Best Album Covers Ever

[Dennis K]

Yep, I'm ripping off Buried Alien's idea. Now how about we mention some album covers we really think are good, for what reason, and a picture of said album cover (if you have the ability. I don't damn it all.)

Back in their heyday, I was a huge Iron Maiden fan, and I think the best album cover they ever did was for Powerslave. It was a really well done piece, and the CD booklet doesn't do it justice at all. Picture anyone?

[Adam Crocker]

Bar none...

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00002MVQO.03.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Dennis K]

You cannot be serious! (thank you John McEnroe)

London Calling better than Who's Next ? Please!! ;)

[howyadoin]

Some favourites of mine:

http://www.volleyball.org/taj/sky.gif

http://www.galeon.com/allmusic/caratulas/j/Judas_Priest_-_British_Steel-front.jpg

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00002DEOL.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

http://web.jet.es/nex/PortadaAppetite.jpg

[Deathstroke]

http://web.jet.es/nex/PortadaAppetite.jpg

Did that ever get used as a cover outside of the States?

I know it got banned here and they had to put it on the inside, at least on the cassettes.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The Beatles , The White Album set a stage where bands just used a blank and thier name. I always loved that. They were The Beatles and they wanted to sell the double-album just by thier name. It worked.


I also loved Abbey Road. The cover was brillant as all 4 Beatles walked across the street. People would look at the cover and start throwing what each Beatle was supposed to symbolize. George Harrison was supposed to be the grave digger, Paul Mcartney was the dead one. Lennon was supposed to be the holy man as everyone always guessed.

I've seen plenty of people copy and try using Abby Road type covers. But they were just so far ahead of anything.

[Hiromi]

My favorite

http://www.iespana.es/caratulasheavy/images/Rs/Stratovarius-Infinite.jpg

[Eliot Johnson]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004NH7P.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

I can't find the back cover, but that's what makes it cool. The back cover shows the prison bars bent open and an empty cell.

I also like:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004TIL0.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000AFSX.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg

and V-Dog's "South Memphis" cover, but i can't find it. He's just standing there in a white tee in the projects and i just think it's cool.

[howyadoin]

Did that ever get used as a cover outside of the States?

I know it got banned here and they had to put it on the inside, at least on the cassettes.Yeah, the original release in Canada had that painting on the cover, but Geffen pussied out here just like they did in the States.

[Karl J. Barnes]

Yes' Fragile was a pretty wild cover, in fact, a lot of 70s covers were pretty wild and psychedelic.

[Patrick Ferguson]

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/british/images/vc265.jpg

[Adam Crocker]

http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2003-04-04/music_phases8-1.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005NTQ5.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002J09.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Ronald Bryan]

http://web.jet.es/nex/PortadaAppetite.jpg

Howy wins! I remember my cousin had this as a poster in his room. In fact, he had a lot of their album covers as posters. And they all tended to kick ass.

[Adam Crocker]

What album was that the cover for anyways and which band? I've never seen it before.

[Buried Alien]

Classics:

http://img200.exs.cx/img200/2616/f57446vm7jb6vy.jpg

http://img200.exs.cx/img200/729/c529398u89k4ee.jpg

http://img200.exs.cx/img200/1989/c529812jfk76sy.jpg

http://img200.exs.cx/img200/3806/e90917w9hct2bs.jpg


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[howyadoin]

What album was that the cover for anyways and which band? I've never seen it before.Were you raised in a bubble? That's the original cover image for Appetite for Destruction.

(Artwork by the great Robert Williams.)

[zombie]

Were you raised in a bubble? That's the original cover image for Appetite for Destruction.

(Artwork by the great Robert Williams.)

I didn't know that either. But in my defence, I really was raised in a bubble.

[Adam Crocker]

Were you raised in a bubble? That's the original cover image for Appetite for Destruction.

Well, yeah, pretty much. I didn't pay attention to music in any significant measure until I hit highschool, and it was only because they had the bloody TV on Much Music on the Cafeteria the whole time. (Which didn't help given my disdain for much of the student body.)

That said...holy fuck, that is absolutely stellar.

