What does this mean (if anything)?

[Kent Allard]

Well? Something, nothing (or possibly spanking) ?

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000026RU.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[Landys ghost]

Well? Something, nothing (or possibly spanking) ?

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000026RU.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Why dont you ask the illustrator?

[Landys ghost]

Why dont you ask the illustrator? you keep making the assumption that D is involved in the entire process,how do you know? havent you watched "Mad Men" ? I was initially trained in Graphic art and advertising - the client goes to the illustrator gives a brief outline of the artist etc may show previous artwork etc and the design team come up with a concept that encapsulates whatever...ehe Skull is pretty obvious, did you see live and let die? the skeleton on the front of the train? who knows , who cares ? its a crap album with a crap cover

[Landys ghost]

Now you see this one-eyed midget
Shouting the word "NOW"
And you say, "For what reason?"
And he says, "How?"
And you say, "What does this mean?"And he screams back, "You're a cow
Give me some milk
Or else go home"

[Kent Allard]

All fair points. The illustrator designed the pic, but presumably Dylan agreed to it's use. The album has Slow Train on it, so assume that's what the train is all about. But I'd say the cover means different things to different people, and it's supposed to.

I like Live and Let Die, one of my favourite Bond movies. But very formulaic, and the use of the skull is linked to voodoo, which the villain uses to scare people off.

[Kent Allard]

If a record means nothing to a person, they will not like it or listen to it. I think.

I think to search for meaning is a part of human existance. Does a human life have meaning? That depends on your point of view. I would answer 'yes', but I'm sure many would say 'no'. Depends where you're coming from.

[Garilia]

Why dont you ask the illustrator?
The skeleton and the red roses have been Grateful Dead icons for years. As has the lightning bolt. I find it amusing in looking at this cover, to see that the Skeleton is on the "Dylan" side of the album and is wearing a harmonica rack, and the picture of Dylan with the lightning bolt on his glasses is on the "dead" side of the album. Slow Train is on the album, so maybe the train means that. Did the Dead perform Casey Jones on that tour?

[Kent Allard]

Heres my attempt at a search for meaning here

The red roses I'm sure relate to Robert Hunter (real name Robert Burns). The original Robert Burns wrote 'My love is a red red rose', which Dylan claims as his greatest poetic inspiration.

Both icons are Dylan; one dead and one vibrantly alive with electricity, though a ghost?. He is split into two by the oncoming train (I think I have a dualistic nature...)

Well....

[Garilia]

Heres my attempt at a search for meaning here

The red roses I'm sure relate to Robert Hunter (real name Robert Burns). The original Robert Burns wrote 'My love is a red red rose', which Dylan claims as his greatest poetic inspiration.

Both icons are Dylan; one dead and one vibrantly alive with electricity, though a ghost?. He is split into two by the oncoming train (I think I have a dualistic nature...)

Well....

well...that is definitely your interpretation of it. What I think it means? That someone from the Grateful Dead camp designed the album cover, or a Dylan artist did it as a tribute to the Grateful Dead. Are you familiar with the Grateful Dead and their album art?

http://boxothoughts.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/grateful-dead-2.jpg

http://toulousestreet.files.wordpress.com/2006/11/skullf-k2.jpg the cover of their 1971 eponymously titled album, although rumor has it that the Grateful Dead wanted to call it SkullFuck, and Jerry Garcia suggested Skull and Roses.

http://images.wolfgangsvault.com/images/catalog/detail/FD026-HB.jpg

http://www.clevescene.com/images/blogimages/2009/04/20/1240249730-dead.jpg

[Kent Allard]

Yes I'm familiar with them. And I've always been intrigued by the fact that one of Dylan's closest recent collaborators has the same name as his greatest inspiration.

I know it's just a bizarre coincidence, but it is ...unusual. Did Hunter deliberately choose to emulate Robbie Burns? Who knows?

[thin man]

what about the No. 13 ?

