Can anyone solve the CD artwork question?
Adam was sorting through his music collection when he came across something odd about his copies of Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins and Pluto’s self-titled debut record.
The mystery is on the inside. Any ideas on why these images would be so similar?
Both groups just used the original logo for “Virgin Records” (from 1973, by Roger Dean). Those who owned a 1st pressing of ‘Tubular Bells’ on vinyl should recognize it, as it was used on that classic Mike Oldfield album. The logo is known as “Gemini” or “Twins.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Records#/media/File:Virginrecordlogo.jpg
Correct.
Plagiarism?
I have no idea but there is more than these 2 CD that have the same CD art on them. I can’t remember which other CD’s have them but I know there are more.
It is very similar in concept to the Charisma logo which used the Mad Hatter logo. That image was present on every Charisma vinyl record regardless of the artist. If you look back at your old vinyl records you will find the Virgin Records Gemini logo on many of them. In the early days of CD they tried to keep up with this old vinyl trend but it did not last long.
The images on the left side of both CDs are very similar in style. Probably whoever Virgin used as an in-house illustrator did the same artwork as the theme is essentially the same.
Virgin Records used that artwork on lots of CDs in that era, presumably when there wasn’t other original artwork to go on the disc itself. Besides the two mentioned in the article, I also recall my copy of Lenny Kravitz’s Are You Gonna Go My Way featuring the same design.
Lenny Kravtiz – Are you gonna go my way? Has same.artwork
Both are on the Virgin label. The logo was used on all their releases. Not a big surprise.