Bedtime stories album cover

[*mlvc* 270]

9 hours ago, deathproof said:

We all know how the photo was shot. We also know how the text and color choices are supposed to be placed too. 

If you want to talk about flipping, and it not making sense..., talk to the "Erotica" album cover, it has a receipt for you.

https://www.discogs.com/Madonna-Bedtime-Stories/release/704624

Please check the notes section of that link.

A quick Google search turns up a lot of discussion about this, for instance from Pop Justice:

"As with most things in her career, Warner fucked it up. When she submitted the artwork for the album, the image was purposefully upside down, that is what she wanted, it's an image of her hanging off the bed. Warner assumed it was a mistake and flipped the image the right way up, M had a bitchfit and got it changed. So technically, any copy with the image the right way up is a misprint."

This isn't a p*ssing contest, but I don't think you're correct.

[deathproof 306]

 

2 hours ago, *mlvc* said:

https://www.discogs.com/Madonna-Bedtime-Stories/release/704624

Please check the notes section of that link.

A quick Google search turns up a lot of discussion about this, for instance from Pop Justice:

"As with most things in her career, Warner fucked it up. When she submitted the artwork for the album, the image was purposefully upside down, that is what she wanted, it's an image of her hanging off the bed. Warner assumed it was a mistake and flipped the image the right way up, M had a bitchfit and got it changed. So technically, any copy with the image the right way up is a misprint."

This isn't a p*ssing contest, but I don't think you're correct.

That's still not a direct accurate source. You do realize this fan theory is made up, right? There's nothing to back it up that the initial pressing was incorrect. If anything, the 2nd pressing is the one that's the misprint, as shown and discussed with the legibility issues with the font colors. You can look at all the print and tv advertisements, they all used the original first pressing image. Even in the ads that were put out in 1995.

 

I'm just trying to say is that this was a fan rumor. Even in your initial post, "I BELIEVE that the right side up...," you stated an opinion and not a fact.

 

[*mlvc* 270]

5 minutes ago, deathproof said:

 

That's still not a direct accurate source. You do realize this fan theory is made up, right? There's nothing to back it up that the initial pressing was incorrect. If anything, the 2nd pressing is the one that's the misprint, as shown and discussed with the legibility issues with the font colors. You can look at all the print and tv advertisements, they all used the original first pressing image. Even in the ads that were put out in 1995.

 

I'm just trying to say is that this was a fan rumor. Even in your initial post, "I BELIEVE that the right side up...," you stated an opinion and not a fact.

 

You haven't provided facts, either. Photographs used in the initial press releases, etc. does not disprove that Warner made a mistake. If anything the fact that later pressings used the "upside down" version supports this. Also, considering that the font colors were messed up from the beginning further supports misprinting of the release.

In any event, I don't think we will ever know for sure, but something definitely happened.

[deathproof 306]

1 hour ago, *mlvc* said:

You haven't provided facts, either. Photographs used in the initial press releases, etc. does not disprove that Warner made a mistake. If anything the fact that later pressings used the "upside down" version supports this. Also, considering that the font colors were messed up from the beginning further supports misprinting of the release.

In any event, I don't think we will ever know for sure, but something definitely happened.

But if you claim they fixed it in the 1995 pressing, then why did they continue to use the original cover in all 1995 adverts and single release pressings? Mind you, they never adjusted any subsequent vinyl or cassette pressings. It doesn't make any sense for a respected professional like Fabien Baron to submit a cover where both the cover image and font colors were incorrect lol. Those font color choices were purposely used for legibility. That so called "revised" version has it in correct. The album title was always suppose to stand out first rather than her name.

Again, no facts.

[*mlvc* 270]

7 minutes ago, deathproof said:

But if you claim they fixed it in the 1995 pressing, then why did they continue to use the original cover in all 1995 adverts and single release pressings? Mind you, they never adjusted any subsequent vinyl or cassette pressings. It doesn't make any sense for a respected professional like Fabien Baron to submit a cover where both the cover image and font colors were incorrect lol. Those font color choices were purposely used for legibility. That so called "revised" version has it in correct. The album title was always suppose to stand out first rather than her name.

Again, no facts.

I'm not stating anything as fact, I'm only stating what I have heard, what I have been told, and what I have personally seen. By the way, Fabien Baron directed the shoot, I don't know that he selected the album cover, I think Madonna would have done that personally and someone else entirely would have taken it for print sometime after.

The first pressings along with all of the other advertisements may very well be incorrect or it could be the exact opposite. However, this we do know: finding a copy of BS with the photo being right-side up is harder than finding one that is upside-down. They are far from rare, but a quick eBay search will give you about 10 (upside-down) to 1 (right-side up) - there are definitely fewer.

Also, the right-side up version just looks off. The photo was taken with M lying on her back, with the camera photographing her upside-down which, TO ME, makes the right-side up version look very strange.

