According to the letter the vendor was given the artwork by the band in recognition for his work, managing their first European six date tour in early 1984 and for providing A&R for this particular album release. The letter gives a detailed account of the vendor's personal involvement with the band, from their humble beginings to the present day, when he was recently invited to join them at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2009. Ride the Lightning is often hailed by fans as a classic of the thrash metal genre, and a vital bridge between the band's albums Kill 'Em All and Master of Puppets, pushing the thrash metal of the debut into progressive territory more fully-realised on subsequent releases. On the band's official website James Hetfield is quoted ....Overall, I'd have to say 'Ride The Lightning' is my favorite. 'Kill 'Em All', our first album, was already written when we went into the studio but 'Ride'... was the first next step, when we started to discover the studio and what we could do in it. That was kinda the fun bit, and it still is....