[Kent Allard]

Who knows...here is one possibility that Seth Rogovoy might agree with

God's 13 Attributes of Mercy in the Book of Exodus:

The number thirteen is adopted from Talmudic and rabbinic tradition. There are divergent opinions as to which word they begin and with which they conclude. According to some the thirteen attributes begin with the first "Adonai," and end with the word "ve-nakeh". The single attributes are contained in the verses as follows:

Adonai (Ay-do-Nay) — compassion before man sins;
Adonai (Ay-do-Ni) — compassion after man has sinned;
El — mighty in compassion to give all creatures according to their need;
Rachum — merciful, that mankind may not be distressed;
Chanun — gracious if mankind is already in distress;
Erech appayim — slow to anger;
Rav chesed — plenteous in mercy;
Emet — truth;
Notzer chesed laalafim — keeping mercy unto thousands;
Noseh avon — forgiving iniquity;
Noseh peshah — forgiving transgression;
Noseh chatah — forgiving sin;
Venakeh — and pardoning.

[Cupid Stunt]

I already said it on the other thread, it means that the album is a train wreck.

[Landys ghost]

Yes I'm familiar with them. And I've always been intrigued by the fact that one of Dylan's closest recent collaborators has the same name as his greatest inspiration.

I know it's just a bizarre coincidence, but it is ...unusual. Did Hunter deliberately choose to emulate Robbie Burns? Who knows?

I really think you need to seek help for this problem, why do you react to D's work like it's somehuge cosmic jigsaw puzzle, whats the meaning behind that? dont you realise what a bore you are?

[Landys ghost]

All fair points. The illustrator designed the pic, but presumably Dylan agreed to it's use. The album has Slow Train on it, so assume that's what the train is all about. But I'd say the cover means different things to different people, and it's supposed to.

I like Live and Let Die, one of my favourite Bond movies. But very formulaic, and the use of the skull is linked to voodoo, which the villain uses to scare people off.

why "assume" that? why"assume" that because "slow train" is on the album it has any relevance beyond whoever chose the songs and why "assume" it's anything to do with the cover train, why are you so bloody literal,you really are Mr Jones,are you a 7th day adventist or something? no dont answer I dont want to know. The cover, like the selection , is just that...there solved, now move on theres nothing here to see

[Garilia]

what about the No. 13 ?

it means there are 6 songs missing.

[Garilia]

What does Modern Times or Together Through Life mean? How come he gives an album a title that isn't named for one of the songs, or one of the lyrics? Bob really is mysterious. Ooooooh.

[Kent Allard]

Sorry to be tedious, but regarding my earlier comment on God's 13 Attributes of Mercy in the Book of Exodus, note that Dylan's following studio album was entitled Oh Mercy.

I think that not only is Dylan part of a cosmic jigsaw...we ALL are. I haven't attended any church for about 10 years now. So the church is probably as critical of me as some of the folks here. Attack from all sides would appear to be my fate. Will I survive? You bet.

[Anushka]

This is what is meaning to me. I pay $14.95 in American monies and someone is oweing me the refunds!!!
And Garilia is telling truths about old Dead art works have had same designs for many years. Also that book is hard reading. What is Truth?
If you are taking just one letter away from Emet you get Met. Met is meaning death!
Let that FYI twist around mind for some time.

[Garilia]

And Garilia is telling truths about old Dead art works have had same designs for many years.

Which means that the album artist was as lazy as the studio mixer and put a crap, recycled cover, on a crap album.

[Garilia]

Although I have a friend that consistently lists Dylan and The Dead as one of his all-time favorite albums. Go figure. Until Bootleg Series Vol. 4, I never really liked a Dylan live album.

[Anushka]

Like copy paste and it will makes lots of money in merchandizing for years! Roses,sculls,dancing bears. Dancing bear cookies even I have seen!!

[Landys ghost]

Sorry to be tedious, but regarding my earlier comment on God's 13 Attributes of Mercy in the Book of Exodus, note that Dylan's following studio album was entitled Oh Mercy.

I think that not only is Dylan part of a cosmic jigsaw...we ALL are. I haven't attended any church for about 10 years now. So the church is probably as critical of me as some of the folks here. Attack from all sides would appear to be my fate. Will I survive? You bet.

"Cosmic Jig -saw Puzzle" you reckon? .....Tedious is putting it mildly