“Meddle” 1971
Sleeve notes:
Textured gatefold sleeve, designed and photographed by Hipgnosis – not one of Storm Thorgerson’s favourites though. The front cover is hard to decipher, until opened out into gatefold and viewed from a distance (see below). Date code 7110 (October 1971) and printer’s credit on inner gatefold.
“Printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.”
Label notes:
Uk 1st pressing information must include the following –
“THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD” around rim of label
EMI box logo on label
“MADE IN GT. BRITAIN” at bottom of label
Matrix notes:
UK 1st pressing (with label as above)
S H V L 7 9 5 A – 3 (RD at 3 o’clock in deadwax, 3 at 9 o’clock)
S H V L 7 9 5 B – 1 U (T O at 3 o’clock in deadwax, 1 at 9 o’clock)
Here’s the outer gatefold concept:
which can now be clearly seen as a close up of a human ear with a secondary semi-transparent image of ripples in water overlaid on top of the ear photo.
Here’s a full page advertisement launching the new album in 13 November 1971 edition of Melody Maker:
Rare Record Collector 