Simon Halfon
Encyclopedia
Simon Halfon is a graphic designer most noted for his work with The Jam
, The Style Council
, and Paul Weller. Halfon has also worked with Oasis
and George Michael
, among others. Halfon's most visible work has focused on solid inspiration from the design of the 1960s. He has, however, displayed examples of a more current and sleek style as well. His work on the Style Council's house music efforts was noticed by George Michael
, who had Halfon apply a similar approach to his Listen Without Prejudice album in 1990.
The Style Council sleeves had a contemporary feel with a close eye on sixties design.
The Style council made a bold turn into contemporary Rhythm and Blues in 1987, Halfon designed the International Orange
gatefold sleeve for their The Cost of Loving
album. The shade of orange is noted for its use in "setting things apart from their surroundings", but in the case of the Golden Gate Bridge
it is also seen as a master stroke of beauty. The Style Council's sleeve was a hefty gatefold containing two solid slabs of 12" vinyl EPs and was swathed entirely in the color, opening the gatefold reveals high-contrast black and white photographs of the group, a crisp visual contrast that might have been a commentary on music as well (black and white). This was Halfon's homage to Richard Hamilton's cover art for The Beatles 'white album'.
Halfon borrowed from Peter Blake's "The First Real Target" for the debut single by The Paul Weller Movement.
On Weller's "Out of the Sinking" single, it seems Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin On" cover may be referenced. The single came from an album (1995's Stanley Road
) that made deliberate reference to the Beatles with its title and Peter Blake (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
) cover collage
(design supervised by Halfon) . After "Out of the Sinking", and as the album was released for journalistic review with the Blake cover, the British press started hailing Weller's iconic stature in British rock history. Mr. Halfon has also worked with Oasis for many years designing record sleeves and taking behind the scenes photographs of the group. 2006 saw Halfon reuniting with Peter Blake to work on the cover of Stop the Clocks
, The Best Of Oasis.
Halfon has created record sleeves for numerous artists including The Who, James Brown and John Lennon. He is also known for his work with George Michael most notably 1990's Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1. A simple yet iconic album cover using Weegee
's famous Coney Island photograph.
In 2007, he produced his first feature film, Sleuth
, starring Michael Caine
and Jude Law
. The film was directed by Kenneth Branagh
with a screenplay written by Harold Pinter
.
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
, The Style Council
The Style Council
The Style Council were an English band, formed in 1983 by the ex-The Jam singer and guitarist Paul Weller, with keyboardist Mick Talbot. The permanent line-up grew to include drummer Steve White and Weller's then-wife, vocalist Dee C. Lee. Other artists such as Tracie Young and Tracey Thorn also...
, and Paul Weller. Halfon has also worked with Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
and George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
, among others. Halfon's most visible work has focused on solid inspiration from the design of the 1960s. He has, however, displayed examples of a more current and sleek style as well. His work on the Style Council's house music efforts was noticed by George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
, who had Halfon apply a similar approach to his Listen Without Prejudice album in 1990.
Designs with Weller
Halfon began working for Paul Weller in 1983. Designing record sleeves for The Style Council starting with 1983's Café BleuCafé Bleu
Café Bleu is the official debut album released by the band The Style Council in March 1984, reaching number 2 in the UK charts. It followed the compilation Introducing The Style Council, which was released only in the Netherlands, Canada and Japan....
The Style Council sleeves had a contemporary feel with a close eye on sixties design.
The Style council made a bold turn into contemporary Rhythm and Blues in 1987, Halfon designed the International Orange
International orange
International orange is a color used in the aerospace industry to set things apart from their surroundings, similar to safety orange, but deeper and with a more reddish tone.-International orange :...
gatefold sleeve for their The Cost of Loving
The Cost of Loving
The Cost of Loving is an album from the band The Style Council, released in 1987. This album saw the group concentrating on the R&B styles that had been growing in America during the eighties...
album. The shade of orange is noted for its use in "setting things apart from their surroundings", but in the case of the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
it is also seen as a master stroke of beauty. The Style Council's sleeve was a hefty gatefold containing two solid slabs of 12" vinyl EPs and was swathed entirely in the color, opening the gatefold reveals high-contrast black and white photographs of the group, a crisp visual contrast that might have been a commentary on music as well (black and white). This was Halfon's homage to Richard Hamilton's cover art for The Beatles 'white album'.
Halfon borrowed from Peter Blake's "The First Real Target" for the debut single by The Paul Weller Movement.
On Weller's "Out of the Sinking" single, it seems Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin On" cover may be referenced. The single came from an album (1995's Stanley Road
Stanley Road
-Track listing:Disc 1#"The Changingman" #"Porcelain Gods"#"I Walk on Gilded Splinters" #"You Do Something to Me"#"Woodcutter's Son"#"Time Passes / Steam"#"Stanley Road"#"Broken Stones"#"Out of the Sinking"#"Pink on White Walls"...
) that made deliberate reference to the Beatles with its title and Peter Blake (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles, released on 1 June 1967 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin...
) cover collage
Collage
A collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole....
(design supervised by Halfon) . After "Out of the Sinking", and as the album was released for journalistic review with the Blake cover, the British press started hailing Weller's iconic stature in British rock history. Mr. Halfon has also worked with Oasis for many years designing record sleeves and taking behind the scenes photographs of the group. 2006 saw Halfon reuniting with Peter Blake to work on the cover of Stop the Clocks
Stop the Clocks
Stop the Clocks is a compilation album by English rock band Oasis, released on 20 November 2006. The "retrospective collection" is an 18-track double album with the featured songs chosen by Noel Gallagher; however, it does not actually include their song "Stop the Clocks" after which the album is...
, The Best Of Oasis.
Halfon has created record sleeves for numerous artists including The Who, James Brown and John Lennon. He is also known for his work with George Michael most notably 1990's Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1. A simple yet iconic album cover using Weegee
Weegee
Weegee was the pseudonym of Arthur Fellig , a photographer and photojournalist, known for his stark black and white street photography....
's famous Coney Island photograph.
In 2007, he produced his first feature film, Sleuth
Sleuth (2007 film)
Sleuth is a 2007 thriller film directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Jude Law and Michael Caine. The screenplay by Harold Pinter is an adaption of Anthony Shaffer's Tony Award-winning play Sleuth...
, starring Michael Caine
Michael Caine
Sir Michael Caine, CBE is an English actor. He won Academy Awards for best supporting actor in both Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules ....
and Jude Law
Jude Law
David Jude Heyworth Law , known professionally as Jude Law, is an English actor, film producer and director.He began acting with the National Youth Music Theatre in 1987, and had his first television role in 1989...
. The film was directed by Kenneth Branagh
Kenneth Branagh
Kenneth Charles Branagh is an actor and film director from Northern Ireland. He is best known for directing and starring in several film adaptations of William Shakespeare's plays including Henry V , Much Ado About Nothing , Hamlet Kenneth Charles Branagh is an actor and film director from...
with a screenplay written by Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter, CH, CBE was a Nobel Prize–winning English playwright and screenwriter. One of the most influential modern British dramatists, his writing career spanned more than 50 years. His best-known plays include The Birthday Party , The Homecoming , and Betrayal , each of which he adapted to...
.