4BR's series that looks back at some of the most important, popular and at times occasionally intriguing LP releases of brass band history has certainly made its mark.

The latest saw 4BR revisit Grimethorpe Colliery Band's 1981 release 'Firebird' — which certainly made an impression at the time — and not just because of the playing on it by the likes of Peter Roberts and Steve Sykes.

Delighted

Following the publication of the article 4BR was contacted by the artist who created the iconic cover, Hilary Scudder, who was delighted to hear that the record still has great appeal.

Hilary, who is now a highly successful ceramicist, artist and author also revealed a little about the design and how it came about, although she also admitted that she had never heard the record itself.

"I used to do quite a bit of work for Polyphonic Recordings,"she said. "I was a young artist, so being asked to design record covers was a great way to get a bit of recognition. Stan Kitchen at Polyphonic used to ring me and ask me to produce some work, and when this came along I just came up with the idea and drew it."

Overlay

With computer design programmes still a little way off, Hilary produced the famous image by hand, using an art board technique that enabled the eventual printers to overlay the separate colours of black, red and yellow.

"It was very time consuming, but rewarding when you finished something like that,"she added. "I remember being pleased by the design and sending it off. They must have been happy as it didn't get sent back! I'm glad it made such an impression, although I have to admit I've never got to hear it."

By a nice coincidence however, Hilary said that she had spoken to Stan Kitchen just a few months ago. "Stan is a lovely man so it was always nice to work for him.

The only pity is that the original artwork was most probably thrown away, and even though I think I was given a free copy I think mine may have been lost over the years as well."

I'm glad it made such an impression, although I have to admit I've never got to hear itHilary Scudder.

Chance to hear it

Thankfully though Hilary will now be able to enjoy the fruits of her labour as 4BR is sending a copy to her — and one that has the autographs of the players and MD who performed on it.

Hilary added: "I've still got a nice record player so I will sit down and enjoy it, even if it is 36 years after I did the work on it!"