Wu-Tang Design Remix Project pt.1
A little while ago I put a bunch of Wu-Tang (both group and solo) albums on my computer. 21 of them, in fact. I inherited some mild OCD from my mom, and as anyone who has seen my iTunes can attest to, it manifests itself in weird ways. I need to have decent-quality album art for every album on my computer, which currently equals over 90 gigs. The problem was that almost all of the Wu-Tang album art was horrible (ODB's two albums being the only real exceptions) -- no offense to the original designers, but as iconic as they might be they're looking pretty dated these days. So, armed with inspiration from what Olly Moss and others are doing (as written about by me here, and later by Kottke here) and a book of Blue Note Records covers, I set out to remake all 21. The first seven are here (click for full-view):
I've changed the art for these in my iTunes and love the results:
So seven down, fourteen to go. From here on out I'm going to start uploading them to my Flickr Photostream as soon as each is done, so you guys can bug me if I'm not making them fast enough. I'll post the next set of seven here when they're done. In the meantime, enjoy, and let me know if you have any comments or suggestions.
Tags: album covers, blue note, Design, remix, wu-tang
This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 at 12:00 AM and is filed under Design, Music, Portfolio, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
104 Responses to “Wu-Tang Design Remix Project pt.1”
April 28th, 2009 at 2:12 PM
That's very polite, but I don't think many people have picked up a copy of Ironman and thought
to themselves "such a splendid piece of cover art here, oowie". Maybe Mr. Killah did, but apart from him...
Nice work!
April 28th, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Sick.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Absolutely brilliant.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:52 PM
yes, very very nice.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:50 PM
awesome. though i disagree that the OG art was poor, its the exact opposite for me, i loved the art from alot of the wu albums from the 90's, classic in fact. ODB's 1st was inspired like never before, 36 was raw like the album, Cuban Linx was iconic, and no one needs to say anything about Liquid Swords and Bobby Digital.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Great job! You really captured some of the Blue Note styles that casual fans aren't aware of. (Tical, Liquid Swords, etc.)
April 29th, 2009 at 5:19 PM
[...] The rest here [...]
April 30th, 2009 at 10:26 AM
The ODB one is amazing!
April 30th, 2009 at 11:38 AM
[...] More Here - Logan Walters. [...]
April 30th, 2009 at 1:25 PM
[...] ran into Logan Walters blog site where he is set out to remix each Wu-Tang group and solo album. Check out his design here. Inspired, I decided to showcase the original design for the very first EP I release a few years [...]
April 30th, 2009 at 10:30 PM
[...] So the reinterpretation trend is in full force on the interwebs. I for one love it. I am just bummed someone beat me to the punch on merging contemporary music with my favorite graphic designer of all time Reid Miles. More specifically, the Wu-Tang clan with the Blue Note covers Reid designed in the 50s and 60s. Logan Walters, the designer, has gone so far to redesign every Wu-Tang album and their solo works respectively. View more here. [...]
April 30th, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Sensational. I'm intrigued by the use of the Blue Note
reference, and in each case there are some moments I begin to
enjoy. The almost intersecting solid bars of color and text
creates so much tension that adds to the robust
composition; complete with iconic and magnetic portraits of
each artist. I could see this appealing any hardcore fan of
the Wu, and I could easily see myself picking one up on
my next trip to Starbucks or Whole Foods. Truly a brilliant
way to reach out to all user groups.
May 1st, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Wu-Tang Clan meets Blue Note...
??, ??? ?? ?????? ????? ?????, ?? ??????? ??????????? ??????? Wu-Tang Clan, ??? ????? ???????? ????????. ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????...
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:59 AM
[...] album covers in blue note stylo: http://website13156.com/?p=165 [...]
May 4th, 2009 at 1:44 PM
I love the concept of remixing the album cover designs. Fantastic job! Being a big Wu-tang fan I just might have to update some of the artwork in my collection with these.
May 4th, 2009 at 3:41 PM
[...] Wu-Tang Design Remix Project pt.1 | Logan Walters. Related Posts:AIR Icon Generator | ClockMaker ProjectVektor Skate DesignSchönes freies Joomla ThemeAmazing Ornamental Design Inspiration101 PSD to HTML conversion services . [...]
May 4th, 2009 at 3:46 PM
[...] reader Logan WalÂters comÂmented that he is workÂing on a related perÂsonal project – Wu Note Records a.k.a. Blu-?Tang Clan. In the same spirit of other recent design remix projects like like [...]
May 4th, 2009 at 5:08 PM
That is a complete delusional statement. You lost ya rabbit ass mind!!! Their covers and artwork was/is well loved, excepted, appreciated, liked and most of their album covers were hot. Most of them were creative and stood out.
