Dive into Atlantic Information’ archives on this beautiful new picture e-book

Atlantic Information, the visionary New York label that made stars of a number of the world’s most notable artists from Aretha Franklin to Charli XCX, has not too long ago celebrated a giant birthday. To mark the event, the label is inviting music followers to peek inside its wealthy pictures archive.

Years within the making, this new picture e-book gives a uncommon look into Atlantic’s 75-plus yr legacy, showcasing a wealth of photos from the label’s intensive archives – many printed for the primary time. The images, spanning portraits, reside performances, studio periods and candid behind-the-scenes moments, have been captured by a number of the world’s most famous photographers, together with Annie Leibovitz, Jim Marshall, Lee Friedlander, Walter Iooss Jr., Anton Corbijn, Chuck Stewart, Albert Watson and David LaChapelle.

Editor and New Yorker Reuel Golden had the pleasure of diving into the Atlantic archives for this challenge. He shared his experiences with Wallpaper*.

Wallpaper*: What appealed to you about this challenge?

Reuel Golden: We had initially been approached by Atlantic Information e-book, who had been impressed by 75 Years of Capitol Information e-book, which got here out in 2016. Capitol may be very a lot related to L.A., whereas Atlantic Information has New York’s DNA and as a New Yorker, for me this had apparent attraction. Its musical legacy is in fact unimaginable and the flexibility of their artists and the completely different genres they signify made it enjoyable and difficult. Principally, we would have liked to seek out compelling images from King Crimson (and their numerous line-ups) to A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie.

What struck you most about Atlantic’s legacy?

Atlantic’s legacy may be very a lot intertwined with the character and ethos of its co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, who put his private stamp on each side of the corporate. Ertegun was the primary music govt to champion soul and R&B music and his assist for artists like Ruth Brown and Ray Charles, modified the segregation of American music ceaselessly. Atlantic additionally employed Black photographers to shoot their artists, which was very uncommon on the time. For instance, Led Zeppelin after they first signed to the label have been shot by the nice jazz photographer Chuck Stewart. Eretgun favored to combine it up and defy expectations and we’ve tried to use this numerous method when making the e-book.

What makes a fantastic music {photograph}?

There are two varieties of music {photograph} that the followers at all times wish to see. The primary shot is one the place the artist is performing or recording and a fantastic picture transforms the viewer to the centre of that inventive expertise. Jim Marshall who shot Cream, our e-book cowl, was particularly expert at capturing the uncooked energy of reside efficiency. The opposite picture is the candid or unguarded portrait that seemingly catches the star as they are surely and never how they wish to seem. Anton Corbijn is a grasp at getting behind the masks.

Do you’ve gotten a favorite {photograph} or story from the e-book?

We’re engaged on a Michael Jordan e-book with the legendary sports activities photographer Water Iooss Jr. and within the Sixties he had an alternate profession as a music photographer, partly as a result of he favored going to the gigs and getting excessive. There’s a fantastic {photograph} of Aretha backstage at a live performance in New Jersey, fixing her make-up in entrance of a mirror in a cramped altering room. Walter says the entire silent encounter lasted a number of seconds and that he’s not even positive that Aretha even observed him, however what a second to seize the Queen of Soul of she prepares to go on stage.

Music pictures is a extra challenged trade than it was up to now. Do you assume we may have the identical document of right this moment’s artists in one other 75 years?