What would Bruce Hornsby’s album covers look like if they were drawn by a robot?
You might know that Edward Hopper’s “Room by the Sea'” painting was used for the cover of Harbor Lights. How might the Night on the Town cover look if it were painted by the same artist?!
We put several of Bruce’s album covers through the Midjourney software, to see how it would interpret the title. Some we gave specific instructions. Here’s what it turned out!
(Select each image to see the details below it).
These are a fun departure from the wonderful art that Bruce has selected for his records, from the minimalist designs to vibrant abstracts to Kathy Hornsby’s photography.
In amongst these alternative versions, we have:
- A young boy walking down a path which veers into two, for a new cover for The Way It Is.
- Scenes from the Southside’s iconic Country Road, as if it were in The Sims computer game.
- A Night on the Town, as if it were painted by Edward Hopper, who painted the actual Harbor Lights cover.
- Habor Lights gets repainted with a new, well-lit harbor scene.
- Hot House as if it were a scene from the Simpsons, given the subject of the titular nuclear power plant.
- My personal favourite – a man embarking on his own Spirit Trail.
- A photorealistic picture of an adult Big Swing Face character.
- The Halcyon Days of a child travelling to school.
- A Levitating piano.
- A literal Rehab Reunion.
- An icy interpretation of Absolute Zero.
- A little boy looking at a physical Non-Secure Connection.
- Midjourney’s own perspective of the word ‘Flicted! (I think it took the “Conflicted” route).
- A Camp Meeting, based on a description of the original cover.
- … and Here Come the Noisemakers and Bride of the Noisemakers, with an interesting take on what each of those concepts means to artificial intelligence!