10 Iconic Album Covers

Iconic Album Covers and The Power Behind them

The essence of a high selling album is not only about the quality of the music that it contains. The album cover plays pretty big part in it too. People say to not judge a book by its cover, but people are hypocrites, they actually do judge a book by its cover.

That’s why having an unique and fine looking piece of artwork on the album cover it’s so important. The first impression plays a major role when it comes to making a positive influence on people. If it doesn’t catch their eye they might move on to the next album, no matter how good the content might be.

Because of that why we picked 10 iconic album covers to demonstrate you the power of the cover. From the age of 8 to 88, everyone can recognize them:

10. David Bowie – Aladdin Sane

Bowie’s first album from the position of a superstar. Closed eyes, red lightning bolt and embracing his stardom. Decades later, many people are still imitating his style with the red lightning bolt. Truly deserves its place among the most iconic album covers.

Read more: The Thin White Duke – David Bowie’s Fascist Alter Ego

9. The Doors – The doors

The album cover that introduced Jim Morrison & The Doors to the world. Definitely one of the most famous pictures in rock history. Who can forget that distant stare from Jim?

10 Cool Jim Morrison Facts You May Have Not Known

8. Deep Purple – Deep Purple in Rock

Portraying the band members as the heads of Mount Rushmore surely was a good idea for an album cover, because it left huge mark in music history. Also the name has double meaning, Deep Purple in Rock as in rock music and Deep Purple in Rock as in carved heads on Mount Rushmore. Genius

10 Fun Facts About Deep Purple

7. Queen – Queen II

Since their first album (cover) failed to grab people’s attention, they were desperate to make something that will leave a strong impression. That’s why they hired the famous British rock and roll photographer Mick Rock, to make it iconic. At first, the band felt that the picture was too pretentious and didn’t like it. They almost even rejected it but Mick convinced them otherwise, which turned out to be an excellent move.
The cover image experienced a rebirth when it was re-used for the promotional video of one of Queen’s biggest hits ever “Bohemian Rhapsody” in 1975.

6. Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures

Joy Division’s debut album it’s one of the most unique pieces of work. The album cover is simple, yet so beautiful and abstract. If someone is wondering what are those lines, they are the visual representation of the first pulsar discovered. Stunning album cover.

5. Nirvana – Nevermind

Innocent newborn baby swimming towards a dollar bill on a fishhook, corrupting him instantly after birth. Brilliant, just brilliant. This is how you get remembered!

4. The Clash – London Calling

Bassist Paul Simonon smashing a bass guitar out of frustration because the bouncers didn’t let the audience to stand up from their seats which was killing the momentum. This iconic picture was photographed by Pennie Smith who actually thought that the picture wouldn’t make a great album cover and wasn’t a fan of it. Luckily they decided in the end to put it on the album cover and now their artwork is among the most iconic album covers in the history of music. Best decision ever.

3. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin I

Black-and-white image of the burning Hindenburg airship has become a synonym for Led Zeppelin. The origin of the album cover image and the band’s name have the same roots. When Page, Beck and The Who’s Keith Moon and John Entwistle were discussing the idea of forming a group, Moon joked, “It would probably go over like a lead balloon”, and Entwistle allegedly replied, “a lead zeppelin!”
Probably the best story you will ever hear about the background of an album cover.

10 Fun Facts About Led Zeppelin 

2. Pink Floyd- The Dark Side of the Moon

The 8th studio album cover of Pink Floyd turned out to be one of the most legendary and iconic pictures in the music industry. Also, when someone is talking about Pink Floyd this is the first picture you have in mind. This album cover has become the unofficial photo/logo that represents the band. There’s hardly a person who doesn’t recognize this picture.

15 Pink Floyd Facts You May Have Not Known

1. The Beatles – Abbey Road

The album cover of their eleventh studio album was the first one to not have the name of the band or the album’s title on the cover. The Beatles were so famous that they didn’t even need to put their name on the album cover for people to recognize and buy their music.

The photograph is so simple, yet so special and unique. Apart from Beatles’s worldwide popularity, the thing that made this cover so much famous is the recreation of the photo from the fans. Many fans from all around the world have tried to recreate this legendary photo when passing the zebra crossing at the street Abbey Road in London.

But, I doubt that topping the chart for iconic album covers would surprise anyone.