Are you really telling me that these covers capture the title and essence of their music?? Really??? The "Cuban Link" the "36 Chambers" covers are better?? Come don't flatter your self.
Maybe because you do some art yourself stuff but I'd rather their covers over yours. However, I do like your artwork but there is no edge to 'em like the Wu did on their covers. That's like the ultimate off base insane insult I heard in a while.
May 4th, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Genius!!
May 4th, 2009 at 5:09 PM
But hold on, you all don't like THIS cover?
Wow.
May 4th, 2009 at 5:37 PM
@Truth:
"Their covers and artwork was/is well loved, excepted, appreciated, liked and most of their album covers were hot. Most of them were creative and stood out."
i think it's worth establishing a difference between "hot" and "iconic." on one hand those covers were incredibly memorable, set the tone for the music, and have become kind of timeless. on the other, the type was almost uniformly horrible, and even the best 90s rap albums fell into some design cliches that i wouldn't wish on the worst of clients.
"Are you really telling me that these covers capture the title and essence of their music?? Really???"
nope, not at all. these are just pastiche, meant to amuse myself and anyone else with an interest in wu-tang/blue note.
May 4th, 2009 at 5:43 PM
[...] raw nuggets of Shaolin goodness contained inside. Â Here are 4 of my favorites, and you can check Logan Walters’ website to peep the [...]
May 4th, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Well done fam. I will be subscribing...
May 4th, 2009 at 7:02 PM
[...] affiliated albums, save for Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s mural worthy welfare card, graphic designer Logan Walters started remixing them in the style of Blue Note LPs. So far, the devout Wu-Tang fan has completed 7 [...]
May 4th, 2009 at 7:33 PM
[...] design idea. Don’t like the original Wu Tang sleeves? Re-design them in the style of the Blue Note jazz label covers. A few I think stray more towards Riverside or Prestige than Blue Note but whatever - it works. [...]
May 4th, 2009 at 9:04 PM
[...] designer Logan Walters reinterprets Wu album covers in the style of Blue Note Records. Check them out [...]
May 4th, 2009 at 9:40 PM
[...] slow forum The Wu Note Project. __________________ iMac -> Duet -> GS-1 or SRM-252II -> HF-1 or SR-003 -> Quad 12L iPhone [...]
May 5th, 2009 at 12:03 AM
[...] Logan Walters has embarked on a mission to re-design the covers for all 21 Wu Tang albums. “The problem was [...]
May 5th, 2009 at 2:41 AM
[...] One man reimagines Wu-Tang records as Blue Note albums. I received about four days worth of stolen jazz albums from Russia as a gift [...]
May 5th, 2009 at 2:49 AM
[...] If you feel as if you have more than enough music, go put some on and look at what Logan Walters thinks Wu-Tang Clan albums might look like had they been released on Blue Note. [...]
May 5th, 2009 at 4:31 AM
[...] Check these new Wu-Tang album covers, courtesy of graphic designer Logan Walters. [...]
May 5th, 2009 at 1:39 PM
[...] Wu Note Records [...]
May 5th, 2009 at 3:30 PM
[...] graphic designer Logan Walters has remixed the cover art of classic Wu-Tang Clan rappers’ albums so they resemble Blue Note [...]
May 5th, 2009 at 4:20 PM
[...] Designer Logan Walters redirects his “mild OCD” (his words) tendencies into something awesome: Walters has begun re-creating new covers for all 21 Wu-Tang albums with a nod and fist pound to the Blue Note jazz art style. The result is a surprising but fantastic mash up. [...]
May 5th, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Logan, as a huge fan of both Wu & Reid Miles I am loving this.
Check out our "Blue-Note" inspired music video for Raphael Saadiq's 100 Yard Dash: http://perceptionnyc.com/index.php/work/saadiq/
May 5th, 2009 at 9:35 PM
[...] Logan Walters is making a big splash on music & design blogs this week, with his impressive Wu-Tang Design Remix Project - acollection of Wu-Tang Clan album covers, re-imagined in the timeless style of Blue Note. Via [...]
May 5th, 2009 at 11:18 PM
This is just damned genius. So beautiful.
May 5th, 2009 at 11:18 PM
How dare you! What makes you think you can fuck with classic hip hop design? Stick to being a fan and leave the art to the artists. I just threw up at the thought of some jackass out there fucking with my classics. Maybe if you were capable of making a classic album I would be able to give you a pass, but you're not. Leave my records alone!
May 6th, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Revisionist ignorance.You got too much sparetime.Trying to streamline the rugged, epic fail.
