Album covers
Apollo 18
Apollo 18, by They Might Be Giants. 1992. Elektra Records. The album cover is composed of elements found in the NASA Image Archives by John Linnell and John Flansburgh, the two members of They Might Be Giants. The album was design by Flansburge, under the pseudonym “Rolf Conant,” along with designer Barbara Lipp. Other art credits are attributed to Beth Passaro, Bo Orloff, Kurt Hoffman, Marjorie Galen, Vivian Walsh and Fred Tomaselli. Get it here: https://amzn.to/32EJPyq
The Holographic Principle
The Holographic Principle by Epica. 2016. Nuclear Blast. Cover art by Stefan Heilemann.
Nothing’s Carved inStone
Maze, by Nothing’s Carved In Stone. 2016. Growing Up Inc. Japan Music System Co. Ltd. Ryotaro Kawashima, Art director and graphic design
1984
1984, by Van Halen. 1984, Warner Bros. Records. Illustration by Margo Zafer Nahas. Photography by Raul Vega. Art Direction by David Jellison and Richard Seireeni. Four-year-old Carter Helm was the model for this iconic cover. Artist Margo Nahas had photographer Raul Vega take a photo of Carter, her best friend’s son, posing with candy cigarettes and a ton of gel in his hair. Margo had a fascination with angels and devils, and so painted on the angel wings. The painting
Minorville
Minorville, by Derek Minor. 2013. Reach Records. Art direction and design by Invisible Creature, Inc. 3-D city fabrication by Curtis Clark. Photography by Robby Klein. Get it here: https://amzn.to/30szZkp
This Time
This Time, by Dwight Yoakum. 1993. Reprise Records. Art Direction by Dwight Yoakam and Kim Champagne. Design by Kim Champagne. Photography and painting by Kip Lott.
Mind Funk
Mind Funk, by Mind Funk. 1991. Sony Music Entertainment Inc. Cover artwork by John Penuelas. Photography by Tony Woolliscroft and Waring Abbot. Get it here: https://amzn.to/2yam1ak
Gimme Love
Gimme Love Single from the album Nectar, by Joji. 2020. 12Tone Music, LLC Artwork by Allen Chiu
Harmonica Blues
Harmonica Blues (Great Harmonica Performances Of The 1920s And ’30s). 1976. Yazoo Records. Album cover art by Robert Crumb. Robert Crumb, the cult illustrator behind “Keep On Trucking’” and Fritz the Cat actually has a number of album covers to his credit, and an incredible collection of drawings of famous blues musicians. If you’re not familiar with the art of Robert Crumb, it’s worth reviewing his body of work, which spans over 70 years. Better yet, watch the documentary, “Crumb.”
Les Chants de l’Aurore
Les Chants de l’Aurore, by Alcest 2024, Nuclear Blast Records Cover painting by Yoann Lossel The cover art is a tribute to “The Spirit of the Plains” by Australian painter Sydney Long, 1897.
Songs Of Peace And Joy
Songs Of Peace And Joy Oberlin College Choir, Daniel Moe, conductor. 1980. Delta Records No creative credits listed.
Mer De Noms
Mer De Noms, by A Perfect Circle. 2000. Virgin Records. Art concept: Maynard James Keenan. Art Direction and design: Steven R. Gilmore. Logo design: Billy Howerdel. Photography: Sean Murphy.
Signs
Signs, by Tedeschi Trucks Band. 2019. Fantasy Records. Painting by Alec Huxley. Tab Winters, Creative Director. Artwork by Madalyn Stefanik. Photography by Jay Blakesberg and Shervin Lainez. Get it here: https://amzn.to/2sR4OQG
Jekyll + Hyde
Jekyll + Hyde by Zac Brown Band 2015 by Big Machine Label Group Art Direction, Creative Direction by Danny Clinch, John Varvatos, Kenny Gravillis, and Zac Brown Design and Layout by John Varvatos and Kenny Gravillis Photography by Danny Clinch
Grand Canyon Suite
Grand Canyon Suite, Arturo Toscanini and NBC Symphony Orchestra, Ferde Grofé, conductor. 1945. RCA Victor Red Seal. Cover design by Alex Steinweiss. Steinweiss is one of the greatest album designers of all time. Working from 1938 into the 1970s, he designed more than 2,500 album covers. This album is featured in the “WPA Style” category of design. Get it here: https://amzn.to/2DbHsdP
Exotic Birds and Fruit
Exotic Birds and Fruit, by Procol Harum. 1974. Chrysalis Records. Cover painting by Hungarian painter Jakob Bogdani, 1658-1724. The front cover painting was reproduced by kind permission of Roy Miles Fine Paintings, London. Get it here: https://amzn.to/3cSnMYn From Wikipedia: Known for his bird paintings, Bogdani featured an array of exotic species such as cockatoos, macaws, and mynas, which were likely to have been imported to European menageries at the time. He mixed them with familiar European birds such as great
Extraterrestrial
Extraterrestria, by DJ QBert. 2017. Thud Rumble Records. Why is this album design so cool? First it’s a beautiful design by Doug Cunningham of Morning Breath, Inc. Even more significantly, however, this album is a collaboration by DJ QBert with software engineering firm Algoriddim and Novalia, a company that makes interactive paper. The result? This album cover is actually a functioning Bluetooth DJ controller. This was a very limited edition box set, around 500 produced, so it is out of
Psalm 69
ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ, by Ministry. 1992. Warner Bros. Records. This album is alternatively titled as “Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed, and the Way to Suck Eggs. Artwork and design by Paul Elledge with assistance from Thirst. On a personal note, this is the soundtrack of my college years: I remember driving on long, wonderful road trips with great friends blasting this album at full volume. Seeing Ministry on tour for this album is still one of the greatest concerts I’ve ever
Heaven and Hell
Heaven and Hell, by Black Sabbath. 1980. Vertigo Records. Released in the U.S. by Warner Brothers. This is the first album to feature singer Ronnie James Dio. Art direction by Richard Seireeni, who oversaw cover designs for artists as diverse as George Benson, Van Halen, Jimmy Buffet, Devo, Funkadelic and Elton John. The unforgettable cover art is by painter Lynn Curlee, who is still an active artist, but has only painted two album covers, Heaven and Hell, and Agents of Fortune,
Diamonds and Pearls
Diamonds and Pearls, by Prince & The New Power Generation. 1991. Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records. This was the initial release with a custom hologram on the front. Art direction by Jeff Gold and Tom Reaction. Hologram artwork by Chris Mahne. Design by Greg Ross. Eye logo design by Stephanie Bennett. Photography by Joel Larson.
Reverence
Reverence, by Parkway Drive. 2018. Epitaph Records. Design by Donny Phillips and Kihl Studio. The beauty of this cover lies in the cover painting “The Fall Of The Damned,” painted in 1620 by Peter Paul Rubens. You can see this gorgeous painting at Alte Pinakothek, an art museum in Munich, Germany. Get it here: https://amzn.to/2WgwQkb At right, the band Parkway Drive poses with the original Rubens painting.