a typically obscurantist Hipgnosis image of a group

[Vladv1]

Phil Carson had hired Hipgnosis – the design company then famous for their incongruous yet curiously affecting Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd sleeves – to provide a cover for the album: a typically obscurantist Hipgnosis image of a group of individuals representing a broad demographic – young and old, straight and gay (presumably another misreading of the AC/DC insignia). But then, as Carson points out, ‘We got it on the cheap’, as it was ‘a reject of somebody else’s cover’. (A habit Hipgnosis maintained for many years, keeping all rejected work then selling it off at reduced rates to lesser artists.)

What does the bolded mean? Obviously it does not mean "anti-enlightment" here, does it? The Image https://yandex.ru/images/search?from=tabbar&img_url=https://sothebys-md.brightspotcdn.com/webnative/images/5c/52/d7550ead4151ac4539ef690aeff8/n11132-cfhwn-t2-02.jpg&lr=8&pos=0&rpt=simage&text=ac dc hypgnosis cover dirty deeds

 

[SoothingDave]

I think it simply means that the meaning of the art is obscure.

This company famously made album cover art that was interesting, but the meaning of them is largely unknown. Take Led Zeppelin's Presence album. Photos of people with some strange object. What is it supposed to signify? No one knows.

 

[Vladv1]

I think it simply means that the meaning of the art is obscure.

This company famously made album cover art that was interesting, but the meaning of them is largely unknown. Take Led Zeppelin's Presence album. Photos of people with some strange object. What is it supposed to signify? No one knows.

Thanks for the great answer. Sorry for the stupid question, but who might be gay looking on the cover. Have nothing against gays.

 

[SoothingDave]

Probably the guy with the leather hat, like Judas Priest.

 

[Biopolitics]

Do you agree that the following relationship exists: the more obscure and abstruse the info on the cover, the more popular and profitable the album is? Are the album producers familiar with this correlation? Your opinion is very important to me

 

[SoothingDave]

Well, kids nowadays don't even know what an album cover is.

But back when LPs were king, yes, I agree an interesting cover could probably bring more attention. Part of a band's image was the artwork and imagery associated with them.

But I don't think it's as straightforward as you say.

Led Zeppelin would have sold just as many records with a simple photo of them on the cover, and a sucky band with brilliant artwork would have trouble selling a record. Certainly a second record.