May 6th, 2009 at 2:00 PM
[...] CLICK HERE for what might be the coolest / most counter culturally snobbish salute to Wu-Tang Clan since JumpTheTurnStyle’s debut. [...]
May 6th, 2009 at 3:33 PM
please keep going, these covers are much better than the original ones!
May 6th, 2009 at 6:57 PM
[...] es etwas Zeit, um die Welt zu verändern. Verändert hat er schon mal einige klassische Wu-Cover. Hier gibt es davon noch mehr zu sehen. Man sieht auf jeden Fall, dass er es sowohl aus einer [...]
May 6th, 2009 at 8:09 PM
You made Ironman look like the credits to SNL, weak.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:44 PM
The "Ironman" cover looks like the cut scenes the play on Saturday Night Live before the musical guest comes on!
May 7th, 2009 at 2:41 AM
[...] Wu Tang Album Cover Redesigns [...]
May 7th, 2009 at 6:17 AM
[...] Logan Walters does some clean & official looking work redesigning select Wu-Tang album covers. Spotted @ Rap [...]
May 7th, 2009 at 6:51 AM
why eff wit the original? you took all the soul out the covers, and to say the original art was 'terrible'... you must not understand.
this shit looks like it belongs in starbucks..
May 7th, 2009 at 3:34 PM
[...] Wu Tang Clan x Blue Note 7 05 2009 En otra Ă©poca los mĂşsicos de Jazz representaban para muchos la elegancia y el gusto exquisito pero para otros tantos eran sĂmbolos de la Mala Vida, los Vicios y la vida de Club….Imaginenos que Wu Tang perteneciese a esa Ă©poca y en concreto al catálogo del sello Blue Note…Este es el resultado del trabajo del diseñador Logan Walters. [...]
May 7th, 2009 at 5:16 PM
way to take all the realness and feeling out of something.
you think Enter the 36 Chambers, 6 Feet Deep, Liquid Swords, Return To The 36 Chambers, and Only Built For... weren't incredible covers?
Enter The 36 Chambers cover alone, was the introduction to the Wu Tang... mysterious ninja lookin muthaf@*kers, in some Shaolin Temple lookin place.
Only Built For Cuban Linx, is one of the best album covers of all time!
And the colors and photography on the Iron Man cover was dope.
Since we're on the topic of Jazz and Bluenote anyway... this is like trying to fix the imperfections of jazz music. Like making everyone play to a metronome all the time.
Keep making things softer and sweeter... I'll keep the griminess... all day...
May 7th, 2009 at 6:27 PM
[...] RZA) are trying to inhabit more avant-gard territory. Scope the other Blue-Note inspired covers here and add them to your [...]
May 7th, 2009 at 7:26 PM
[...] Logan Walters has taken it upon himself to redesign all 21 Wu-Tang Clan affiliated albums in the style of classic Blue Note record jackets. Â Stay [...]
May 7th, 2009 at 11:21 PM
they all look great, but I was thinking to myself "nah, OF COURSE I'd rather have the real thing on my iPod"
but viewing them in that picture of the album art flipper througher, man they just look so much more like albums... nice work
May 8th, 2009 at 12:24 AM
[...] Wu-Tang Design Remix Project pt.1 | Logan Walters "Wu-Tang Design Remix Project pt.1 | Logan Walters" http://is.gd/vtAT [from http://twitter.com/kenmat/statuses/1654263164 (tags: tweecious BlueNoteRecords LiquidSwords ReidMiles Wu-TangClan Albumcover Design EntertheWu-Tang BlueNote) [...]
May 8th, 2009 at 3:01 AM
i dont understand why anyone would even attempt this, never mind get praise and respect for something that any body with a computer and a clipart program can do!!!! the first wu covers were brilliant and classic in every way. these are the lp covers we all grew up staring at as kids in awe of this thing we call hip hop music. im not one to diss anyone but these cover are kinda weak and fruity for the most part! how could you ever re create the firts gravediggaz cover or odb's??? absolutley un heard of and not what hip hop is!!!!!! word life
May 8th, 2009 at 3:05 AM
[...] Je ne suis pas puriste et adore la fusion, voici un clash visuel original, celui d’intĂ©grer deux univers sonores distincts, le Wu du Staten I... [...]
May 8th, 2009 at 3:35 AM
eh.
i like the idea of redesigning the covers, but i can't say i'm impressed with any of these. they don't match the music, or the personalities of the Wu (maybe the Tical one is okay)
that Gza one is actually bad... but, i guess everyone else seems to like them, so maybe i'm wrong.
