Album cover of the week: Speak No Evil

Released in 1965, trumpeter Wayne Shorter’s Speak No Evil is rightly considered an all-time classic of hard bop.  It also has one of the more striking covers of any Blue Note album from the period.  The typical monochrome hue effect is of course present, which by ’65 was fairly standard for the label.  But putting the star in the background of the photo is an interesting choice. The lipstick mark at the top is also a nice touch.

The slightly blurred lady up front is Teruka (Irene) Nakagami, Shorter’s first wife. Cover design and photography was by Reid Miles, who produced many of Blue Note’s other great covers.

Enjoy this bonus clip of Shorter and his band performing “Witch Hunt”, the album’s first cut.

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