I guess the people at London did a pre-Photoshop Photoshop of Monk with stock footage of Picadilly Circus at night.
But I think it looks quite nice, you know?
But why change it?
I agree. I'm sure it's got something to do with licensing, but , who knows, maybe London label didn't like the original album and thought this would look and sell better. Monk's smiling face and the London night scene might bring a few punters in who might otherwise not pick it up. It's odd to see Monk on an album cover without a hat; most of the time (not all) he's got some cool looking hat on.
More often hatless in the earlier photos.