My, how time flies. A few years ago, I posted at this blog that I was coming close to posting an expanded version of "The Wall" album by Pink Floyd. My idea was to expand it as much as reasonably possible, using extended versions and extra songs and so forth. There's a surprising amount of such material, enough to double the total length of the album, which already was a double album. I came very close to finishing that project. But then I got a list of sound edits from a diehard Pink Floyd fan, and I lost my momentum to finish the project. It was good enough for me to listen to, and frankly, that's the main reason I make these albums, because I enjoy listening to the music.
So I was just sitting on that project for a long time without doing the last small amount of work to finish it and post it. Guest poster Mike Solof has copy of the version I made and has been privately prodding me to post it, easily at least a hundred times, but I never got off my lazy butt to finish it. Recently, though, another guest poster, Fabio from Rio, made some pretty interesting artwork for his theme albums about vegetables (with the help of an AI program). That gave me the idea to ask him to make artwork for my "Wall" project, which I'm calling "The Maximum Wall." While I have been traveling around in Europe, this last month, Fabio made dozens of really great pictures to illustrate a lyrics and notes book that is part of this project, basically one picture per song. So we are very close to finishing this project, and I think it's going to be even better than before, thanks to this new artwork. I just need to do some more work on it when I get back from vacation to finish some loose ends.
However, there is one more thing I would like to see to improve the art for this project even more. If you are a big fan of the album, you probably know that an artist named Gerald Scarfe made all of the artwork for the album. We have found some appropriate pictures made by Scarfe that we are using. But when Fabio tried to make more pictures in Scarfe's distinctive style, his AI program wouldn't allow it, due to copyright issues. So I'm wondering if anyone would be able to help with this. We already have all the pictures we want. But it would be great to convert some of them to more of a Scarfe style, to have a more consistent overall style to the artwork. If you think you have the artistic and or AI picture making skills to help with this, please let us know in the comments.
Otherwise, this project is very close to completion, and I am aiming to post it in the next few weeks, knock on wood.
this is very exciting news.
ReplyDeleteSad that you didn't go with my suggestion "The Great Wall Of Floyd" LOL
ReplyDeleteLong time awaiting :)
Many thanks for all you do. Your efforts make this a much better world.
ReplyDeleteVery cool project! I'm an illustrator/designer and I think this could be a fun project to work on. If you'd like to take a look at my art I'll attach a link to my portfolio. Let me know if you'd like some help and good luck with the project! P.S. I dont use AI
ReplyDeletehttps://derektheillustrator.squarespace.com/
Interesting! I like your stuff. Contact me at thompson22 @ runbox . com (remove the spaces) and we can talk.
DeleteCool Stuff Derek!
DeleteI could send you a large collection of Scarfe's ebooks to have lots more appropriate art from which to choose?
ReplyDeleteThat would be great too! Could you send a link or links to the email address I just posted above? Thanks a lot!
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DeleteDone! I have the distinct feeling that "The Making of The Wall" will have everything you seek.
DeleteVery cool, I'm looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteI have been hoping someone like you or pj (Albums I Wish Existed) or maybe the guys at magna qualitas records would do this. I know any of you would take the time and care to do it right. I've heard a bunch of different versions where people have just slapped it together and not really tried to make good transitions between the songs. As i said above really looking forward to it!!
DeleteThanks, this definitely is not slept together. In fact, I easily spent more time on this than any other album project. As I mentioned, this will include an extensive notebook with pictures, notes on each song, and lyrics to all the songs.
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DeleteAs Paul mentioned we do not encourage our songs to fraternize together around here. Each song is respected for it's own uniqueness and this project has no songs that have been slept together with other songs without prior consent from both songs, as far as we are aware.
DeleteOops! ( blush) I meant slapped together, not slept together.
DeleteKNOCK KNOCK KNOCK (101!!).... just kidding.
ReplyDeleteSounds mostly interesting. In the year 2000 a guy named Chad Hendrickson already made an extended version of The Wall that he named Every Brick in The Wall. Art design was by Richard Brigante. So, quite excited to check this new version too. With anticipated thanks and greetings from Paris,
ReplyDeleteDid they remaster and clean that up as "The Wall Rebuilt", a 4-disc collection (300 pressings), from 2019? I have that one and it's comprehensive & beautifully done, but don't know who did the art.
Delete(I do hope PAul & Mike are reincorporating the outtakes "Teacher Teacher" and "Sexual Revolution"!)
I don't want to give too much away, but yes, I will be including those two songs, and a lot more. In addition to outtakes like that, I also will be including a fair number of songs from The Final Cut, since many of them were originally meant for The Wall. Plus, in many cases, we were able to find extra or extended instrumental solos to songs taken from live versions and outtakes and stuff like that.
DeleteI appreciate your efforts - the much missed TheLazenby did something similar a few years ago. As for the cover, I'd rather have a totally blank cover (or perhaps just a photo of a brick) than an AI cover.
ReplyDeleteThe Lazenby actually had indirect participation in the making of The Maximum Wall. I had given Paul a copy and was in touch with The Lazenby just before he unfortunately passed away. He gave us some notes and suggestions and we took them into consideration when making decisions on editing and transitions...but his version is indeed excellent!
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