Thought I'd kick off what will inevitably be a series of fatuous reflections on my favourite album covers with a dissertation on Raw Power by Iggy and the Stooges.
The cover photo was taken by Mick Rock, famous for his images of Bowie, Syd Barrett, and Lou Reed.
The first time I encountered this record was through a Woolworth's advert sometime in the 1970's or 80's. It featured a family Christmas scene, the kids were ripping open their gifts, and a wholesome looking 15 year old unwrapped an LP sized package to reveal James Osterberg and his dead-eyed gaze, leaning on the mic stand in what is now an iconic pose. This was perhaps 10 years after the LP's original release, so we can only assume that Woolworth's advertising department employed someone who cared rather more about degenerate rock n roll than they did about shifting units for Woolies. I went through a phase of assuming that I had imagined this advert until meeting Clive, who had the same memory. Unless we are both deluded - a possibility - then it must have happened...
Raw Power was something of a comeback for Iggy, who had crawled away bleeding from the original Stooges with no record deal and a satchel full of mental health issues and drug problems. Bowie produced the LP in London, and the famously abrasive, slashing guitar was played by James Williamson - one of rock's great lost architects.
Iggy looks as though he wants to steal your drugs and fuck your sister, and let's face it kids - this is what we want from our rock stars. Since rock and roll became a career choice, we are stuck with the dreary likes of Chris Martin and James Blunt, and Iggy himself heads off for the panto circuit with the reformed Stooges. We shall not see his like again.