[Adam Crocker]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00009EJC5.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[howyadoin]

Well, yeah, pretty much. I didn't pay attention to music in any significant measure until I hit highschool, and it was only because they had the bloody TV on Much Music on the Cafeteria the whole time. (Which didn't help given my disdain for much of the student body.)

That said...holy fuck, that is absolutely stellar.The big fuss at the time was over some women's groups who claimed that the cover was glorifying rape or something similarly nonsensical.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00009MGQS.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000003L73.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
nothing special they just look cool

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The Album cover change to the cross for Guns n Roses didn't help eithor. Rose hated seeing the original cover of Appetite for Destruction being screwed up. The 2nd one was attacked as well . ( I believe a church group attacked It as well !)

[Noir_Dark]

http://www.gregjeff.com/mutual/images/pinkfloyd/wish_you.jpghttp://www.nolody.com/crestfallen/postcards/massiveattack_mezzanine.jpg http://www.ritchie.de/gothicworld/cdreviews/02-2003/ministry-cover.jpg http://eil.com/newgallery/Pet-Shop-Boys-Actually-123952.jpg
I had a whole crap load of others but I guess I reached my limit of images.

Ones I missed…
Pixies- Doolittle
Mars Volta- Deloused in the Crematorium
Rush- Moving Pictures
Death From Above 1979- You’re a Woman I’m a Machine
Tool-Lateralus

[Adam Crocker]

While slagging off the cover of Rainbow's first album on the other thread, I just remembered something...

http://fiw.web.infoseek.co.jp/sanctuary/pic/rainbow1.jpg

Rainbow Rising has a really friggin' awesome cover.

[Evo Schandor]

Off the top of my head...

Bat Out Of Hell
Nebraska
The Wall

[the_coldest_sun]

Every single Black Flag cover since My War...

[Indigo Al]

Many Earth Wind & Fire album covers. I love those funky afrocentric sci fi images!

Also, Helmet's Betty.

[Ottmeister X]

I always liked this one:

[C.O. Jones]

The Beatles , The White Album set a stage where bands just used a blank and thier name. I always loved that. They were The Beatles and they wanted to sell the double-album just by thier name. It worked.


I also loved Abbey Road. The cover was brillant as all 4 Beatles walked across the street. People would look at the cover and start throwing what each Beatle was supposed to symbolize. George Harrison was supposed to be the grave digger, Paul Mcartney was the dead one. Lennon was supposed to be the holy man as everyone always guessed.

I've seen plenty of people copy and try using Abby Road type covers. But they were just so far ahead of anything.


Don't forget the Beetle's plate w/Paul's age.

[C.O. Jones]

Plus, every rap album pic you guys put up was/is made right here in a studio in H-town. ;)

[Buried Alien]

The Beatles , The White Album set a stage where bands just used a blank and thier name. I always loved that. They were The Beatles and they wanted to sell the double-album just by thier name. It worked.


I also loved Abbey Road. The cover was brillant as all 4 Beatles walked across the street. People would look at the cover and start throwing what each Beatle was supposed to symbolize. George Harrison was supposed to be the grave digger, Paul Mcartney was the dead one. Lennon was supposed to be the holy man as everyone always guessed.

I've seen plenty of people copy and try using Abby Road type covers. But they were just so far ahead of anything.

Since we're on the subject of Beatles' album covers, I thought this pair was quite clever:

http://img207.exs.cx/img207/313/beatles62667yk.jpg http://img207.exs.cx/img207/194/beatles66700le.jpg


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Since we're on the subject of Beatles' album covers, I thought this pair was quite clever:

http://img207.exs.cx/img207/313/beatles62667yk.jpg http://img207.exs.cx/img207/194/beatles66700le.jpg


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)


I own these 2 albums on cassate form. I like these as well. Sgt Pepper was a cool album cover for all the extras Involved If ya took a closer look.

[cmdrbond007]

This was always my favorite, King's X self-titled...

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc300/c377/c37751jog61.jpg

[Hiromi]

Because Adam clearly doesn't realize the awesomeness of this cover :p


http://www.jazzyjefffreshprince.com/images/jjfp-rockthehousecd.jpg

[bert]

Did that ever get used as a cover outside of the States?

