Biography
British label Charisma (“The Famous Charisma Label”) was established in 1969 by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith and made its name with acts like Van Der Graaf Generator, Peter Hammill, The Nice and Genesis. In most of Europe releases were manufactured and distributed via Phonogram companies from the early 1970s until January 1985, when Charisma Records Ltd. and the Charisma brand were acquired by Virgin Records Ltd. https://www.discogs.com/label/3109-Charisma
Album & Cover
A double-album sampler of the Charisma label’s 1971-1972 output, Charisma Disturbance is a veritable behemoth and no mistake. Just a glance at the participating artists renders further comment all but superfluous — Genesis, Peter Hammill, the Nice, Rare Bird, Van Der Graaf Generator, and the Incredible String Band are more than mere giants of the U.K. underground of the age; they also represent peaks to which British prog has been attempting to return ever since. This album’s unstinting trawl through some of their most adventurous pages — “Return of the Giant Hogweed,” “Killer,” “Sympathy,” and so on — is simply the icing on the hyperbolic cake. http://www.allmusic.com/album/charisma-disturbance
The inspiration for this cover came from the album title and where the Hipgnosis studio was situated, in Soho with all the seedy strip joints and sex shops. According to Aubrey Powell the leather mask was designed and made by Hipgnosis for the cover. The typography was not of the highest standard either in which the album title is very hard to read…Overall a poor album sleeve which the gimmick envelope sleeve could not save, if I say so myself( the author).
Cover Location: Hipgnosis Studio, London, UK
Who Did What: Photography A. Powell. Graphics Hollyhead. Photography By – Armando Gallo, Barrie Wentzell, BBC, Mick Rock
Label: Charisma TSS1(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell
Tracklist
| Side One Sinfonia Of London – Conducted By Joseph Eger Sonata Pian E Forte John Neville – The Unanswered Question The Nice – Intermezzo ‘Karelia Suite’ Peter Hammill – German Overalls |
Side Two Alan Hull – Money Game Bell & Arc – She Belongs To Me Monty Python – Spam Song Lindisfarne – Lady Eleanor Bo Hansson – Flight To The Ford Lindisfarne – Fog On The Tyne |
Side Three Capability Brown – No Range Rare Bird – Sympathy Audience – I Had A Dream Clifford T. Ward – Home Thoughts Van Der Graaf Generator – Killer |
Side Four Music From Free Creek – Getting Back To Molly Graham Bell – Too Many People Jo’Burg Hawk – Dark Side Of The Moon String Driven Thing – Regent Street Incident Genesis – Return Of The Giant Hogweed |
Credits
Sleeve Notes – Tony Stratton Smith
