|
Here are some of my favorite album covers. Many are well known, most less so, but in each cases there was some facet that caught my attention. Click on the cover photo to see a detailed review of the work, or click on the link at the bottom to return to the home page. Feel free to send comments and suggestions to me at: RDTEN1@aol.com
|
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Afterglow Afterglow MTA MTS-5010 1967 Jack Martin Jack Martin not applicable |
This probably isn't the first group profile shot to be used on an album cover ("Buffalo Springfield" perhaps?), but as far as we know it is the first to use such wild, Day-Glo colors. This baby stands out a mile away. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Aquila Aquila RCA LSP 1030 1971 Keith Beslord Keith Beslord not applicable |
Perhaps not the most original subject matter I've ever seen for a cover, but nevertheless there's something totally striking about this stark black and white cover by Keith Beslord. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Atlanta Rhythm Section Dog Days Polydor PD 6041 1975 Mike McCarty Mike McCarty not applicable |
I still look at this one and scratch my head trying to figure out why I included it. Not particularly innovative and not really something you'd consider putting up on your walls (okay, maybe if you lived in a trailer). On the other hand, being born in Southern Alabama, maybe that was part of the appeal. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Barclay James Harvest Baby James Harvest Harvest SHSP 4023 1972 -- not applicable Julian Cottrell |
The inclusion of this one may have something to do with the fact I'm a dad ... It also seems to have spurred the development of a branch of greeting cards and inspirational materials that showcase cute young babies in flowerpots. Hum, kind of nauseating now that I think about it. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Be Bop Deluxe Axe Victim Harvest SHVL 823 1974 |
Interestingly the guitar on the cover actually exists. It originally belonged to Bill Nelson, but somehow ended up in the hands of the late Stuart Adamson (Big Country). Way cool ! |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Be Bop Deluxe Sunburst Finish Harvest ST-11478 1976
|
C'mon, a naked woman and a flaming guitar !!! Does life get any better than this? Clearly, if you're a young, single, straight guy the answer is no. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Big Brother (& the Holding Co.) Be a Brother Columbia C 30222 1972 Bob Seidemann not applicable
|
Why this one? The bright color scheme and the simplistic, child-like drawing - geez, Seidemann doesn't draw any better than you or I and yet he did an album cover. Maybe there's hope for the rest of us. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Blackthorn Blackthorn W.H.M. W.H.M. 1921 1977 Chris Godfrey Chris Godfrey not applicable
|
It doesn't get much simpler than this stark black and white image. Always struck me as a stunner. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Boot Turn the Other Cheek Guinness GNS 36002 1977 not listed not listed not listed
|
This one makes my list because it sure looks like something that R. Crumb would have drawn. Naturally there's no artwork credit given (what else would you expect from a tax scam label). Anyhow, while nothing particular original, it's a cover that's always caught my attention. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Brown, Arthur Journey Passport PPS-89003 1974 David Powell David Powell not applicable |
Not sure I can articulate why this cover is so cool ... father time against the backdrop of the universe ??? |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Buckingham Nicks Buckingham Nicks Polydor PD-5058 1973 Jimmy Wachtel not applicable Lorrie Sullivan |
There aren't a lot of cheesecake covers on my website, but here's an exception - no I'm not including this one for the photo of Lindsey Buckingham ... My college roommate owned this LP. I'd never heard to them (interestingly I already knew who Fleetwood Mac was), but it didn't really matter. Stevi (no 'e' at the time) was simply a knockdown stunner ... The fact that she had a fantastic voice was literally icing on the cake. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Buffalo Springfield Last Time Around ATCO SD 33-256 1967 D D n
|
As I was reminded by someone who sent me an email, group cover shots are a dime-a-dozen, but this one's a true classic, if for no other reason than the sight of a young Neil Young already going against the grain. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Byrd, Donald A New Perspective Blue Note -- 1963 Reid Miles not applicable Reid Miles
|
Admittedly there are a ton of great jazz album covers, but I'm not a big jazz fan so most of them aren't on my list. This is one of those exceptions. Simply a neat photo - Jaguar XKJ ? |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Byrds, The Byrdsmaniax Columbia KC 30640 1972 Virginia Team & John Berg not applicable Don Jim |
This is simply one of the most stunning covers in our collection (though musically it's a middling Byrds offering). The inner sleeves show the process for making the face casts. Doesn't look like McGuinn and company were having much fun. Regardless, the glossy, space age result is just too cool ! |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Cale, John Animal Justice Illegal IL003 1977 Jill Furmanovsky not applicable Jill Furmanovsky |
Jill Furmanovsky's a well known rock photographer and this is one of her more stunning (and disturbing) works. It was actually a great choice for this John Cage EP. Anyone know the story behind the image? |
|
|
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer
|
Cannabis Joint Effort MS8110 Seahorse Amphibion 1972 Debbie Glover not applicable not applicable
|
In no way is the selection of this cover intended as an endorsement of a particular substance or lifestyle, rather it was selected in large part based on the marketing concept. You have to admit that it's kind of a surprise there weren't dozens of bands with the same name and the same cover. That said, the subject matter probably didn't help sales. Hard to imagine your local Sears or Kemp Mill record store putting this baby in their front display ...
