Best album covers?

JupiterKid

Led Zeppelin - IV (1971)




Not only one of my favorite albums, but has a very unusual cover. Album covers were real artwork back then.

facehugger99

I know it's not in keeping with the thread title, but has there ever been a more stark great album/awful cover combination than Pet Sounds?

Use to go into the record shop just to admire this one!!
Cannot think why????:D

The Pheasant2

"Enema of the State" Blink 182

SEPT 23 1989

De Bhál

Fleet Foxes, I bought this album purely based on the cover and it didn't dissapoint

suicide_circus

Say Your Number

eviltimeban

Some of my favourites:

Atom Heart Mother (Pink Floyd)

It's just a picture of a cow. The label went bezerk when they saw this but they stuck to their guns. Result - their first UK #1 album!


In The Court of the Crimson King (King Crimson)

The one and only design by Barry Godber, who died shortly after completing the work. Sadly, as he could've had quite the career in the 70s.


The Madcap Laughs (Syd Barrett)

Just sums up the weirdness and madness of Syd, but also the vulnerability, which is really what this album displays more of.


Nowhere (Ride)

Ominous and portentious; calm but also looking like it's about to get dangerous. Great accompaniment to the music.


Red House Painters (Red House Painters)

Steeped in memory and nostalgia, but also beauty, sadness and despair. Exactly like the music.


Rubber Soul (Beatles)

Their first "pot" album, so the cover is a little trippy, and the proto-psychedelic writing seals the deal. Plus they just look cool.


Abbey Road (Beatles)

When you look at the outtakes from this shoot, it's amazing that they even got one with them all in step.


Star (Belly)

I think I like the cover more than the album, but it suits the music perfectly and is another one of those great 4AD album covers.


Cafe Del Mar Vol Seis (various)

Not particularly well known but I love the image and it suits the whole sunset / evening chill out in the sun vibe of the album.


In the Land of Grey and Pink (Caravan)

Another one of those "suits the music perfectly" ones. Anyone who doesn't know it care to hazard a guess as to what this might sound like?


Ram (McCartney)

Raw, earthy, homemade, on the farm, a bit hippyish, and lots of fun. Just like the music.

eviltimeban

Part two:

London Calling (the Clash)

A great image, and modelled on the design of Elvis' first album.


Emergency on Planet Earth (Jamiroquai)

Clean and simple, but a great exercise in branding. The crispness of it does suit the tight playing and sharp arrangements.


All Moments are Happening all the Time (Lectionary 173)

Calm and peaceful, but also fuzzy and not quite real; sums up this ambient album perfectly.


Shleep (Robert Wyatt)

Certainly a dreamy album, so this artwork couldn't represent it better.


Valtari (Sigur Ros)

Strange and otherworldness could describe any Sigur Ros album, but this one works so well with the music. Is that boat going up or down??


Zooropa (U2)

Europe, TV, interference, advertising, scrambled messages - this fits exactly what U2 were doing at the time and they haven't done a cover as good since.


Loaded (Velvet Underground)

Sure, there's the banana one, but this is a very of-it's-time cover, suggesting the rough and tumble of downtown New York City.


Sketches of Spain (Miles Davis)

No list could be complete without some reference to the amazing covers that jazz albums have. There's so many to choose from, but this one is very striking.


Super Ape (The Upsetters)

Same goes for reggae and dub. Mad stuff, which is just a hint of what to expect (though it's all pretty chilled out really).


Osibisa (Osibisa)

Roger Dean needs a shout out. His album covers are great, almost events in themselves. See also: Yes, Uriah Heep, Asia.

loyatemu

a recent one:

Kimbot

MOD Moved to Music Forum as its better suited there.

facehugger99

I have a few album covers framed - this is one of my favourites.

Endaaaagh

loyatemu

re: Hipgnosis - they obviously produced some great covers (DSoTM being the best known) but they also did some stinkers - the Cranberries one further up the thread is like someone taking the piss out of the Hipgnosis style.

I like this one they did for Genesis:

eviltimeban

loyatemu wrote: »

re: Hipgnosis

Storm Thorgerson did a nice one for Biffy Clyro, which was clearly indebted to his work with Pink Floyd, as it looks like a still from the High Hopes video:

eviltimeban

Revolver by the Beatles is another top one:

Arghus

Another Storm Thorgerson -

jooksavage

Mind-melting, garish, brilliant.

jooksavage

Didn't actually realise the Mollusk sleeve was a Storm Thorgerson! Not really a fan of ST and his sledgehammer subtly but that's a great sleeve. My favourite Ween sleeve is Quebec though.

eviltimeban

The Mollusk looks like a cross between ST and Roger Dean. It resembles an early 70s prog album.

De Bhál

pleas advice

pleas advice

Atoms for Peace

K.Flyer

I deliberated about this since the start of the thread, then last night watched a documentary on the making of the album, then said to myself, yeah, that was a fcukin cool idea for a cover.

facehugger99

Designed by Neil Fujita, this is cover art that immediately piques your curiosity.

Dip inside for some cool 1950's jazz.

Nice!

K.Flyer

facehugger99 wrote: »

Designed by Neil Fujita, this is cover art that immediately piques your curiosity.

Dip inside for some cool 1950's jazz.

Nice!

buried

Fantastic recent LP from 'Oneohtrix Point Never' - Garden of Delete



Inlay LP cover for it



Fantastic album. Nirvana's 'Nevermind' next level pop music shhtick. Highly recommended.

Tony EH

K.Flyer beat me to it for 'Wish You Were Here'...so...