Best Album Covers
 

I know this is a tricky one because since CDs have come onto the scene album covers aren't quite the same as they were in the days of vinyl but..................

The artwork is still good and people must have favourites.

For the record I love Roger Dean's artwork especially "Tales from Topographic Oceans". I use it as my wallpaper and have a print of it up in my living room. Love to look at it from time to time.

The most interesting idea though, for me, was Jethro Tull's "Thick as a Brick". That newspaper idea was brilliant and was a good read too. Did anyone join the dots to see what Fluffy the duck was looking at? Naughty boys!!!!!!!

Any other faves out there?

Pink Floyd:

Animals
A Momentary Lapse of Reason
Ummagumma
The Division Bell
Wish You Were Here

King Crimson:

In The Court of the Crimson King
Lizard

There are so many so great, that's hard to choose, here my favourites:

1.- A Trick of the Tail (Only old LP format): Each drawing represents one song from the album, seem as engravings from late 1800's. But there's something special for those who have the LP, the inner sleeve has the same drawings, but in a diferent mood. In the cover everything is magic and happy, the squonk is free, the children are playing, the old witch looks at the mirror and appears as a young lady, but in the inner (paper) sleeve, the magic is gone, the Squonk is captured by the hunter, the children are sad, also the witch looks at the mirror and sees her ugly reflex instead of the girl. Very poetic, even if the music is not my favourite.

2.- Yessongs: A great collection of great paintings by Roger Dean.

3.- Long Distance Voyager (Moody Blues): Somehow similar to ATOTT, also you can find some references to the songs in the art. The blue collor gives an old aspect.

4.- Point of Know Return (Vynil version): The inner sleeve is great also, like an old captain's log.

5.- Illusins on a Double Dimple (Triumvirat): Great picture of the mouse inside the light bulb, simple but effective.

Iván

Wilding & Bonus
 

Pleasure Signals. Both guys standing on pictures of two naked women using semaphore (sp?). And a killer record to boot!

The Seventh Son of A Seventh Son (Iron Maiden) record has all of the previous "Eddies" in ice. Very cool idea. Sort of like the Trick Of The Tail idea (a good choice).

No votes for "Smell The Glove"?

Here are my picks:

1. Dark Side of the Moon - Come on, what's more iconic than the classic prism on the original LP cover. It's been redone 4 time since the original, but that one version still stands as a classic, instantle recognizable work of pop-art.

2. Brain Salad Surgery - Yet another iconic piece by one screwed up weirdo. H.R. Geiger was asked to airbrush out the penis that stuck up below the woman's chin (geiger's wife). Both this and Tarkus are ELP's signature sleeves of the 70s. Unfortunately, the original sleeve (which swung open in panels) hasn't been completely resurrected, but at least the cd version has a motion device that lets you into a bit of the original.

3. In The Court Of The Crimson King - What other album cover screams (literally) to be picked up and listens to? The artist thatpainted it, Barry Godber, died before he was able to pain another Crimson album cover.

Tommy

<-- Rush's Grace Under Pressure is one of my favorites.

I'm partial to Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti as well. It's fun looking in all the little windows.

Do you mean Smell the Glove before or after it was censored?

Good point...
 

Didn't even think about before and after - I was just commenting on the totally black album cover.

Now that there are a few posts, it is interesting how the album cover used to be a big deal before CD's. There were so many good ones.

About three years ago, after I won an important case (and had some cash), I bought a set of original Roger Dean engravings very cheap (about 200 bucks on E-Bay).

This year I tried to buy some more, but the guy has gone crazy, above US$ 1,000.00 for each one. Those are not even paintings, with only one press you can do thousands of engravings.

But sure are beutiful.

Iván

Abbey Road (the Beatles) - no printed words needed on this cover
Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)
Union (Yes)
Keys to Ascencion (Yes)
Infinity (Journey)
Five Miles Out (Mike Oldfield)
Mare Vitalis (the Appleseed Cast)
Full House: Live at the Tsubu (Wes Montogery)
Faith Hope Love (King's X)
King's X (King's X)
Out of the Silent Planet (King's X)

Strawbs.
 

At the moment "The Strawbs" track 'Autumn' is playing.

I'd forgotten what a lovely picture is on that album cover.

Hero and Heroine is also a really good album as well as a great cover.

Best album cover has to be ...
 

.... Crash Landing (Jimi Hendrix)

It's even better than 'Down To Margate' (Chaz & Dave)