Has stuck with me that “never completely convinced” quote from Bill with regards to that original cover art. When I first saw the ‘Practically Wired’ CD on the shelves at Rockaway Records in Los Angeles, it was on display and it stood out as looking like a detail from a page from a mid-century electronics magazine. Thought that the subdued 1950s as opposed to day-glo 1950s of the New Wave era was a cool angle and I placed in the category of Brian Eno’s ‘The Drop’ as a cover, a cover I was never completely convinced by but admired, too. In fact I used to sometimes listen to those CD’s — ‘Practically Wired’ and ‘The Drop’ — back-to-back just because their covers gave me similar feelings.It didn’t have the Bill Nelson sense of things, that cover, didn’t have that certain zing to it and I remember doing a double take when I saw it. Didn’t dislike the cover but was of course excited by there being new Bill Nelson product.Some of the music shocked me on first listen and some of it soothed but all of it had me grinning.
The reissue was remastered in 24 bit sound. And the artwork was redesigned - it no longer looks cheap and slap-dash, as it did the first time around. A new liner note was added as well.
Bill: "I didn't have any design input for the original 'Practically Wired' sleeve, other than supplying the childhood photo' of myself and writing the sleevenotes. And, as you might suspect, the 'flying V' guitar silhouette was the wrong choice as it is not a guitar I'm associated with. I was never completely convinced by that first release packaging but am very much looking forward to seeing Phil's completed new version for the re-issue". (from the old forum, just prior to the reissue)
Anniversary time again for this gem.
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Released on this date, in 1995.
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To me, this album is the perfect mix of electric and acoustic Bill.
Has stuck with me that “never completely convinced” quote from Bill with regards to that original cover art. When I first saw the ‘Practically Wired’ CD on the shelves at Rockaway Records in Los Angeles, it was on display and it stood out as looking like a detail from a page from a mid-century electronics magazine. Thought that the subdued 1950s as opposed to day-glo 1950s of the New Wave era was a cool angle and I placed in the category of Brian Eno’s ‘The Drop’ as a cover, a cover I was never completely convinced by but admired, too. In fact I used to sometimes listen to those CD’s — ‘Practically Wired’ and ‘The Drop’ — back-to-back just because their covers gave me similar feelings. It didn’t have the Bill Nelson sense of things, that cover, didn’t have that certain zing to it and I remember doing a double take when I saw it. Didn’t dislike the cover but was of course excited by there being new Bill Nelson product. Some of the music shocked me on first listen and some of it soothed but all of it had me grinning.
The reissue was remastered in 24 bit sound. And the artwork was redesigned - it no longer looks cheap and slap-dash, as it did the first time around. A new liner note was added as well.
Bill: "I didn't have any design input for the original 'Practically Wired' sleeve, other than supplying the childhood photo' of myself and writing the sleevenotes. And, as you might suspect, the 'flying V' guitar silhouette was the wrong choice as it is not a guitar I'm associated with. I was never completely convinced by that first release packaging but am very much looking forward to seeing Phil's completed new version for the re-issue". (from the old forum, just prior to the reissue)