Visual Design, Album Covers, and a Crazy Hoax

Lately in ENGL403, we’ve been reading about and exploring the importance of visual editing and visual design. I wanted to use this blog post to mention a unique instance in the 1960s in which the visual design of album covers seemed to give truth to a pretty popular hoax. This seemingly ridiculous belief stated that Paul McCartney, member of The Beatles, had actually died in 1966 and was replaced by someone else. People went to some pretty crazy lengths to prove this by examining The Beatles’ music and album covers, which apparently contained obvious hints and proof that Paul was dead. I thought it would be fun to look at the visual elements of the band’s album covers and point out how people came to these conclusions. I will state that I’m pretty sure once the band had an idea of this hoax, they made decisions that would particularly support the false claims to get a rise out of people and because they were pretty witty and mischievous themselves.

One of the most famous “Paul is Dead” examples can be seen on the album cover for Abbey Road. The image shows the four Beatles walking across the street. The order the men walk in and their outfits all give support to this hoax. John Lennon walks first, dressed in an all-white suit. He represents Jesus, or an angel come to bring Paul to heaven. Next follows Ringo Starr, wearing a suit of black. He is the minister, or the one who preaches/eulogizes about Paul. Paul comes next, also wearing a suit but not wearing shoes, which I believe is supposed to be a sign of death in some cultures. He also carries a cigarette in his right hand, even though Paul is left-handed. Lastly, George Harrison brings up the rear. He wears an all-denim outfit, which is perfect as he is the gravedigger in this funeral possession. Weird stuff, right? BUT WAIT. See the white car parked on the left side of the road? The license plate reads: LMW28IF. So what? Well, clearly this stands for “Linda McCartney (Paul’s wife) Weeps. (He would’ve been) 28 years old if he’d been alive.” WOW! (Actually, the meanings behind these visuals are just generated by others. The car was randomly parked there on that day. Paul kicked his shoes off because apparently it was really hot outside.)

                       

The other album I’d like to discuss is Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. This cover is essential for anyone who needs proof that Paul has died. When looking at the front cover, notice a yellow flower bed shaped like a guitar towards the middle of the photograph. It looks like it says something, doesn’t it? What else could it be but “PAUL”? A bit of a stretch, but once you notice it, you can’t really unsee it! Moving upwards and to the left a bit stands the Fab Four themselves. The Ringo figure wears all black and has a mournful expression on his face, while another Beatle rests his hand on Ringo’s shoulder. (Probably the Paul standing next to him, comforting him and reassuring him that he’s happy and at peace in the afterlife). If you move towards the right and stop at Sgt. Pepper Paul, you’ll notice a hand raised above his head. This symbolizes Paul being blessed and commemorated. The “Paul is Dead” perspective certainly puts a gloom over this psychedelic album cover!

                             

Next, turn to the inner sleeve. Here you have four young, moustached faces staring right at you. If you look at Paul, you’ll notice a black patch on his jacket sleeve. You can just make out the letters “O, P, and D.” What else could these mean except “Officially Pronounced Dead”?! It seems like another clue in the infamous hoax. However, the patch actually reads “O.P.P.,” which stands for “Ontario Provincial Police” (http://www.feelnumb.com/2009/12/12/paul-mccartneys-opp-patch-on-the-cover-of-sgt-peppers-lonely-hearts-club-band/).

                           

Finally, on the back cover the Fab Four stand facing the viewer, except for Paul who stands with his back towards us which also suggests he has died.

                       

Overall, this post was meant to highlight how the visuals depicted on these two Beatles albums led people to develop interesting, creative, and strange claims to support the “Paul is Dead” hoax. Other album cover contain other suggestions. Many more allusions to Paul’s death appear in the Beatles’ music as well (which is also super interesting and amusing. I highly recommend looking into it if you’re curious!). Here is a strange example of how visuals affect one’s understanding of content. Like I mentioned before, I’m sure the Beatles purposely embedded clues in their songs and album artwork that would support the hoax. However, some of these claims are so bizarre and far-fetched, which suggests that the visuals on the albums generated serious thought about the hoax and the ways the band failed to hide the truth. Fortunately, Paul McCartney is not dead. I actually have been lucky to see him perform twice in concert in 2011 and 2016. Now, the hoax is pretty much a topic of interest and amusement for Beatles fans. Yet I’m sure there are some people today who still truly believe it!

(Images obtained from The Beatles, NPR, and CBS News websites)