Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band vs.We're Only In It For the Money

In 1967, The Beatles released 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.'   The Beatles were so big that even though there were no singles on the album, each track was played on AM radio in the USA.  

The album's design set a new standard in 'album cover as art.' 

It's so iconic that it can be parodied and instantly recognized - even by those who aren't record geeks.

In 1968, The Mothers of Invention released 'We're Only In It for the Money.'  It featured a very detailed parody cover of something exalted by an entire generation.

 It even included the cutouts.  

Legend has it that Frank Zappa sought permission from Paul McCartney.  Paul told Frank to 'check with the business manager, because that's what they're for.'   Frank tells Paul 'the artist is supposed to tell the business manager what to do.'

At any rate, the album was held up for months while the legal folks at MGM figured out how they could release it without a lawsuit.

Their ultimate solution, print the cover in reverse (the outside is in and the inside is out).

Thematically, Zappa addresses the commercialization and marketing of the counter-culture.  It's only fitting that this image was chosen.    

If you look closely at the Mother's cover, you'll see that Jimi Hendrix stopped by for the shoot.  Designer Cal Schenkel is seen holding a carton of eggs, and producer Tom Wilson is striking the Sonny Liston pose on the left side.

"Is This Faze One of Lumpy Gravy?"