Covers never do as much for me as the music inside, but I still like the Stones' "Sticky Fingers" which included a real zipper. Also, a lot of the Blue Note jazz albums had fabulously atmospheric covers.
Not exactly a favourite but I have memories of "The Lone Ranger" album cover by Quantum Jump which has a masked cowboy with a gun and a native Indian with what looks like a tomahawk in his hand. I still listen to the song whose opening lines make absolutely no sense.
I loved the cover to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass's "Whipped Cream" album cover. I also liked some of the Martin Denny covers. As for Rock, the first Eagles cover, the Yes covers with art by Roger Dean, the first Steppenwolf cover, Electric Light Orchestra's "Out of the Blue", ZZ Top's "Afterburner", the Pure Prairie League covers were a lot of fun. Last but not least is Big Brother & Holding Company album "Cheap Thrills".
I also dig (as anon also noted) a bunch of Blue Note (and other jazz) covers, very iconic, plus add Bob Dylan. All cool. No specific fave or "greatest."
A matter of taste, of course, but I think an interesting measure is that sincere form of flattery known as imitation. In this regard, both your Beatles picks stand tall (and Meet the Beatles might be added).
I guess I had better go down in my basement and check my Mamas and Papas cover. Of course that will lead to looking at hundreds of others to find one I really like.
Not solely Blue Note, but particularly Limelight, Impulse!, Riverside and even CBS were no slouches when it came to album cover art in the jazz world...
David Bowie - Diamond Dogs. Duane Eddy - Especially for you. Rolling Stones - Aftermath Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden Iron Maiden - Killers Iron Maiden - Number Of The Beast Doro - Fear No Evil
Covers never do as much for me as the music inside, but I still like the Stones' "Sticky Fingers" which included a real zipper. Also, a lot of the Blue Note jazz albums had fabulously atmospheric covers.
ReplyDeleteDeb
Not exactly a favourite but I have memories of "The Lone Ranger" album cover by Quantum Jump which has a masked cowboy with a gun and a native Indian with what looks like a tomahawk in his hand. I still listen to the song whose opening lines make absolutely no sense.
ReplyDeleteOh, Patti, those are both great covers. Hmmm....I have to say I like the cover of Paul Simon's Graceland. It's muted, but I really love it.
ReplyDeleteI'll go with the Andy Warhol banana cover on the Velvet Underground album.
ReplyDeleteI like the ones with nudity.
ReplyDeleteI love this collection of the 10 Worst Album Covers of All Time.
ReplyDeleteJeff M.
I loved the "Yes" covers, though not so much their music, and the Molly Hatchet covers.
ReplyDeleteLondon Calling by The Clash
ReplyDeleteI loved the cover to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass's "Whipped Cream" album cover. I also liked some of the Martin Denny covers. As for Rock, the first Eagles cover, the Yes covers with art by Roger Dean, the first Steppenwolf cover, Electric Light Orchestra's "Out of the Blue", ZZ Top's "Afterburner", the Pure Prairie League covers were a lot of fun. Last but not least is Big Brother & Holding Company album "Cheap Thrills".
ReplyDeleteOops, on the Steppenwolf, I was thinking of the BACK COVER of the "Monster" album.
ReplyDeleteThat Her Alpert "Whipped Cream and Other Delights" album was always a favorite of mine too.
ReplyDeleteJeff M.
BORN IN THE USA - Springsteen
ReplyDeleteBAT OUT OF HELL - Meat Loaf
HOPE - Klaatu
BREAKFAST IN AMERICA - Supertramp
Am I lost in the 70s and 80s? Definitely.
My favorite is stark and simple--Patti Smith's "Horses".
ReplyDeleteMamas & the Papas - If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you have the original cover with the toilet visible it is worth big bucks.
Jeff M.
Those are all cool covers you put up, for sure.
ReplyDeleteI also dig (as anon also noted) a bunch of Blue Note (and other jazz) covers, very iconic, plus add Bob Dylan. All cool. No specific fave or "greatest."
A matter of taste, of course, but I think an interesting measure is that sincere form of flattery known as imitation. In this regard, both your Beatles picks stand tall (and Meet the Beatles might be added).
ReplyDeleteBowie's Aladdin Sane is also up there.
I guess I had better go down in my basement and check my Mamas and Papas cover. Of course that will lead to looking at hundreds of others to find one I really like.
ReplyDeleteA few favorites I could pull quickly:
ReplyDeleteBrubeck Quartet:
Jazz Impressions of New York
Countdown: Time in Outer Space
Modern Jazz Quartet:
Space
Lonely Woman
Gil Scott-Heron:
Winter in America
Toshiko Akiyoshi:
Toshiko
Not solely Blue Note, but particularly Limelight, Impulse!, Riverside and even CBS were no slouches when it came to album cover art in the jazz world...
ReplyDeleteRage Against the Machine's first album.
ReplyDeleteJane's Addiction: Nothing's Shocking
Nirvana: Nevermind
Neko Case: Middle Cyclone
Kanye West: Graduation
Smashing Pumpkins: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Who: Quadrophenia
And if you have The Beatle's Abbey Road, you should put it side by side with Red Hot Chili Pepper's Abbey Road EP.
Ayo, there's a slew of iconic Pink Floyd to add to the pile.
ReplyDeleteDavid Bowie - Diamond Dogs.
ReplyDeleteDuane Eddy - Especially for you.
Rolling Stones - Aftermath
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden - Killers
Iron Maiden - Number Of The Beast
Doro - Fear No Evil
Which Stones AFTERMATH cover, tho'?
ReplyDeleteLove Tom Waits and the cover & back cover of Alice. Steely Dan's The Royal Scam is also great.
ReplyDeleteThe first UK cover - Stones' Aftermath. Photo of group - brownish tint.
ReplyDeleteOut of the Blue by ELO the outside is good but the inside is amazing
ReplyDelete