My Top Ten Favorite Album Covers

I think cover art is the one single thing I miss most about albums. Nowadays, even if you do get a CD it’s just as likely to be a picture of the artist looking hot/cool/tough etc. When you were first getting into music, don’t you remember pouring over album covers, studying every nuance? Trying to see if it tied in with the album in some thematic way?

Just me?

You were out touching the opposite sex were you?

Fair enough. Me…not so much

So with that in mind here are of 10 Album covers I remember loving as a pre-teen non female touching nerd.

#10 News of the World – Queen

I was hypnotized by that strangely soulful looking robot and the destruction he caused. What did he do to Freddy? Whatever it was it was with his finger evidently. Freddy got Fingered.

#9 Out of the Blue – ELO

Sorry Boston, there’s only room for 1 spaceship on this list and this one is it. Sure it looks like a “Simon” game, but so what… it’s awesome. I think “Mr. Blue Sky” is on this album too, which ups the awesomeness.

#8) Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd

Simple, classic iconic. Elaborate isn’t always best. (See also, the White album to argue that point)

#7) Killers – Iron Maiden

Eddie…Killing motherfuckers dead since 1979. Most Maiden Album art is awesome, but this one is easily their best

#6 Toys in The Attic – Aerosmith

I like a little “What the Fuck” in my album covers don’t you? I can’t imagine looking at this thing stoned. “Jesus…what is WRONG with that FUCKING BEAR?”

#5 Who’s Next – The Who

There is something ever so Who-like, I think you will agree, about the Boys pissing on something big , ugly and industrial

#4 Kiss Alive

This about sums up the band, and their appeal in one magnificent two ton ball of Gouda. It’s a testament to this cover that when listening to a Kiss song, I always picture them doing the song live, regardless of what the song is about.

#3 Abbey Road – The Beatles

I liked this album cover so much I bought a coffee mug with it on it. It succumbed to a dark fate. but my love of this iconic cover did not.

#2 Led Zeppelin IV – Led Zeppelin

This is also the cover art that gave us the 4 symbols. It was a tough one for Zep, but this is my choice of all their covers (Although Physical Graffiti is also awesome)

And #1

Has to be…

#1) Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles

The “Citizen Kane” of Rock music strikes again. Look at the color…the detail, the weird significant but not significant nods to various friends and influences. Any cover that is sooooo analyzed that stoners talked themselves into thinking one of the Band members was dead has to be #1 on the list.

6 Responses to “My Top Ten Favorite Album Covers”

1. Uncle Soondead says:

   December 9, 2009 at 1:55 am

   no Bat Out of Hell?

   Fail

     Uncle Soondead(Quote)  (Reply)

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2. Ringo says:

   December 9, 2009 at 4:38 pm

   Not to toot me own horn, but no Yesterday & Today? Rubber Soul? Revolver? I think the White album directly lead to the making of Spinal Tap.
   However, move Abbey up one & I can let it slide.

   Tough one to narrow down to just 10. As you said, “your” favorites. Well done!

   peace & love,

   Ringo

   p.s. Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main, Pete Gabriel, Houses of the Holy, all of Pink Floyd (Dark Side, I would move up too).

     Ringo(Quote)  (Reply)

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3. Stochastic Jack says:

   December 19, 2009 at 7:53 pm

   Damn. I came in here expecting something completely other, and I wound up agreeing almost one hundred percent with everything on the list. Although I DID like the way the Boston LP covers, viewed in sequence, told a little story…

     Stochastic Jack(Quote)  (Reply)

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4. Whisht says:

   December 21, 2009 at 4:52 am

   Hi there – my first post (so please be gentle).

   Kinda like the writing here (ingratiate, yes that’s the key) but thought this list was a little… um… traditional?

   Below are a few album covers I actually have (I’m not just being smarmy) which left me with a distinct “huh??” when I think of them.

   hope you like:

   Jimmy Smith’s Peter and the Wolf
   (genius album btw)

   Fred Frith – no idea what its called.
   (lousy scan but he’s on a cricket pitch. This album has nothing to do with cricket. Or music some might say….)

   Thelonius Monk – Monk’s Music
   (back to good albums. He’s sitting in one of those “typical” US kid carts that we don’t have in the UK, which is just bizarre. For smarmy notes, John Coltrane is also on this album but is so unheard of at the time he desn’t make it to the cover!)

   ah well, I’ll stop now – hope these raise a smile or at least a “huh?”.

   enjoy the holidays!

     Whisht(Quote)  (Reply)

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   • 1/4 20 says:

     December 21, 2009 at 3:15 pm

     huh

     i hope both make you feel special

       1/4 20(Quote)  (Reply)

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5. memphisto says:

   November 4, 2010 at 9:07 am

   I think the Queen album is taken from a Kelly Freas cover for Astounding Magazine. The artist later used the original for the cover of his autobiography. (Some nerds.)

   ELO’s concert tour for that album had a stage shaped like the flying saucer.

     memphisto(Quote)  (Reply)

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