QUESTION:

Where and when was the South Saturn Delta cover photo taken?

ANSWER:

The image was taken by photographer Ed Thrasher in April 1969. The Experience were in Los Angeles to perform at the Forum. Thrasher was the art director for Warner Bros. Records and he organized the session at the famed Warner Films backlot in Burbank, California. Thrasher's concept was to stage a take off on the popular television program Gunsmoke. Selected images from this session were later used as part of the 1969 Reprise album Smash Hits.

The motorcycle image was taken after Experience had been photographed in their Western outfits. Thrasher caught Jimi sitting on the Harley-Davidson and recognized the potential immediately. Despite Thrasher's enthusiasm for the motorcycle image, Reprise ultimately passed, opting instead to use the Dezo Hoffman multiple image cover which had graced the 1968 UK version of the album by Track.

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