Elton John The Bitch Is Back (Caribou) Proposed Album Artwork

The original artwork for the 1974 Elton John album The Bitch Is Back, which was eventually released as Caribou. 

• From the collection of designer/art director/photographer Mike Ross, who was responsible for album covers by many artists including Paul McCartney, Elton John, The Police and Sting.
• This artwork was presented to Elton John in the Rocket Records office in Wardour Street, London in late 1973 or early 1974.
• The photo used to make the sketch was the same image as the one that was used on the front of the Honky Chateau cover.
• If you pull up a piece of card within the sleeve, Elton sticks his tongue out to lick the lollipop whilst his eyes are closed.
• This work is presented unframed.

This original artwork idea got a good reaction from Elton and a few laughs, but wasn’t taken seriously as a final contender for the finished sleeve of the album. The lettering for the proposed title, The Bitch is Back, was written by hand using an actual red lipstick that was hastily borrowed from one of the girls in the Rocket office. The heart-shaped glasses and lollipop were intentional visual references to Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Lolita’.

From the collection of designer/art director/photographer Mike Ross.