May 8th, 2009 at 7:58 AM
[...] (see more via Logan Walters) [...]
May 8th, 2009 at 10:04 PM
I prefer the OGs to be honest - the OG Ironman cover especially is a masterpiece, with Starks, Rae and Cappadonna rocking the lurid garms and checking out the customised Wallabie collection....
The only OG Wu cover I don't rate is Tical which was a bit boring and lacking any real distinguishing features, but all the others were great and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... uses typefaces in one of the most original ways I've seen.
It looks like you knocked up the Liquid Swords cover in under a minute!
May 9th, 2009 at 9:15 AM
[...] Wu-Tang artwork in a Blue Note ish way.. Wu-Tang Design Remix Project pt.1 | Logan Walters [...]
May 9th, 2009 at 3:26 PM
These are pretty nice, and I have a good deal of the Bluenotes that inspired these. They do need stereo bars placed at the tops (in the dead space) or text that reads "Mono" or "Mono playable on stereo."
May 10th, 2009 at 12:22 AM
[...] Wu-Tang artwork in a Blue Note ish way.. Commenta 9th May , 2009 http://website13156.com/?p=165 [...]
May 11th, 2009 at 12:59 AM
[...] him some Wu Tang album cover art. And so he dipped into the history of Blue Note and is working on remaking all the Wu Tang albums in that legendary style. (Via Animal New [...]
May 11th, 2009 at 5:19 AM
Mega. Better than the real thing by miles.
May 11th, 2009 at 7:28 AM
These are all fucking awesome, but I'm wondering how you'd design the Gravediggaz album based on its original title, Niggamortis.
But yeah, that Tical redesign is especially insanely better the original.
May 11th, 2009 at 8:58 PM
[...] Logan Walter’s Mash Up [...]
May 12th, 2009 at 10:38 PM
[...] can check out the other Wu-Tang x Blue Note designs by Logan Walters at his website. I prefer the original artwork in each instance, but, to be completely honest, I don’t hate [...]
May 14th, 2009 at 8:59 AM
[...] meant to post this last week when I saw it at URB, but a designer/artist by the name of Logan Walters has taken it upon himself to redesign the covers of Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated albums in the style of [...]
May 14th, 2009 at 11:16 PM
[...] Wu-Tang albums including a bunch of the solo and side projects that members of the group worked on. According to his blog, he is a little OCD when it comes to his iPod and how things are entered in it. He wrote that he [...]
May 16th, 2009 at 5:05 PM
[...] Take these fantastic covers that Logan Walters is putting together for early Wu-Tang albums: [...]
May 17th, 2009 at 3:51 PM
[...] has to be one of the sickest things I’ve seen in a long time. Logan Walters, quite evidently a real stickler for perfectionism, has decided to remake all twenty-one of the Wu [...]
May 20th, 2009 at 7:18 PM
[...] interpretations of the Wu Tang Clan’s music are also being taken to an artistic level with Logan Walters‘ Wu Tang album cover project. Walters has been redesigning the Wu’s album art in the [...]
May 26th, 2009 at 4:01 AM
[...] Wu-Tang Design Remix Project pt.1 | Logan Walters (tags: cover hiphop wu-tang jazz typography packaging via.kottke) [...]
May 27th, 2009 at 5:35 PM
[...] expense. Maybe typography is a naughty word. Designer Logan Walters has taken it upon himself to redesign some of the old Wu albums. They’re a bit reminiscent of old Hitchcock movie posters. I think they’re a great [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 5:20 AM
[...] designer, felt the covers of the 21 albums from the members of the Wu-Tang Clan were pretty boring. He decided to recreate them using the Blu-Note style. Not only is it Almost brillant, I think he could probably make a business out of it. Posted in [...]
June 6th, 2009 at 7:23 PM
[...] Logan Walters redesigns some of Wu-Tangs classic albums in “Wu-Note Project.” [Via Flickr and website13156]. [...]
June 20th, 2009 at 9:09 PM
[...] via http://website13156.com/?p=165 [...]
June 21st, 2009 at 3:01 AM
[...] Check the rest out. [...]
June 21st, 2009 at 4:01 AM
[...] Part 1, and Part [...]
June 21st, 2009 at 11:33 AM
[...] These retro versions of Wu albumn covers are dope . . .more at this site [...]
June 22nd, 2009 at 6:17 AM
[...] last month, I posted a series of redesigned covers by Logan Walters. Here's part II of his series and these are all replacing the existing cover art on my Zune. [...]
July 1st, 2009 at 7:58 PM
[...] This is a very cool concept by artist/designer Logan Walters. He loves Wu-Tang, but noticed that they always had kind of shitty album cover art. So, he decided to remake all the covers. Check it out. [...]
