Rank - Cover Model and meaning of title. Help

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Just saw a t-shirt today with the rank cover on it. Who is the cover model and what is the title "Rank" in reference to or what doe sit mean. I uploaded my CD colelction to my CPU and all my cds are in the attic(right beside the vinyl). Just curious. Thanks.

 

[Hunter Of Trolls]

actress Alexandra Bastedo from the book Birds of Britain. Bastedo was an actress, featured in British television, some B-side foreign films in the 70s (the most exciting-sounding being La novia ensangrentada, or The Blood Spattered Bride), and British theater later on, eventually becoming, oddly enough, the author of several books on pet care and the overseer of an animal sanctuary. Nevertheless, this photo is clearly of her glory days as an alluring young woman flitting around Britain. Perhaps there’s something about this being the live record that sparked this imagery—the glamorized, attentive female gaze is basically the opposite of so many of the Smiths cover images that came before it—it’s the face “put on” to go meet the crowd. If nothing else, it falls in striking relief; the woman’s look is assured, direct, and confident, whereas all the men on their covers had been obscured, conflicted, and slightly shadowed.

 

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thanks for the quick response. very insightful. and the title "Rank", what does that refer to?

 

[Hunter Of Trolls]

The title comes from the late film industry mogul J. Arthur Rank, whose production company, amongst other things, was responsible for the Carry On films.

Bastedo (the cover star of Rank) will be going to a James Bond convention on November 18th and 19th in Manchester. she was invited to attend because she appeared in the original film of “Casino Royale” and will be taking along personal pictures of herself with Orson Welles, Peter Sellers, David Niven, Deborah Kerr and John Huston.

I shall be attending this event.

 

[imogen11]

In reference to J Arthur Rank, his name is also Cockney slang for 'wank' - as in 'I'm going to go and have a J Arthur'.
I know Morrissey is a big Carry On fan but I wonder if naming the album Rank was a reference to Carry On films or to..well..having a wank??

 

[Poco Innocente]

I recall reading somewhere about him not wanting to 'put' Rank out, and that the ongoing joke as mentioned above was that Rank was his play on Wank (the cockney rhyming slang), eg his thoughts on the live album...or at least the concept of releasing it.

 

[Uncleskinny]

The title comes from the late film industry mogul J. Arthur Rank, whose production company, amongst other things, was responsible for the Carry On films.

Bastedo (the cover star of Rank) will be going to a James Bond convention on November 18th and 19th in Manchester. she was invited to attend because she appeared in the original film of “Casino Royale” and will be taking along personal pictures of herself with Orson Welles, Peter Sellers, David Niven, Deborah Kerr and John Huston.

I shall be attending this event.

The picture of Alexandra Bastedo comes was photographed by John D'Green, and comes from the book "Birds Of Britain". The title of the album was going to be "Smiths In Heat", but as time went on, Morrissey became increasingly unhappy with the title. He wrote to Rough Trade saying "Call me morbid, call me pale, but I'm just not happy with the live LP title, and, trusting it causes little commotion, I newly nominate 'Rank', as in J.Arthur". I agree with the assessment of the word being used as rhyming slang for wank, but I also think there's some dark humour there, the word Rank possibly being used in the sense of 'rotten'.

Peter

 

[celibate]

The picture of Alexandra Bastedo comes was photographed by John D'Green, and comes from the book "Birds Of Britain". The title of the album was going to be "Smiths In Heat", but as time went on, Morrissey became increasingly unhappy with the title. He wrote to Rough Trade saying "Call me morbid, call me pale, but I'm just not happy with the live LP title, and, trusting it causes little commotion, I newly nominate 'Rank', as in J.Arthur". I agree with the assessment of the word being used as rhyming slang for wank, but I also think there's some dark humour there, the word Rank possibly being used in the sense of 'rotten'.

Peter

i see you have a copy of peepholism [into the art of morrissey by jo slee]

btw. its time for part 2 , but said that numerous times, cuase peepholism is
the most beautifull book about morrissey/the smiths and a must have for every fan

 

[Uncleskinny]

i see you have a copy of peepholism [into the art of morrissey by jo slee]

btw. its time for part 2 , but said that numerous times, cuase peepholism is
the most beautifull book about morrissey/the smiths and a must have for every fan

It can't be beat, can it? I think most of the solo material has had Moz on the labels in one form or another, so the artwork on The Smiths' releases couldn't be as, well, narcissistic, because they were a band, but I agree that it was a golden age for record covers.

Peter

 

[The Goat]

No one mentioned she was the babe in 'The Champions'.
The only reason I watched it in my pre teens (oh so many years ago....)

The Goat

 

[The Youngest]

Can somebody upload the original picture from Birds Of Britain?

 

[Worm]

Without disagreeing with any of the insightful explanations given thus far, I'd add that "Rank" can also be taken to mean a self-conscious placement of The Smiths within the history of rock and roll. Establishing and laying claim to a lofty status-- pulling rank. In 1988, I think Morrissey still nursed faint hopes of a reunion, but I also think he was proud to release what part of him must have known would be the last document of The Smiths' greatness. "Rank" is the one indispensible side of the band that hadn't really been recorded for posterity, and of which both he and Marr were enormously proud. Throughout the Eighties The Smiths were hailed as one of the rare bands who not only released great music but could actually play everything live, and with astonishing virtuosity. John Peel, for one, testified to his amazement at their crispness and professionalism when they came in to play songs for the radio sessions. Releasing four studio albums and numerous singles wasn't enough. A live album was necessary to complete the picture for posterity, in a sense guaranteeing their rank.

 

[lilybett]

Rank's brilliant. That is all I have to say. That version of Still Ill makes me want to cry/does make me cry if I've had enough gin