I know it got banned here and they had to put it on the inside, at least on the cassettes.

I actually have this cover. . I bought the album on the same day they issued the recall -- and therefore never opened it (go figure. . sometimes ya luck out).

I had to go back the next week and pick up the "cross" cover so I could hear the damn thing -- I picked it up on the strength of "Paradise City" I believe (I heard it late at night on the radio)

[Adam Crocker]

Since we're on the subject of Beatles' album covers, I thought this pair was quite clever

Agreed. Very cute.

Because Adam clearly doesn't realize the awesomeness of this cover :p

You've just gone ahead of Noel Gallagher on The List. :evilangry

[iwarrior]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002KMY.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000063DHK.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000012H.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000001F9E.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[Hiromi]

You've just gone ahead of Noel Gallagher on The List. :evilangry

It was worth it! Now who's Noel Gallagher and what is this list you speak of?



And does this redeem me?

http://www.musicweb.uk.net/jazz/2000/jun00/reeltime.jpg


also


http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/images/34/k08.jpg

http://cover09.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/520/521142.jpg

[Deathstroke]

It was worth it! Now who's Noel Gallagher and what is this list you speak of?



And does this redeem me?

http://www.musicweb.uk.net/jazz/2000/jun00/reeltime.jpg


also


http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/images/34/k08.jpg

http://cover09.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/520/521142.jpg


I like both of the metal covers. I have the Dee Snider album, it's pretty good.

[Blink85]

Red hot Chilli Peppers Blood Suger Sex Magic

[phoenixrising]

http://rateyourmusic.com/album_images/o2027.jpg

http://rateyourmusic.com/album_images/o2029.jpg

I wish I could find it right now, but the inner cover of Zeppelin IV is incredible. I have a ginormous poster of it in my living room.

[Ferris McFly]

Here are some covers I think are really cool:

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000001FKY.02.LZZZZZZZ

http://www.4hahn.com/cd/img/67513776.jpg

http://www.adambamedien.de/images/big/terrorvision-present_regular_urban_suvivors.jpg

[LiNo]

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd800/d837/d83779ui5tb.jpg

The young band chillin' in the rythm guitarists loungeroom, with a Sgt pepper's style cavalcade of influences making guest appearances. And how cool is Liam to be lying in the middle of the floor.

The colours used in the photo are awesome too.

Fact - it's actually Ribena in the wine glass next to Liam.

[Pedalhome]

Disclaimer: I'm not sure if we've done a thread like this before. I searched the Music Forum and couldn't find one, so here we go...

This was inspired, by the "Favourite CD" Thread.

What do you think are greatest album covers?

I'm going with Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

A close second is Houses of the Holy by Led Zepplin

http://jonas.io/pictures/albums/300x297/Pink_Floyd_Wish_You_Were_Here.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002J0B.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[howyadoin]

Disclaimer: I'm not sure if we've done a thread like this before. I searched the Music Forum and couldn't find oneSorry (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=40594), man.

[Pedalhome]

Damn it!

Sorry...

[Adam Crocker]

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd800/d837/d83779ui5tb.jpg

The young band chillin' in the rythm guitarists loungeroom, with a Sgt pepper's style cavalcade of influences making guest appearances. And how cool is Liam to be lying in the middle of the floor.

None whatsoever. Liam Gallagher will never be cool.

But my disdain for Oasis aside, that is a very good album cover. It does everything right. The 'Oasis' logo is perfectly designed. Simple, elegant, and eye catching, like the logo for a modern clothing manufacturer. The light script the put the album title in works since it's just floating at the top. You can see it, but it's rather unobtrusive. Everything just looks perfectly arranged, like an old Flemish domestic painting from the 1500s all anchored by Noel Gallagher lying on the floor which just draws your eye in to the rest of the picture.

Here's another great jazz album cover from that I just got today:

http://www.dustygroove.com/images/products/m/monk_thelon_undergrou_101b.jpg

Almost got more attention than the music itself due to its insane wealth of detail and bizarre subject matter. The album even came with tongue-in-cheek liner notes claiming this was Monk's studio in his Manhattan apartment and the Nazi was a stuffed trophy from his time fighting for the French resistance in World War II. (Which he never actually did.)