Colorado musicians played a big role in the creation of “The Crow,” Steve Martin’s full-length debut on the banjo. Not only did former Aspen resident John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band produce the CD but banjo maestro Pete Wernick of Niwot is also all over the record.
Even more obvious is the work of Denver artists Greg Carr and Salli Ratts, who designed the unique packaging of “The Crow” — work that won them an International Bluegrass Music Association award earlier this month. We spoke with Ratts about her collaboration with Carr and her thoughts on the modern state of album art.
Q:How do you and Greg work together on a project?
A: Greg has ingenious ideas, and I make them work on a computer. OK, sometimes I have good ideas, too. Greg says that I’m his muse. He flatters me. But Greg is the “outside-the-box” guy. He thinks in multiple dimensions. I’m lucky to be working with him, and he seems to think he’s lucky to be working with me.
Q:You had the initial contact for “The Crow” project?
A: When my husband, Jim, and I were talking with John McEuen after a Dirt Band show last August, John was fired up about producing Steve’s album. John is a dear friend and, on occasion, he’s performed with our band, Runaway Express, so I asked if Greg and I could submit some ideas for packaging, and he said he’d hand them off to Steve. John called me late one night to say that he’d given Steve our mock-ups, and that Steve said, “Wow! Who are these guys?” I was thinking we should change our name to Who Are These Guys Graphics and Design, but I’m a girl.
Q:Tell me about the approach to “The Crow.”
A: We were told that the name of album was “The Crow” and had heard a couple of very early demos in the spring of 2008. That’s all we had to go on. At some point, before Steve got our mock- ups, he thought he might change the name of the album, but decided to stick with “The Crow” because he liked our cover.
For a month last January, we were in daily contact with Steve, finessing the artwork and preparing the project for its Amazon release. He was always enthusiastic and charming.
Q:And you two won an IBMA Award for Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project? How big is that?
A: The IBMA, the International Bluegrass Music Association, really does represent the bluegrass community. And the awards ceremony in Nashville on Oct. 1, at the Ryman Auditorium, the legendary Grand Ole Opry, was a big deal. Bluegrass is much more international than many realize. Greg won last year for Pete Wernick’s package design.
Q:What do you think about the current state of album artwork?
A: The electronic medium is constantly changing, and it’s not very interesting for buyers of CD albums. We try to encourage music buyers by offering something unusual and collectible. It’s our way of going against the tide that’s trying to seep away album art. Steve’s vinyl LP, soon to be released, is not only a foldout cover but includes a die-cut insert that can be assembled into a stand- alone stage with Steve and the crow. Steve provides the music, Greg and I provide the toys. It’s an incentive to buy art with your music.
Ricardo Baca: 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com
