Released in 1976, Led Zeppelin’s fifth studio album, How the West Was Won, was an exciting collection of songs that unveiled the band’s journey to the forefront of musical excellence. With innovative songwriting, the band created an album that further put them on the map. Aside from the music, the iconic album cover also made the album stand out from the others.
The album cover image, created by the renowned design team, Hipgnosis, is said to have been inspired by Alfred Jacob Miller’s 1840 painting entitled The Camp of Wild Brule. Depicting an American rendezvous in the 1840s, the painting features American settlers enjoying the campfire by cooking, playing the guitar and relaxing. Miller had a great passion for painting scenes of the American West.
The album cover reflects the same kind of scene with some elements being quite similar to Miller’s painting. It features Led Zeppelin members playing instruments by a campfire in the middle of the desert, with a stagecoach in the background. Interestingly, one figure on the album cover looks much like John Bonham, while others look like Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.
The design team Hipgnosis did a great job of capturing the western feel using the elemenst of desert, campfire and stagecoach. Photographers Aubrey Powell, Terence Donovan and Justin Spiers used Joshua Tree National Park in California as the backdrop for the album cover. The park was carefully selected for its rugged terrain and beautiful surroundings. As soon as Led Zeppelin arrived on the scene, fans took to the album cover and its representation of the West.
The release of the How the West Was Won album cover not only piqued the interest of fans and critics, but was also influential in paving the way for the growth of the genre known as classic rock. There is no denying that Led Zeppelin’s fifth studio album made a huge impact on both the musical and visual landscape. The album captured the western spirit and also gave a glimpse of the band’s creative prowess and influence on music.
Influence
The iconic cover of How the West Was Won had a lasting influence on album covers of later albums in the same genre. A number of bands, such as Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, Dire Straits, Metallica, Nirvana and Foo Fighters, have followed in Led Zeppelin’s footsteps by using a similar approach in their album covers. Moreover, covers of some of the celebrated albums of the ’80s and ’90s featured similar elements as the How the West Was Won cover.
The album’s impact has also been felt in publishing, film, television and advertising. The cover has been used in different contexts, from the album cover of French duo Air’s album L’Odisée de l’Espace to the album art of Serena Ryder’s 2013 album Harmony. In television, the album cover was parodied by the band Las Manos de Filippi on the show TV Bur#226.
The Album Itself
The success of How the West Was Won was not limited to the iconic album cover. The album itself peaked at number one on the UK album chart and number four on the US Billboard chart. With two hit singles, Trampled Under Foot and Over the Hills and Far Away, the album achieved a lot of recognition and commercial success.
The recording of How the West Was Won was a two-night performance at The Forum in Los Angeles, California on June 25 and 29, 1972. This live recording was compiled by engineer Jimmy Page and mixed under his supervision. The collection of songs featured in the album included C’mon Everybody, The Ocean, The Song Remains the Same, Ten Years Gone, Heartbreaker and the classic Stairway to Heaven.
Distribution
How the West Was Won was first released on compact disc as a triple LP in 1992. The re-release, supported by a comprehensive marketing campaign, included an additional bonus track, the acoustic version of Bron-Y-Aur Stomp. The album was then re-issued in 2018 in a deluxe edition to celebrate its forty-second anniversary, with five live tracks added to the original album, including a stunning sixteen-minute instrumental rendition of Moby Dick.
The album has also been released as a 180 gram double disc vinyl set. It includes the original recording as well as the additional live tracks in both high definition stereo and newly remixed 5.1 surround sound. The album is also available on streaming platforms like Spotify, Google Play Music and Apple Music.
Led Zeppelin’s Legacy
Led Zeppelin has gone down in history as one of the most influential rock bands of all time. The quintessential rock band continues to influence new generations of musicians. The How the West Was Won album cemented their role in rock music and also gave us a visual representation of the western spirit.
The album cover has become an iconic symbol of the rock music genre and is an important part of Led Zeppelin’s legacy.
The Design Process
When conceptualizing the image for the album’s iconic cover, the design team, Hipgnosis, knew they wanted to create something that was bold, innovative and visually appealing. After finding the perfect location for the shoot, they photographed Led Zeppelin playing instruments by a campfire set up in the desert of Joshua Tree National Park.
Next, the results were sent to a graphics studio for manipulation and enhancing before being signed off by the band’s manager. Afterwards, the album was ready for re-release in a deluxe three-disc set, featuring a cardboard sleeve, coloured vinyl and a beautiful lithograph.
Conclusion
The How the West Was Won album cover epitomizes the spirit of the west and also stands as a testament to the band’s creative genius. The cover was created using innovative and imaginative techniques and remains one of the most iconic cover designs of all time. The album was a great success and has been a major influence on the music industry. It continues to be a source of inspiration for new artists and serves as a reminder of Led Zeppelin’s groundbreaking contributions to rock music.
