GG Three Friends album cover question - Progressive Rock Music Forum

So today I bought Gentle Giant's Three Friends album at the record store, only I was unaware there was a different cover on the US version as compared to the UK version (which is the one I'm familiar with seeing online), so I wasn't really sure if I was buying Three Friends or some weird copy of the debut. Now that I've figured it out that I have Three Friends, I can't seem to find an explanation online for why they decided to ditch the UK cover and put the art from their debut album on the US editions of Three Friends. Does anyone here know the story?

Porg for short. My love of music doesn't end with prog! Feel free to discuss all sorts of music with me. Odds are I'll give it a chance if I haven't already! :)

Yeah. It's because Three Friends was the first GG album to release in the US I think. So they just went with the debut cover because barely anyone had probably seen it in the States. Funny that, later, they became way more popular in the US than in their native UK.

Awesoreno wrote:

Yeah. It's because Three Friends was the first GG album to release in the US I think. So they just went with the debut cover because barely anyone had probably seen it in the States. Funny that, later, they became way more popular in the US than in their native UK.

Fairly certain this is the correct answer.

In a Glass House was rather difficult to import for a bit if I'm not mistaken, as well.

"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021

^Yes...it did....I have the US version which is an octopus in a bottle but the Brit one had the really cool Dean cover.

Edited by dr wu23 - January 03 2021 at 11:07

One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin

Hey thanks for the answers y'all! I knew Octopus had two covers, but I mistakenly thought the jar cover was just the result of some remaster/remix anniversary reissue. I also happen to have that one on CD and it has the jar cover rather than the Roger Dean one! At least with Octopus they didn't reuse an old cover to confuse American fans 50 years into the future with an internet connection, lol.

Porg for short. My love of music doesn't end with prog! Feel free to discuss all sorts of music with me. Odds are I'll give it a chance if I haven't already! :)

I think thats probably right; US labels quite often messed about with or objected to art-work coming as a package from a UK or European band release. Camel had problems with Mirage, Snow Goose and Moonmadness.. in some cases it definately came from extreme jumpiness of big label legal teams assuming that some kind of law suit might appear or an executive deciding that it wasnt right or appropriate for an American audience.

Mind you, ive got Canadian pressings of both Gentle Giant 1st and Aquiring the taste which both have UK artwork.. did they get imported into the States? In A Glashouse had real problems getting a release.. they had a couple of label changes before they settled on Chrysalis so that probably had an influence.. its quite odd they were so successful and did so well in the States considering their early lps (up to and including Power and the Glory) had such a chequered history in terms of release, promotion and availability. But in all fairness the first 4 Genesis 'Charisma' lps had various issues, deletions, re-issues and collections (as double lp packages) on MCA, Buddha,Atlantic/WEA, Polydor as Charisma's catalogue was pushed about between different distribution deals.. but they did ok!