Primary Production - Record Sleeve

Etta James - At Last //

From the seven records to choose from, I've decided to go for Etta James' well known track 'At Last'.

My decision to pick this one was based on the fact that it is a song I recognise and have listened to it from a young age. It is a song my mum played around the house all the time and has stayed with me since. Listening to the record brings back memories from my childhood.

The Etta James recording appears on the soundtracks of such films as Rain Man, Pleasantville, and American Pie, and such television series as Northern Exposure, Criminal Minds, The Simpsons, and Chuck. It has also been used in television commercials for such products as Jaguar automobiles, Hoover vacuum cleaners, and State Farm insurance. It was also used on a trailer for the video game FIFA 16.

The record was actually written in 194i by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film Orchestra Wives. 

I aim to convey key aspects of both the record and the artist within my artwork.

Primary development is to produce a series of quick sketches based on the lyrics, context and rhythm of the track.

 

 

Existing artwork for Etta James simply includes a picture of the artist along with some text.

One thing I have noticed about her appearance is that she often used to wear very bling earrings. She also had a recognisable hair do and eyebrows. I will be experimenting with these aspects of her appearance in my initial sketches.

At last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song

Oh yeah yeah
At last

The skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clover
The night I looked at you

I found a dream, that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known

Oh yeah yeah
You smiled, you smiled
Oh and then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
for you are mine...

At Last

These are the lyrics to the record. It is quite clearly a love song about someone she has met recently. 

lyrics that use imagery include...

'The skies above are blue'

'my heart was wrapped up in a clover'

Looking for Imagery...


I've started the process by studying the lyrics of the record and looking for existing imagery within that could be used in my designs. The obvious existing imagery includes...

'The skies above are blue'

          

'My heart was wrapped up in clover'

  

                                

'I found a dream, that I could speak to'

  

             

                           

With this imagery, I have started to scribble down ideas starting with pen and paper. I too often start producing digital imagery too early so with this brief I will be sketching out my ideas before digitalising.