|
|
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Casinos, The Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye Fraternity 1019 1967 Robert Carter not applicable Barry Weinstein |
The goofy cover's the best part of the LP ... Always wondered where the other three band members were - having drinks in the club car? |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer
|
Clark, Gene White Light A&M SP-4292 1972 John Deitrich not applicable John Deitrich |
Unfortunately reduced to a 144 x 144 pixel image, this one loses most of its majesty. That said, there's something stunning about this image capturing Clark's silhouette against a setting sun. It's the perfect cover photo for what may be his most impressive solo effort - buy the LP if you can find it! |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Chocolate Watch Band One Step Beyond Tower ST-5153 1969 not listed not listed not listed |
Clearly not the most original cover you've ever seen (not even there best album), but the colors on this one are striking. Whenever I give the album a spin I spend almost as much time staring at the cover as I do focusing on the music. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Climax Blues Band FM/Live Sire SAS-7411 1973 not listed not listed not listed |
C'mon you got to admit that this is a pretty clever concept - a radio for an album featuring a live radio concert ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Collins, Albert The Cool Sound of ... TCF/Hill TCF 8001 1965 not listed not listed not listed |
Sure it isn't the most sophisticated design in the world, but there's something quite appealing to my eye in this low-tech picture. Might be the maraschino cherries ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Cotton, Josie Convertible Music Elektra 60140-1 1982 Norm Ung not applicable Jim Shea |
There's not a lot of cheesecake on the list; not that I don't enjoy the genre, rather it's already been documented far beyond anything I could do. That said, here's one of the isolated exceptions. For some reason this retro-1960s styled cover encapsulates the 1980s for me. Cleavage, fishnets, spiky hair, small black dress, a cool car (Thunderbird ?) ... did it get any better? I doubt it. By the way, a decade later Ms. Cotton is still quite the hottie ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Creedence Clearwater Revival Creedence Gold Fantasy F 9418 1972 not listed not listed not applicable |
This is one of those albums where the gimmick cover attracted my attention - in this case the four band members were shown via colored silhouette profile flaps. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Dreamies Auralgraphic Entertainment Stone Theater DM68481 1974 not listed not listed not applicable |
Not everything has to be high tech and state of the art to capture one's fancy. Bill Holt's the guy behind this mid-1970s obscurity and his 'looks like a cereal box' cover is actually quite eye catching. Good luck finding a copy of the original album ! |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Dynamic Superiors, The The Dynamic Superiors Motown M6 822S1 1974 Richard Ellescas Richard Ellescas not applicable |
Living in Northern Virginia I'm a big fan of Washington, D.C. soul which means I'm a fan of The Dynamic Superiors. Led by Tony (Toni) Washington, they were one of the area's premier mid-1970s soul groups, though they never enjoyed a great deal of commercial success. Part of the reason may have had to do with Washington's rather blatant gay lifestyle. How many mid-1970s albums can you think of where the lead singer poses in eye shadow and rouge? Anyhow, kudos to Motown for having the moxy to actually release the album with such a risqué cover. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Elite Boys, The Non-Stop Hits Synchro SPS 1295 1968 ? not listed not listed not listed |
I know, I know, I know ... I said I wasn't going to include lots of cheesecake, but this one is just too good to leave out. Super attractive woman with a pout and a tricked-out Mustang !!! And the band was from Austria !!! How cool is that. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Floyd, Eddie Knock On Wood Stax S-714 1967 Ronnie Stoots not applicable not listed |
