Somethin’ Else
Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran
by Ray Lowry
Somethin’ Else – Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran by Ray Lowry is the next book from our publishing arm, Ormond Yard Press.
Somethin’ Else is a deeply personal project undertaken by Ray Lowry in 2005 to compile a written record of the 1960 UK tour by Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran—a tour which ended with the death of Eddie Cochran.
Never published before, and only ever seen by a handful of people, Somethin’ Else is just that—something else. Each page is a work of art in itself.
The book measures 12 x 8.5 inches and contains 102 pages of text and images on heavyweight paper, using layflat binding technology. This ensures that each double page spread lies flat when open, and nothing is lost from view in the central vertical gutter between the pages.
The edition size is small—just 250 individually numbered hardcover books are available to collectors worldwide.
The first 100 of those are special Deluxe versions in a bespoke presentation box which also includes two 8 x 10 inch limited edition prints (one of Gene, one of Eddie) suitable for framing.
As you scroll down this page you will find out everything you need to know about this book and how to own one—but if you do have any questions please get in touch.
A view of the front cover and spine.
A double page spread from Somethin’ Else, showing Ray’s immaculate handwritten text, and paintings of Eddie and Gene. Note the paint splash in the centre – a repeating motif throughout the book.
More about Somethin’ Else
Ray Lowry (1944-2008) was an acclaimed English illustrator, cartoonist, and satirist, with a highly distinctive style. He contributed to The Guardian, Private Eye, Punch, Tatler and NME, among many other publications. He toured with the Clash in 1979 as their “war artist” and designed the sleeve for their third album, London Calling. He was passionate about rock ’n’ roll.
In 2005, Ray sat down in his studio and started work on a highly personal project. He called it Somethin’ Else.
Somethin’ Else was born from an obsession—Ray Lowry’s obsessive fascination with the 1960 UK tour undertaken by Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran. The tour ended infamously with the car crash that took Eddie Cochran’s life.
The opening salvo of the Somethin’ Else campaign took the form of a letter fired off by Ray to the Manchester Evening News in June 2005, asking to hear from readers who had seen Gene and Eddie on stage in Manchester forty five years earlier, in 1960. As he explained it at the time:
“I am intending to visit all the towns they visited, with a view to compiling a printed record of the time, with photographs of the theatres, drawings and, importantly, the memories of anyone whose life was in any way touched by the visit of these inspired and endlessly inspiring musicians. I think Eddie and Gene deserve no less.”
Ultimately a freak accident prevented Ray from travelling to all the tour venues, but a period of recovery at home enabled him to focus his attention more fully on the project. Across 102 pages of tightly worded, insightful and often hilarious text—handwritten by Ray and copiously illustrated by his original paintings and drawings—Somethin’ Else tells the story of that tour. Ray’s labour of love pulled together the fruits of his research into a compelling narrative, with cuttings, drawings and handwritten text, all fixed down with 3M CraftMount permanent adhesive—without which, as Ray notes, it would have fallen apart.
A double page spread from Somethin’ Else. Each page is a work of art.
Look-a here—What’s all this?
Incredibly, only a handful of people have ever seen Something’ Else. I was one of that lucky handful when Samuel Lowry, Ray’s son, shared it with me. Equally as incredible is that fact that it has remained unpublished commercially until now. There’s a note typed by Ray Lowry in the Lowry archives which sets out the background to the project.
It’s worth quoting the section below in full, as it tells you everything you need to know about why Somethin’ Else exists in the first place.
Here’s Ray:
As a sympathetic publisher reading that sentence I knew we had to put right the wrong, and get this book out into the world.
Samuel Lowry agreed, and here we are.
Now it’s your turn to play your part. You get the chance to own a copy for yourself, as we are releasing Somethin’ Else as an exclusive limited edition of individually numbered hardcover books, authorised by the Ray Lowry estate.
A double page spread from Somethin’ Else
Sure Fine Lookin’
This beautiful book measures 12 x 8.5 inches and contains 102 pages of text and images on heavyweight paper. To make this volume extra-special we have used layflat binding technology. This ensures that each double page spread lies flat when open, and nothing is lost from view in the central vertical gutter between the pages—an important detail when many of Ray’s paintings in the book extend across the gutter. That heavyweight paper gives it some heft, and it is a satisfyingly heavy book in the hand, weighing in at around 1.75Kg (just under 4 lbs).
