I’ve shown some pretty sexy covers that have graced a variety of saxophone albums over the years. We’ve got the sensuality of the Bobby Dukoff’s Silk and Satin albums, the North American version of 60s sexiness on Mulligan’s album Saxy, as well as the European version of sexiness found on the covers of Fausto Papetti: 1, 2, 3, &, 4.
Now the one thing these covers all have in common, is that they are artistic, and not exploitative. And while Fausto Papetti’s covers might offend some of the Puritan values here in North America, rest assured, they are very much within the norm for European standards.
Having said that, I naively thought that the sax/sex connection had burned itself out, and such imagery was no longer commonly being used to sell albums today. What was I thinking?
This morning I happened to come across a New Age album released in 2006. The album title is Saxual Dreams. I think the cover speaks for itself….
This copulation, um I meant compilation album, :devil1: contains the following tracks, by a variety of artists:
- George Bishop – Senora 4:22
- Blue Knights – Smooth Night 4:40
- Dancing Fantasy – Stay Another Day 5:51
- Dancing Fantasy – Close To You 6:55
- Dancing Fantasy – Forever 5:22
- Dancing Fantasy – Point Blank 3:40
- Dancing Fantasy – Too Hot 4:15
- Dancing Fantasy – Secrets 4:56
- George Bishop – Grenadilla 3:54
- George Bishop – Friendly Vibes 3:55
- Symbian – Amber Glow 6:58
- Dancing Fantasy – Imagine 4:01
- Peter Sefkow – Calm Seas 4:40
We know that album covers are just a reflection of the times, so this Saxual Dreams cover really shouldn’t surprise me. But it did.
The bell of the sax symbolizing the model’s vagina, is a clear connection that even the most unobservant of us in society will likely make. The erotica here is clearly aimed at men—although I’m not so sure how many men buy New Age music. (I haven’t done any research on sales breakdown by gender.)
Instrumental music is often used to help set the mood for sexual activities. I can only assume that this album cover would have been designed for the purpose of drawing attention, and saying: Hey, this is good music to 
by.
Since turnaround is fair play, I think it would be interesting if a female saxophone player used erotic male imagery on her album cover. I wonder how that would sell? Who knows, perhaps Candy Dulfer or Mindi Abair would open themselves up to a whole new market.
It’s interesting to compare and contrast the message that each set of covers conveys.
The Dukoff jackets aim for an almost ethereal sensitivity.
The Mulligan art displays a remarkably sophisticated blend of technique and psychology expressing a hedonistic yet dynamic relationship between the listener and the music.
The Papetti art is almost quaint in its focus on the quintessential synecdoche for feminine pulchritude — it cries out for a mixed chorus version of “Thanks for the Mammaries”. :devil2:
This latest broadside merely screams, “Open for Business”. (At least Cole Porter showed a little more wit and humor about it 😉 )
Edited to add:
And again the upside down mouthpiece; what’s up with that?
Upside down mouthpiece = kama sutra positions welcome :devil2:
That or keep a “stiff” upper lip…
:groan:
Luv the censored icon. And, I think women are smarter, not buying things just because there is a partially naked person on the cover. But I could be wrong. Me, I just wonder why we never seem to get naked women to attend our gigs. I’m just sayin’…