This one's on the list because it's so goofy. Obviously geared to take advantage of the fact Floyd had just enjoyed a mammoth pop and R&B hit with the title track, you seldom find an album cover that captures the marketing concept at such a verbatim level. Besides, the picture of Floyd swinging an axe in his suit is priceless. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Focus Dutch Masters Sire SASD-7505 1975 Fred Marceillino David Byrd Artists Assoc. not applicable |
I don't smoke, but I still think the nod to a famous brand of cigars is clever. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Free Free Island ILSP-9104 1969 Ron Raffaelli Ron Raffaelli not applicable |
Unfortunately this is another image that loses much of its impact when shrunk down this far. Regardless, it's a clever concept from various angles. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Free Free Live! A&M SP-4306 1971 Ann Sullivan Mike Brownfield not applicable |
There's probably an interesting book to be written on interesting 'gimmick' LP artwork. This one would certainly deserve to be included. Designed to look like a letter, complete with stamps and a back flap, it's a neat idea. Also happens to be one of the best live rock albums you'll ever hear. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Frijid Pink Frijid Pink Parrot PAS 71033 1970 Victor Kahn not applicable Jeff Bailey |
It's the color stupid !!! It's all about the color. MY CORNEAS ARE ON FIRE ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Gila Bury My Heart At Wounded Warner Brothers WB 46123 1970 not listed not listed not listed |
One of my favorite concept albums and the cover perfectly captures the plotline. Curious to realize that it took a band of Germans to record an album highlighting this stain on America's history. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Gospel Oak Gospel Oak Kapp KS3635 1970 not listed not listed not listed |
This is another one that doesn't show up too well ... The tree is stunning - must be 40 feet in thickness. Geez what a magnificent creature. Too bad the LP wasn't as impressive. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
H.P. Lovecraft H.P. Lovecraft II Philips PHS 600-279 1968 Bob Schnepf not applicable Tom Gundelfinger |
Clearly I have a thing for psychedelic designs and H.P. Lovecraft's second LP is one of the most psych-ish covers in my collection. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Norman Haines Band, The Den of Iniquity Paophone PCS 7130 1971 not listed Heinrich Kley not applicable |
The stunning pen and ink drawing was by the
late German artist Heinrich Kley. Entitled 'Parlour Game' it showed
a pair of underworld creatures; one apparently giving birth to scores of
humans, the other flinging them around as if little more than trash.
When released many British record stores apparently refused to stock the
album out of fear the cover would upset customers.
|
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Hartley, Keef (Band) Seventy Second Brave Deram DES-18065 1972 not listed not listed not applicable |
Not exactly the most original cover on the list, but there's something really attractive about the picture's simplicity. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Hickory Wind Fresh Produce Flying Fish FF-018 1975 Joseph Craig English Joseph Craig English not applicable |
Here's one where the cover is better than the
country and bluegrass flavored band. Sure, the painting isn't
anything spectacular, but it just strikes a certain 'authentic' cord with
me. (The flip side of the gatefold sleeve shows the rest of the
truck.) I actually liked English's work so much that I tracked him down
(he lives in Maryland) and bought some of his lithographs for our home.
|
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Steven Hines Band It Takes So Long, But It's ... Tiger Lily TL 14021 1976 not listed not listed not listed |
While a lot of the music released on 'tax
scam' labels like Tiger Lily was admittedly crap, the anonymous, throwaway
cover art was frequently quite entertaining. That was certainly the
case on this obscurity. Maybe it's all the marketing classes I took
in college, but the ketchup bottle theme just strikes me as being quite
clever; admittedly better than most of the album.
