Best Album Art

[QuantumJo]

There is a proverb that says: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I just received an email from fremder entitled worst album covers http://www.coverbrowser.com/covers/worst-album-covers. For the most part I’d have to agree with most of them. The ones that I did not agree with were from some of my favorite bands, Black Sabath, Riot, Scorpions and the Ritchie Family… errrrrr scratch that last one, and I’ll be sure to include that in the “guilty pleasures” post.

Perhaps I can put a spin on this and ask the listeners of aural moon what they consider to be the best album art. Anyone who wants to participate please post 3 examples (please include link to the art if possible) of album art that you like the most. It doesn’t mater what kind of music it is what I am after is the cover art.

[KeithieW]

Good idea QJ,

I have no hesitation in naming "Tales from Topographic Oceans" as my favourite album cover. Just seeing the picture gives me shivers up and down my spine. So great is the anticipation of hearing the album.

In second place "Dark Side of the Moon". When I first saw that Prism and Spectrum design I was amazed by the simplicity. It's turned into an iconic design. Instantly recognisable.

For third place I wanted one of the Moody Blues albums but couldn't decide which one. Therefore I have chosen the cover of "This Is The Moody Blues", a compilation album that has bits of all my favourite Moodies covers.

I know you said to pick three but I thought I'd add a fourth that was a close runner up.

[roger]

> add a fourth that was a close runner up.

heh.

[Rick and Roll]

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/M_Patton/nude_nude_nude___/

I was looking for Wilding & Bonus' "Pleasure Signals" and found this link. W & B is #102, and is on the Moon (has a bunch of great musicians on it also)

Remove all children before viewing this link :knowing:

[DEzerov]

I always loved the early Passport covers done by Wandrey's Studios...

http://www.passportjazz.com/cdcovers/crosscollateral400.jpg
http://www.passportjazz.com/cdcovers/handmade400.jpg

Or howza 'bout 10cc's "The Original Soundtrack?"
http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000001FL3.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V1115550581_.jpg

[VAXman]

I've always liked this album's cover art:

http://a7.vox.com/6a00b8ea0679d0dece00bd98e72467b1b4-500pi

10 pts if you know what it is. 20 if you have a copy of it.

[DEzerov]

Metamorphosis by Iron Butterfly, but only 10 pts...only IB I own is IAGDV..., but have heard it and liked it...had Mike Pinera from Cactus and El Rhino from Captain Beyond on it...

[GORT]

I always liked the cover to Art in America

[Rick and Roll]

I've always liked this album's cover art:

http://a7.vox.com/6a00b8ea0679d0dece00bd98e72467b1b4-500pi

10 pts if you know what it is. 20 if you have a copy of it.

it is cool...but what are those two things?

[mailotron]

it is cool...but what are those two things?


:rolleyes: perhaps

[mailotron]

it is cool...but what are those two things?

coffins ]) ?

[mailotron]

:-V

some cover arts I like, no order, not an aboslute chocie, just feeling
Leftoverture Kansas
Close to the edge Yes
Lizard KC
PFM Photo of ghosts
Strawbs grave new world
Hawkwind : Warrior on the edge of time
Genesis Trick of the tail
Genesis Nursery Crime
Yes Yessongs
Japan Tin Drum
Joy Division Warzaw
BJH Gone to Earth
Hammill Silent Corner and the empty stage
VDGG : H to He who I'm the only one ( not the horrible US !!):ick:

[mailotron]

Jethro Tull Living in the past
Jethro Tull Thick as a brick
Steve Hackett : Voyage of the acolyte
Camel Moonmadness
Camel Nude

[sharcnorris]

BADGER - ONE LONE BADGER, Cover-Roger Dean

[kirk]

I'll second KW.
I still have my Big O TFTO poster from the 70's.

I discovered this fellow through Sharc's page,
think we may have found Dean's eventual successor.
You have to know, as a student of the great Joe Kubert,
I don't make such statements lightly.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=57650259

P e a c e and Merrychrismahanaukwanzika

K

[Rick and Roll]

I'll second KW.
I still have my Big O TFTO poster from the 70's.

I discovered this fellow through Sharc's page,
think we may have found Dean's eventual successor.
You have to know, as a student of the great Joe Kubert,
I don't make such statements lightly.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=57650259

P e a c e and Merrychrismahanaukwanzika

K

Ed's an interesting character. Looking forward to meeting him at Rosfest, and he's quite the aggressive marketer.

Check out these pics, hope the upload works....

[Rick and Roll]

here's a few more...

