Seamstress For The Band
The woman who inspired the the famous Tiny Dancer line is in fact a real person, Janis Larkham.
Elton Johns fourth studio album Madman Across The Water was released in 1971, and featured a very unique album artwork, with a hidden artist behind it.
Both the front and back covers of the album feature detailed hand embroidery in shades of blue, on an old Levi denim jacket.
The front cover was actually stitched by Janis Larkham, wife of album art director David Larkham. It features a bold typography design, presumably put together by David and then recreated in stitch by his wife, who chose to credit herself as ‘Yanis’ for the piece.
The stitching is full and complex, consisting of multiple shades of blue in neat stripes, constructed with a kind of satin stitch to completely flood each letter with colour.
There’s also some dark stitching in the negative space too, erratic zig zags presumably to give the background some texture and depth.
Due to only a two week deadline the back cover, which is more simple in design, was stitched by Gill Brown, wife of Steve Brown. Noticing a theme yet? Steve was the coordinator and mentor of Elton and Bernie at that time.
Despite the tactile nature of the artwork the studio never released any special embossed editions, and even when it was re-released for its 50th anniversary it simply featured a coloured vinyl.
Upon completion, Janis gifted the artwork to Elton who reportedly had it made into a cushion. The back over remains in the possession of the Brown family.
According to a post on Bernie Taupins Instagram, Janis was in fact the inspiration for the lyric ‘Seamstress for the band’, so we’re left to wonder if she was responsible for any more needlework during their time.
Tiny Dancer is a track that was released on this album, so either Bernie writes his lyrics after the artwork is done (unlikely given the tight two week deadline Janis was dealt), or Janis was already known to the band as their seamstress of sorts. The album is the only piece she is credited for, and her own decision to have the credit as ‘Yanis’ makes one believe it was a one off that she didn’t take too seriously.
It’s proven difficult to find a photograph of either Janis or Gill, the hidden artists behind one of Elton’s most well known and clearly recognisable albums. Naturally, their respective husbands are well credited for their contributions on this album and indeed many others.