|
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Hot Butter Popcorn Musicor B 1972 F F n |
This one's on the list for the gimmick rather artwork ... Musicor literally pasted empty, flattened popcorn boxes on the slick ... Hysterical ! |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Hot Dog Hot Dog Guinness GNS 36082 1977 unknown unknown not applicable |
Musically lots of tax scam releases aren't much to write home about. This album is one of the exceptions. The fact that it also sports a cool, low-tech, art deco-styled cover is only icing on the creative cake. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Hotgun Hotgun Guinness GNS-36014 1977 unknown unknown not applicable |
Kind of a neat cartoonish cover ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Hot Tuna America's Choice Grunt BFL1-0820 197 Frank Mulvey Frank Mulvey not applicable |
Today corporate American (re Proctor and Gamble) would have sued these guys in a heartbeat !!! (Part of the reason I think this one's so clever might have something to do with the fact I was a business major.) |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Impressions, The Ridin' High ABC Paramount ABCS-545 1966 ARW Productions Inc. not applicable Don Bronstein |
C'mon - there's just something classically 1960s about this LP ... Three hip lookin' guys sitting on their wheels. Damn, can you imagine what those three cars would be worth today? |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Michael James Runaway World no label HET 1845 1978 Dick Golen Dick Golen Dick Golen |
For some reason I'm attracted to lowtech and this late-1970s obscurity is a classic cover. Patrick Lunborg (the Lama) actually did an interview with namesake James back in 2005 and he talked a little bit about the cover photo: "My father [Dick Golen] was a newspaper and then an advertising photographer and he took all the shots (a 10 hr session, he was such a perfectionist!). It took 7 overlays for the front and 3 for the back. The planet is a greased cue ball and the ship is an "Arid deoderant spray top", a circular tube kitchen light and a 12" JBL speaker from my "Fender Twin Reverb" amp." |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer
|
Mad Lads, The The Mad, Mad, Mad Lads Volt VOS 6005 1968 John Van Hamersveld Honeya Thmpson not applicable
|
Yes, I know it is actually entitled 'The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Lads". Anyhow the simplicity of this one has always attracted my attention ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Man Slow Motion United Artists UA-LA345-G 1975 Rick Griffin Rick Griffin not applicable |
It's hard to imagine any American male not recognizing the work of Rick Griffin and how could you not be impressed by an album that featured Alfred E. Newman on the cover? |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Martin, Mike Thick Tongue Fool Guinness GNS 36080 1977 unknown unknown not applicable |
One of my favorite Guinness Records covers ... no artistic credits (what do you expect from a tax scam label?), but the cartoonish cover has always made me smile ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Mason Proffit Come & Gone Warner Brothers 2S-2746 1973 John & Barbara Casado not applicable Albert Watson |
I don't know how many of you are old enough to remember the old EPA anti-pollution commercials that featured an American Indian shedding a tear for the befouled environment. Well I have no idea who this gentleman was, but his portrait is stunning.
|
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Mayfield, Curtis Back To the World Curtom CRS 8015 1974 Glen Christensen Gary Wolkowitz not applicable |
If there's an album cover that screams 1970s social consciousness, this one's certainly in the running. Simply a stunning collage capturing the feel and issues of the mid-1970s. Easy to understand why Curtis Mayfield used it as a cover.