Again, some links that I didn't have any hand in writing:

https://www.1stopmadonnashop.com/bedtime-stories---upside-down-usa-cd-album-5636-p.asp

http://madonnaunderground.com/madonna-live/album-promo/bedtime-stories-promo-tour/

At the end of the day, the popular consensus is that the right-side up (first pressing) is incorrect. I suppose we would only know the facts if someone asked Madonna. Until that happens I suppose we will just have to have different opinions because using released artwork which may or may not be correct is not presenting facts because there is already the question of whether or not it was wrong to begin with. Having said that, how do you explain the change in the printing of the album cover?

[momosfantasy 87]

I have to agree with you, mlvc.  I do seem to remember seeing this addressed at some point, but I'm at work right now and don't have access to the collection to see what article may have mentioned it.  Either way, it seems evident that the upside-down cover would be the correct version.  I know that the adverts, etc. from the time show the cover "right" side up, but if that was the way it was intended to be, why in the world would it get messed up for the second edition and beyond?  It's not like the entire cover was flipped upside-down, whoever did it obviously had to change the lettering around to fit with the upside-down image.  And at this point, it's been pressed and re-pressed.  If it was a mistake, I'm sure someone in her team would have fixed it at this point 20+ years later.

[Enrico 3,246]

The upside down:

The other one looks so unnatural. Always thought the back cover was much better!

[Joseebus 118]

Yeah, the "upside down" version is the only cover for me.

[The Same Parts 842]

Speaking of Bedtime Stories, am I the only one who changed the name of both Forbidden Love songs in 2005?
In my music library, Bedtime Stories has "Forbidden Love (In Your Arms)" and COADF has "Forbidden Love (Just One Kiss)"

[Luiz Ribeiro 1,512]

 

What I remember reading in the magazines back that time is that in some countries the booklet left people confused, and Warner then decided to turn the position of the picture for a better understanding of the consumables.

[julia425646 17]

Will be this photo a album cover....

[L-U-V 184]

Also I would like to add that Madonna's website used to have the upside-down cover in her discography section and the 30th anniversary tourbook people who bought the Early ticket in 2015 were given also has that cover. @*mlvc*@deathproof

[rol1974 48]

On 9/11/2018 at 4:17 PM, Bitch I'm Madonna said:

The problem with the upside down one is the fact, that they forgot to switch the color of the text.

I have recreated the original two covers as well as an upside down version with color corrected text. The album title doesn’t disappear as much in this one as it does in the one above but it’s still kinda hard to see.

I personally don’t like how they zoomed in on her. Was that really necessary?

I use this cover instead because it stays true to the original photograph and avoids the text issue altogether:

Great job. I love your cover!

[RodLour 12]

I adore this cover. in my opinion is the best of all.

[Papa DP 193]

Receipts please !

[pourhomme80 146]

ok so we theres no consensus in this group nor is there a real receipt that explains if either were a mistake.

That said, NEW pressings and I believe the FIRST vinyl (for sale) pressings - released in 2016 are the right side up cover.

https://www.rhino.com/product/bedtime-stories-180-gram-vinyl

[deathproof 306]

16 hours ago, pourhomme80 said:

ok so we theres no consensus in this group nor is there a real receipt that explains if either were a mistake.

That said, NEW pressings and I believe the FIRST vinyl (for sale) pressings - released in 2016 are the right side up cover.

https://www.rhino.com/product/bedtime-stories-180-gram-vinyl

And all the promotional advertisements from 1994 and 1995 used the right side up cover, which is the original and correct cover.

[drivebitch 455]

8 hours ago, deathproof said:

And all the promotional advertisements from 1994 and 1995 used the right side up cover, which is the original and correct cover.

For the international audience. In the US, this was the original, correct way. Flipping it is akin to mirroring her face. It's not correct. 

This is the original. This is how she wanted it.

[Papa DP 193]

14 hours ago, drivebitch said:

For the international audience. In the US, this was the original, correct way. Flipping it is akin to mirroring her face. It's not correct. 

This is the original. This is how she wanted it.

The best version 

[deathproof 306]

On 11/24/2018 at 10:33 PM, drivebitch said:

For the international audience. In the US, this was the original, correct way. Flipping it is akin to mirroring her face. It's not correct. 

This is the original. This is how she wanted it.

But it wasn't. All promotional materials from 1994 AND 1995 used the original/correct/1st pressing cover. There's no source or record of Madonna ever saying that she wanted the image the other way. And that's a fact. It doesn't make ANY sense for the "Bedtime Stories" text to be in a blue font on top of a blue bed spread. The legibility gets lost. That's why in the original/correct cover, the Pink "Madonna" text is on top of the blue bed spread. A professional designer would never miss-use text color placement by putting text in the similar color as it's background. Saying otherwise is an insult to Fabien Baron, who is an industry legend and professional. 

The idea that Madonna asked for the cover to be switched the other way a year later is a myth. Fans have been saying this for years, but again, there's nothing to back this up.

[L-U-V 184]

But all official material published since uses the American version, including Madonna.com when it had a discography section. So I think this is the official cover NOW