some of the back cover (especially under the song list) is tough to read.
The problem back in the day artwork was created as a series of layers on artboard. Each layer would contain text, logos, label information. A position guide for the image textures etc. All the overlays were in black and white because of the print prices. The artwork was then covered and the designer would mark up the colors to the text, background, tint images etc. It was a massive technical job that could take a couple of days. If anything was slightly off it would show in the proof then we/I would color correct and mark up likewise. Not like today when we work directly with color and the artwork is much easier to amend.
Favorite album cover artists (or album covers) from your younger days? (influences…)
I love the work Of Vaughn Oliver, Peter Saville, Stylo Rouge, Assorted Images, Designers Republic, Intro. Most of the guys around in the ’80s produced some beautiful work its difficult to say my most favorite but probably the work produced by Vaughn at 23 Envelope/4ad stuff like the Pixies, Xmal Deutchland and many more the guy created art.
What are a few of your favorite album covers that you were involved in creating (in whole or part)?
The only covers I show are the ones I totally created myself. Unlike one or two of the above designers most of us have to pitch and pretty much fight for our work. I’ve done so much It’s difficult to say all so I’ll name what I can remember:
*I’ve included a gallery of some of the covers / sleeves Mark designed.
I was Head Of Art at Universal covering many projects, even Classics and Jazz and some of them covers are from a design sense much better as. Like Vauge I was captain of my own ship. Eric Whitacre’s cover of one of my favorite tunes.
LINKS:
*For more on Mark’s work check out his site- http://www.mark-millington.com
Outsider Rock 