|
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
McClinton, Delbert Genuine Cowhide ABC ABCD-959 1976 Tom Wilkes not applicable not applicable |
When I first saw this cover I did a double take. That couldn't be the picture of a condom in a wallet? Clearly no artist would have the nerve to release an album with such promiscuous cover art? Particularly in the mid-1970s? Yep, Delbert did !!! |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Mesmerizing Eye A Musical Light Show Smash MGS-27090 1967 not listed not listed not listed |
Sure it isn't the most original cover, but there's just something about this collage that just screams 1960s at me ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Moby Grape Truly Fine Citizen Columbia CS-9912 1971 Ron Coro not applicable Al Clayton |
Supposedly the title and picture were inspired by one of the 'rent-a-cops' assigned to protect the band while they were recording the album and drawing inspiration from various illicit substances. Regardless of the truth, it is a great picture of a person enjoying their job ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Move, The Looking On Capitol ST-652 1971 Graphreaks not applicable not listed |
In the interest of full disclosure, I am an individual with follicle deficiencies, so this cover struck close to home. That said, there's something quite clever about the top-down photo. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Nektar Down To Earth Passport PPSD-98005 1974 Pierre Tubbs not applicable Bruce Attewell |
Yeah it's a little different from your typical Nektar cover, but then the album's a little different as well. The photo is just goofy enough to have captured my attention as a teenager. Must have been something about the London bus ... Yes, The Who's "Magic Bus" is also on the list - see below. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Nico Camera Obscura PVC PVC 8938 1985 Mathan - Saville - Wickens not applicable Corbyn |
I wondered whether to include this one in my favorite, or worst lists ... On the surface this portrait of Nico wouldn't seem to be a candidate for inclusion. The thing is that at one point in time Nico was easily one of the world's prettiest women. Just look at some of the Andy Warhol photos, or the cover of her debut LP. While still striking, the toll that years of hard living had taken on her was simply stunning ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Nightriders, The Introducing ... Justice JLP-157 1967 not listed not listed not listed |
This is a perfect example of cheesy in a good way, as opposed to bad cheesy. A classic example of a low budget cover that is instantly recognizable. That includes the goofy font which leaves you wonder if the band's name was 1.) The Nightriders, 2.) The Night Riders, or 3.) The Night-Riders Combo (as shown on the banner hanging from the car door). By the way, these guys were only 16 when they recorded the album so none of them should have been driving that big assed convertable. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Nirvana The Story of Simon Simopath Bell 6015-S 1967 David Browning David Browning not applicable |
C'mon if this doesn't scream '1960s' at you nothing will. What a great cover !!! |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
O'Jays, The Message In the Music Philadelphia International PZ 36245 1976 Ed Lee not applicable Don Huntstein |
For a brief period of time I had a college roommate who came from a fairly privileged family (father was a general in the US Army). Anyhow, I was appalled at this guys views of foreigners and minorities. Mind you, I have my own biases, but I was shocked by some of the beliefs and outlooks this guy had. Anyhow, I remember him coming back from the local base exchange with a copy of this album and going on and on about how he loved the title track. I guess the irony was lost on him. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Oldfield, Mike Tubular Bells Virgin VR 13 105 1974 Trevor Key Brian Aris not applicable |
If you're a certain age (let's say you were in your teens of twenties during the mid-'70s), the opening notes to Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" are bound to send a chill up your spine. This is simply one of the all time classic slices or progressive music. The fact it was part of the soundtrack for The Exorcist only makes it cooler and spookier ... talk about a creepy flick. |
|
|
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer
|
Oldham, Spooner Pot Luck Family FPS-2703 1973 not listed not listed not listed |
There's something simultaneously repulsive, yet fascinating about this cover. It probably sounds weird, but the covers perfect for Oldham's good ole' boy blue-eyed soul moves ... Quite a rare LP these days and last time we checked, it hadn't yet been reissued on CD. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Passport Cross-Collateral ATCO SD 36-107 1975 Wandrey's Studio not listed not applicable |
Beats me why I find this one so cool ...Same's true for the German jazz-rock hybrid housed in the cover. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Peace & Quiet Peace & Quiet Kinetic Z-30315 1971 Henrietta Condax Robert Grossman not applicable |
This is one that would benefit from a large jpg file - the picture shows a stylized construction worker taking a drill hammer to a tooth ... Yeah, probably sounds kind of stupid, but it has a nifty 1970s feel to it |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Procol Harum Procol Harum Deram DEWS-18008 1967 H R not applicable |
I'm equally surprised that a black and white image would attract my attention, but there's something quite majestic about this image. |