The edition size is small—just 250 individually numbered hardcover books are available to collectors worldwide. The first 100 of those are special Deluxe versions in a bespoke presentation box which also includes two 8 x 10 inch limited edition prints (one of Gene, one of Eddie) suitable for framing. Deluxe owners will be interested to know that they will have exclusive content not featured in the book—because neither the two accompanying prints nor the illustrations that adorn the box are included in the book. The box itself is a thing of beauty—cardboard engineering at its finest.
For the Regular versions (numbers 101-250), we are introducing an innovative pricing mechanism which will allow the market to determine the price at which individual books are sold. This price mechanism is known as a Dutch auction, and in effect means that you as a collector have the opportunity to set the price you are willing to pay for the book.
Finally, Samuel Lowry has selected six of his father’s illustrations from the book to offer as individual limited edition prints in a choice of physical sizes.
As you scroll down this page you will find out everything you need to know about this incredible collection—but if you do have any questions please get in touch.
The book in its presentation box
A double page spread from Somethin’ Else. There’s another one of those trademark paint flashes.
Deluxe versions
Everything you need to know
There are just 100 Deluxe versions of Somethin’ Else. They combine the individually numbered limited edition hardcover book with a set of two limited edition prints in a special presentation box.
The presentation box is a one-piece clamshell construction where the book sits in its own tray case. As a bonus for Deluxe owners, features three illustrations by Ray Lowry which are not featured in the book (one one the front cover, one on the back, and one inside). The base contains a ribbon that allows the contents to be removed easily. The box is a thing of beauty—a work of cardboard engineering at its best. We wanted to give it the same vibe as the book, and have a used a kraft paper background to set off the graphics.
Deluxe versions have the lowest edition numbers— from 1 to 100. Numbers will be allocated to purchasers in date order, so the earlier you place your order, the lower the edition number you will receive.
Deluxe versions cost £ 295. The price covers the book, the two prints and the presentation box, all in heavy duty external packaging with secure delivery to a UK mainland address included.
We don’t ship to Russia or Belarus, but other than that, we will be shipping to collectors worldwide. Shipping charges to locations outside the UK are added at checkout based on your location.
The front cover of the presentation box
The two limited edition prints in the Deluxe box
The two limited edition prints are supplied unframed in the box, and are suitable for framing. Each one measures 8 x 10 inches, with an image size of 6.5 x 9 inches (approx). One features Eddie Cochran and one Gene Vincent. Neither image is included in the book, so these represent additional content for Deluxe owners.
Each print is hand-numbered and embossed with the official stamp of the Ray Lowry Estate in the lower right hand corner.
The prints have matched edition numbers, and these in turn will match the edition number of the book. So for example if you are the owner of book number 51, your two limited edition prints will also all be the number 51 in their respective editions.
White frames work really well with the two prints, with the window mounts cut to show the Ray Lowry Estate embossed stamp and edition number. These measure 15 x 13 inches (approx 38.5 x 33 cm) each.
A double page spread from Somethin’ Else. Eddie takes a bow.
The front and back cover of the book
Somethin’ Else
A double page spread from Somethin’ Else.
Anythin’ Else?
Why yes…how about these limited edition prints
Samuel Lowry has chosen six of his father’s images from Somethin’ Else to offer as posthumous limited edition prints.
Each one is available to order in a choice of two physical sizes and is supplied with a certificate of authenticity signed by Sam Lowry on behalf of the Ray Lowry Estate.
Ray Lowry (1944 to 2008)
Ray Lowry was an English cartoonist, illustrator and satirist, with a highly distinctive style. He contributed to The Guardian, Private Eye, Punch, Tatler and NME, among many other publications.
With the emergence of the underground press in the 1960s his work was published in Oz and International Times, which led to a long and better-paid relationship with the New Musical Express (better known as NME), including a weekly cartoon strip, “Only Rock’n’Roll”. His love of raw rock and roll was the perfect complement to the new punk mentality that emerged in the late 1970s. He saw the Sex Pistols at the Electric Circus in Manchester, on their Anarchy tour, and there met the Clash. He struck up a friendship with the members of the Clash, which led to an invitation to accompany them on their tour of the United States in 1979.
Later that year he designed the iconic sleeve frothier third album, London Calling—its vivid green and pink lettering riffing on the cover design of Elvis Presley’s first LP. The design reflected Ray’s belief that the Clash were as important and authentic as Elvis had once been.
Ray Lowry
A double page spread from Somethin’ Else.