July 10th, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Wu-Tang Design Remix Project...
Designers are insane and love to redesign things that have already been designed. Logan Walters is one of these insane designers. He’s design remixing Wu-Tang album covers, and most of them are really rad. Although I actually dig the design of the or...
July 10th, 2009 at 9:05 PM
[...] RT @grainedit: RT @ladylexx WuTang albums in Blue Note-esque re-designs: http://website13156.com/?p=165 [...]
July 27th, 2009 at 5:00 PM
[...] found Logan Walters’ Wu-Note Project by accident, searching for images to update my MP3 collection. After seeing the cover for [...]
August 18th, 2009 at 10:52 AM
[...] Tang Album Covers redesigned in a Blue Note style by Logan Walters. « [...]
August 25th, 2009 at 4:25 AM
[...] Logan Walters [...]
August 27th, 2009 at 10:30 PM
[...] His website has a lot of great stuff on it, but the main reason for this post are his amazing Wu Tang remix album covers. Here, he re-imagines the clan’s albums, Blue Note [...]
October 30th, 2009 at 8:51 AM
[...] goes Blue Note. Yeah, I know Kottke covered it six months ago. Dig it. http://website13156.com/?p=165 [...]
November 8th, 2009 at 12:50 PM
[...] and music enthusiast Logan Walters set about re-creating classic Wu-Tang Clan album covers in the iconic Blue Note Records style. [...]
November 18th, 2009 at 3:44 AM
[...] Blue Note mash-up. Whoa! Great work Logan, keep up the design DJ kung-fu awesomeness. See the rest here and here. 0 Comments Tweet This function fbs_click() [...]
January 19th, 2010 at 7:14 AM
[...] of the Wu Tang covers in the style of Blue Note – have a look at his other Wu Tang covers here. All the samples are listed on the back [...]
January 20th, 2010 at 1:38 PM
[...] many of the Wu Tang covers in the style of Blue Note – have a look at his other Wu Tang covers here. All the samples are listed on the back [...]
January 21st, 2010 at 8:41 AM
[...] it all off with album art by Logan Walters (who previously paid respects to the Wu-Tang by redoing their album art in the style of Blue Note), and you’ve got a recipe for a flash in the pan. You can get the full album off their [...]
January 21st, 2010 at 6:22 PM
[...] many of the Wu Tang covers in the style of Blue Note - have a look at his other Wu Tang covers here. All the samples are listed on the back cover (see bottom of page for larger [...]
January 28th, 2010 at 11:31 AM
[...] awesome: the cover art for the album was done by Logan Walters, whose on-going remastering of Wu-Tang album covers in the style of Blue Note  (Reid Miles’s iconic album cover art for numerous influential jazz [...]
January 29th, 2010 at 10:21 AM
[...] > Logan Walters [...]
January 31st, 2010 at 12:54 AM
[...] album is produced by Tom Caruana. Artwork is provided by Logan Walters, who has reworked several Wu Tang [...]
January 31st, 2010 at 1:33 PM
[...] Tang acapellas & Beatles songs. The album is produced by Tom Caruana. Artwork is provided by Logan Walters, who has reworked several Wu Tang [...]
February 4th, 2010 at 10:37 AM
[...] et magique chambre. Vous pourrez voir son travail concernant les albums du Wu chez Blue Note ICI. C’est plutĂ´t rĂ©ussi, et contrairement Ă Danger Mouse qui avait remixĂ© le Black Album de [...]
February 18th, 2010 at 6:49 PM
[...] This guy redesigned all the Wu-Tang album covers. This other guy redesigned movie posters in black and red. I tried doing a few classic rap albums. Here is the Slim Shady LP. This entry was posted in MSCED and tagged album cover, MSCED, rap, redesign. Bookmark the permalink. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL. Lord Willin’ » [...]
February 26th, 2010 at 3:15 AM
[...] Logan Walters gives the Killa Bee’s cover art his own Blue Note Records inspired twist. Check the rest out at his site. [...]
March 11th, 2010 at 10:31 PM
[...] We are really proud of our brand and get questions about it all of the time. We feel incredibly lucky to have worked with Logan Walters, a kick-ass designer from Michigan. You might know him from his Wu-Tang Design Remix Project. [...]
March 15th, 2010 at 7:14 AM
[...] back catalogue in the style of the Blue Note Records covers of old. You can view these at his site here or on Flickr [...]
April 30th, 2010 at 10:20 AM
[...] and later by Kottke here) and a book of Blue Note Records covers, I set out to remake all 21. check out his site at [...]