|
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Procol Harum A Salty Dog A&M SP-4179 1969 H R not applicable |
Two covers by one band ... that's a first here. This one was apparently meant to be a parody of the famous Player's Tobacco advertisement. Regardless of the inspiration, it is eye grabbing. |
|
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Psychedelic Psoul The Freak Scene Columbia CL-2658 1967 not listed not listed not listed |
Guess I'm just a freak for eyes ... This isn't the only eye theme cover I've seen (the UK/German band Nektar did it as well), but I think it's the one that's done the best. |
|
|
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Ram Where? (In Conclusion) Polydor PD-5013 1969 Ron Nackman Jordan Malek Jordan Malek |
While I'm not 100% sure, the cover looks like a brain scan that's been doubled and warped into a ram's head shape. Set against a backdrop of stars, it makes for a fairly stunning cover. The LP's also pretty good ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Ramases Glass Top Coffin Vertigo 6360-115 1975 Ramases Dave Field not applicable |
While it's kind of hard to see it on this scale, the die cut cover shows a human figure falling into the Horsehead nebula ... it's one of those covers that's perfectly suited for this weird, but fascinating album. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Ravers, The Dear Mrs. Appletree TIP 6-3069 1967 not listed not listed not listed |
As an anonymous mid-1960s German cover band musically The Ravers didn't have a lot going for them. That said, this anonymous throwaway cover is a perfect example of that mid-1960s era ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Redding, Otis King & Queen Stax S-716 1967 Ronnie Stoots Ronnie Stoots not applicable |
Hard to beat this one - a classic slice of Memphis soul and a cover that's just as impressive. Wonderful concept for the kind and queen of Stax ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Reiser, Lee Pretzel Rocking Horse RHR-5504 1977 unknown unknown not applicable |
Ah, another low-tech tax scam label, but you've got to love the dumb cover. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Rother, Michael Katzenmuzik Sky 033 1979 unknown not applicable unknown |
Scaling the cover down to this size largely wipes out the impact of this cover ... That's unfortunate since it's a stunning sky collage - clouds and connected by an airplane contrail. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Santana Amigos Columbia PC-33576 1976 Tadanori Yokoo Tadanori Yokoo not applicable |
The album is just okay, but the brilliant day-glo cover art is stunning. Wonder what this baby looks like under a black light. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Satans, The Raisin' Hell private press 3262 1962 not listed not listed not applicable |
Low tech can be quite attractive and it don't come much more low tech than this one ... Anyhow it always give me fleeting hope that someone with limited artistic talent (such as myself), could someday design a cover. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Satisfaction Satisfaction Decca 5075 1971 unknown unknown not applicable |
I suppose they're lucky that the Rolling Stones didn't sue them for copyright infringement, but overlooking that small issue this one always brings a smile to my own face. Cheerful and bright it has the knowing edge, whereas The Stones version always struck me a colder and more calculated. Damn, I need to do something more useful than this ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Schaubroeck, Armand A Lot of People Would Like Mirror none 1978 not listed not listed not listed |
Technically I should probably start a second list entitled 'favorite bizarre album covers'. Easily one of the oddest albums in my collection. A three LP set, this one is among the most 'challenging' albums I've ever listened to. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Scorpion Scorpion Tower ST-5171 1969 Roy Steyskal Roy Steyskal not applicable |
Yeah it's actually kind of ugly, but in an interesting fashion. Another one I can't quite articulate. If you look at it closely, Steyskal appears to have fabricated it out of clay. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Screamin' Jay Hawkins What It Is! ... Philips PHS 600-319 1969 not listed not listed not listed
|
C'mon, you have to admire Screaming Jay Hawkins since he built his entire career on this one gimmick. Besides, the album contains the track 'Constipation Blues'. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Spring Spring Neon NE6 1971 Keef not applicable Keef |
I'm usually not impressed by 'in-your-face' statements, but this is one of those exceptions. Interestingly, I owned this LP for about three years before I got around to actually listening to it. I'd never paid any attention to the cover and was under the impression it was showing a piece of trash in a stream. I was dumbfounded to discover it the body of a soldier bleeding into a stream. Very thought provoking. |
|
|
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer
|
Stafford, Frank Trio Variations Saga EROS-8139 1970 unknown not applicable unknown
|
I owned this non-descript British jazz album for a couple of years and have to admit I never notice the cover. Well, I did, but I thought it was just some spacey and weird geometric pattern. Anyhow, I had the album lying around in a pile of stuff to sell when a friend came over and nearly had a heart attack seeing the cover ... It wasn't until he told me what it was that it suddenly dawned on me. Wonder how this baby avoided being banned?
