Bob Dylan Street Legal cover photo - location, hidden meaning?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by audiorocks, May 20, 2009.

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  1. audiorocks

    audiorocks Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    California
    I love the cover art of this album. I have an original promo poster on my wall with the promo stuff cut off, and I'm wondering where the photo was taken. I've also read about a hidden meaning in the cover here:

    http://www.amazon.com/Street-Legal-Bob-Dylan/dp/B00026WUAU

    "also of note is the cover photo, which has a coded key to the whole album that also explains the album's title (hint: tan line)."

    It looks like maybe he used to be wearing a ring that he isn't wearing anymore. Is that it?

    05202009824.jpg
     
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  2. Cassiel

    Cassiel Sonic Reducer

    Location:
    NYC, USA
    His divorce from Sara Dylan had just been finalized, and the tan line from his discarded wedding band is visible on the album cover. The songs on the album deal with relationships and his new religiosity, the latter possibly catalyzed by events in his personal life.
     
  3. John DeAngelis

    John DeAngelis Senior Member

    Location:
    New York, NY
    I suspect that Dylan fanatics put a lot more thought into Bob's album covers than he does.
     
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  4. Cassiel

    Cassiel Sonic Reducer

    Location:
    NYC, USA
    I'd submit that many people have put more thought into that particular album than Dylan did.
     
  5. Jan

    Jan New Member

    Location:
    Columbus OH 43210
    The photo was taken in front of the entrance to Bob's Rundown Studios in Santa Monica.
     
  6. audiorocks

    audiorocks Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    California
    Thanks a lot guys. Santa Monica? I was thinking third world somewhere.

    Any thoughts on how the photo explains the album's title?
     
  7. Jeff Wong

    Jeff Wong Gort

    Location:
    NY
    Without the wedding band, he's single, and free to roam the streets...there also seems to be an allusion to a street hustler in a doorway.
     
  8. cwitt1980

    cwitt1980 Senior Member

    Location:
    Carbondale, IL USA
    I would agree to this if it were about Highway 61, but this is much later during a period where Dylan was getting into visual elements and talking about dreams and making films. I could see him coming up with a concept for the photo shoot and putting meaning into one of his covers.
     
  9. Cassiel

    Cassiel Sonic Reducer

    Location:
    NYC, USA
    I was referring to the aural contents. :)
     
  10. Jan

    Jan New Member

    Location:
    Columbus OH 43210
    I don't see any deep concept. The photo was taken outside of where the album was recorded. Just like Time Out of Mind's cover was a photo in the studio where it was recorded.
     
  11. John DeAngelis

    John DeAngelis Senior Member

    Location:
    New York, NY
    :laugh:
     
  12. Drawer L

    Drawer L Forum Resident In Memoriam

    Location:
    Long Island
    Ahhh.Just like ABBEY ROAD (can't have a thread without The Beatles!:D)
     
  13. I love this album AND the cover!

    :righton:
     
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  14. hamishd91

    hamishd91 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sydney
    Anyone got an address for where it was taken?
     
  15. StirBlues

    StirBlues Forum Resident

    Location:
    Baltimore, MD
    Yeah, they sure are a bunch of cut-ups; always looking to imbue every little detail with artistic genius. What a cute bunch!
     
  16. The front cover photograph was taken by Howard Alk outside the entrance to Rundown Studios, a rehearsal space Dylan had bought in late 1977 in Santa Monica, CA and had installed a basic recording rig. That is all the information I have about the location aside from the knowledge it was an awful place to record a studio album in.
     
  17. handydandy

    handydandy New Member

    Location:
    here
  18. Artery1

    Artery1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Coventry UK
    Never seen the uncropped photo before. What's that on the pavement at the foot of the poster?

    It may be that the photo is off the street in a courtyard or something.
     
  19. Olompali

    Olompali Forum Resident

    quick thoughts..
    Street Legal is Dylan's Elvis album, written in the wake of The King's death, many of the songs have hints to E.P. Also, see pic on back.
    Elvis died from an OD of prescription drugs.."street legal"
    Bob's obviously "waiting for the man."
    :cool:
    ;)
     
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  20. Metralla

    Metralla Joined Jan 13, 2002

    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    obviously. that was always my impression of the photo. (guilty as charged)
     
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  21. handydandy

    handydandy New Member

    Location:
    here
    ..
     
  22. flashdaily

    flashdaily Active Member

    It looks as if he's checking to see if it's safe for him to come out.
     
    Claudio Dirani likes this.
  23. audiorocks

    audiorocks Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    California
    Nice handydandy, I chopped off that bottom promo portion from mine.
     
  24. Claudio Dirani

    Claudio Dirani A Fly On Apple's Wall

    Location:
    São Paulo, Brazil
  25. rstamberg

    rstamberg Senior Member

    Location:
    Riverside, CT
    Almost.
    Bob's personal "born again" experience didn't occur until sometime during the U.S. tour in the fall of 1978. STREET-LEGAL was released in June, 1978.
     
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