The above photo is part of Berenice Abbott's extensive archives—the photographer who shot a good portion of New York City in the 1930s. This one was shot around 250 Pearl Street, between Fulton and John Streets in March of 1936—"On the right is 111 and 116 John Street, and on the left are tenements and a bank building. 60 Wall Street rises in the distance."
Decades upon decades later, it served as the album cover art for Van Morrison's 1993 release Too Long In Exile. While Rolling Stone and critics Robert Christgau and Gavin Martin celebrated the artist's 22nd album ("Van has rediscovered his earthy, elemental fire"), our own Van Morrison expert Ben Yakas says, "It's a mediocre mid-to-late period Van Morrison album. Another album on which he smoothes off his edges, and the man with one of the greatest voices in the history of popular music takes a step toward anonymity. Back to you Jen..." Thanks Ben, that was simply haunting.
And here's what the area looks like today:
More from our NYC Album Art series here.
