Bob Seidemann

chromogenic photograph, flush-mounted, signed, titled, dated, and editioned '17/30' by the photographer in ink in the margin, 1969, printed later (Album: Style and Image in Sleeve Design, p. 106; Who Shot Rock & Roll, p. 103)

Bob Seidemann’s surreal and enigmatic ‘Blind Faith’ graced the album cover of Eric Clapton’s first post-Cream project.  The band consisted of Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker, and Ric Grech, and took both its name and the title of its only album from Seidemann’s photograph.  The image, of a nude young girl holding a futuristic metal plane, created controversy even before its release when Polydor balked at using it as cover art.  Clapton insisted, however, and the 1969 UK release of Blind Faith featured Seidemann’s photograph.  The album was consequently banned in some countries, and in America it was released with a photograph of the musicians on the cover.  The rarity of the original cover has made the album a collectible, and its notoriety has raised Seidemann’s photograph to icon status.