|
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Steely Dan Aja ABC AA-1006 1977 Frank Mulvay not applicable Hideki Fujii |
The first album I bought after going to college ... There's just something classy and calming in Hideki Fujii's stark cover photo. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Swamp Dogg Rat On! Elektra EKS-74089 1971 Swamp Dogg not applicable Willis Hogans, Jr. |
This one's so strange and disquieting (like the man himself), that you have to be impressed by it. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Szabo, Gabor Macho Salvation SAL-704 S1 1975 Richard Mantel not applicable John Paul Endress |
I'll be darned if I can explain the attraction behind this one. I'm not a big Harley guy and I'm not a huge Szabo fan either. Still, there's something quite pleasing about this one. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
T.S. Truck T.S. Truck Solid Smoke SS062973 1972 Mark and Ken Hoedebecke Mark and Ken Hoedebecke not applicable |
Ever bought an album at a yard sale just for the cover? Yup. I have. Unfortunately the cover's charm is largely lost on this low resolution cover shot, but there was something cool about the old truck and the stylized lettering. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Traffic On the Road Island SW-9336 1973 Anne Borthwick Anne Borthwick not applicable |
Yeah, musically this early 1970s live set wasn't Traffic's crowning achievement, but there's something that's just so 1970s about the cover. Very Krautrock inspired ... Anyone out there know anything about the artist? I've looked her name up without an success. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer
|
Tramline Somewhere Down the Line A&M SP-4208 1968 CCS Advertising Associates not applicable Francis Winham and Gered Mankowitz |
I've ridden the Washington Metro system for nearly ten years and every time I get a chance I sit at the very front of the subway car so that I can see the tracks in front of me ... Must be a guy thing, but I just think this is such a cool picture. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Utopia Ra Bearsville BR-6965 1977 Utopia not applicable Ron Slenzak |
Perhaps not the most sophisticated artistic concept of the year (nor is it the year's most impressive album), but there's something mesmerizing about the picture ... Like most people I never seem to have enough time, but I do try to enjoy a pretty sunrise or sunset when I see one. Nice way to hold on to a little bit of one's humanity. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Van der Graff Generator World Records Mercury SRM-1-1116 1976 A.D. Design / Frank Sansom not applicable not applicable |
This is another one that loses some if it's appeal when shrink down to this size - great concept half globe/half vinyl and a cute name to boot. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Variations, The Dig em Up! Justice J-LP-112 1966 not listed not applicable not listed |
C'mon - It's the only Justice label released in color and talk about a doozy! A customized beet red Hearse with a bunch of dweebie guys looking like a cross between waiters and vampires ... The coffin on top of the vehicle is just icing on the cake. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
various artists Epitaph for a Legend International Artists 13 1980 Ian Gardiner Ian Gardiner not applicable |
Yes it's not exactly a cutting edge design, but the lo-tech black and white design is actually a big part of the attraction for me. I'm sure most of the acts were thrilled to see their names inscribed on tombstones. By the way, the double LP, 27 track collection is excellent. |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Who, The Magic Bus Decca DL 75064 1968 not listed not listed not listed |
This cover is so goofy, that you just have to love it. Talk about typecasting that 1960s' UK sense of style and fashion ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
Who, The Live At Leeds Decca DL-79175 1970 not listed not listed not listed |
Okay it isn't a stunning photograph or graphic and they probably didn't spend more than $1.50 on the concept, but talking about a cool concept - out-bootlegging the bootleggers ... |
 |
Artist Album Label Catalog Year Designer Artist Photographer |
XTC Go To Virgin VI 2018 1978 Hipgnosis not listed not listed |
True it may not be the most clever concept you've ever seen, but it beats every 'hair band' cover out there and the liner notes/cover comments are brutally honest and quite funny. |