[kirk]

LOL!! Those are great! Who did them?

#3 from the 1st set was really impressive.

K

[Rick and Roll]

LOL!! Those are great! Who did them?

#3 from the 1st set was really impressive.

K

Ed posted these on a myspace bulletin. he may have these in one of his blogs still :-V

[VAXman]

Ed posted these on a myspace bulletin. he may have these in one of his blogs still :-V
I really like the keyboard typewriter! Where can I get one?

[Rick and Roll]

Ed Unitsky should be at Rosfest (he's the one who drew the logo this year. I'll bet he'll have a whole ton of things.

A shout out to Sharcnorris for finding him and pointing him towards the Moon!

:rawk:

[kirk]

After some thought,
I'd like to give honorable mention to
Supertramp's "Breakfast in America" cover,
and to Pink Floyd's "Pulse".

I have that one on my studio's wall,
a 6x4 record store promo poster.

My son worked at Karma Records in Indy at the time,
grabbed it along w/ a German Division Bell tour poster
for me.

K

[fremder99]

Wow! I've got to get back into the forums more! Nice to think I spawned this discussion!

As to my top three, I go straight to TFTO. Having bought it as vinyl, the double spread, and inside cover make a memorable package, to say nothing of the music!! Cheers KeithieW!!

Number two is probably Olias. Again, a testament to what a loss the 12" album cover was... :sad: The cover's intricate artwork was also set on embossed board.

Three is tough... I was a big Roger Dean fan (I have a mint condition copy of "Views"!) but I'll "spread my love" to another artistic realm... Perhaps ANY photo cover of Kate Bush! I'll stick to "classics" and go with Nursery Cryme. The "style" and that doll on skates kinda haunts me...

[podakayne]

just because i'm looking at them now:

Yes - Relayer, this one stays on the list as a really gem in my eyes love dean's mostly monochromatic cover.
http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=1829

pilotdrift- it's a perfect depiction of the spirit of their sound
http://www.littlebigman.com/pr/Pilotdrift/water_sphere_cover_300.jpg

van der graaf generator – Pawn hearts, gotta love them
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pawnhearts.jpg

just 3 off the top of me head...oh and chris squire's fish out of water
http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=cs-foow

you can probably see these other places i just thought i'd google-up some images to refresh the memory

words from the pod

[fremder99]

Doh! Forgot links to the art!! Here are the front/back pairs.

1.) TFTO - http://members.aol.com/yesfamily/tree/cover.tales.jpg
2.) Olias - http://img49.exs.cx/img49/7310/Olias.jpg
3.) Nursey Cryme - http://www.clearlight888music.com/paulwhitehead/site/images/gallery/large/nurserycryme.jpg

[VAXman]

just because i'm looking at them now:

Yes - Relayer, this one stays on the list as a really gem in my eyes love dean's mostly monochromatic cover.
http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=1829

pilotdrift- it's a perfect depiction of the spirit of their sound
http://www.littlebigman.com/pr/Pilotdrift/water_sphere_cover_300.jpg

van der graaf generator – Pawn hearts, gotta love them
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pawnhearts.jpg

just 3 off the top of me head...oh and chris squire's fish out of water
http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=cs-foow

you can probably see these other places i just thought i'd google-up some images to refresh the memory

words from the pod
The "future city" in the Pilotdrift image reminded me of this: http://images.heritagecoin.com/images/hnai/ebayliveimages/636/l28531.jpg

[KeithieW]

Like poda, just because I'm looking at it now (I have a signed and framed copy of it on my wall), I love the cover work for The Who's Tommy. This picture doesn't do it justice as it unfolds into a wonderful work of art.

[fremder99]

I'll revise my number three, as I hadn't seen this in so long, but stumbled onto it today:

http://www.kneeling.co.uk/pages/caravan/greypink.asp

[schupdoggy]

Nektar
http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/N/Nektar/nektar.html
King Crimson
http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/K/king_crimson_court.html
Uriah Heep
http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/U/U_Heep_wizard.html
Santana
http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/S/santana_abraxas.html
Mahogany Rush
http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/o18509.jpg
Be Bop Deluxe
http://www.cduniverse.com/images.asp?pid=1388419&cart=454996039&style=music&image=front&title=Be%2DBop+Deluxe+%2D+Axe+Victim+CD

[schupdoggy]

Mahogany Rush
http://www.cduniverse.com/images.asp?pid=7322036&style=music&image=front&title=Mahogany+Rush+%2D+Strange+Universe+CD