35 Beautiful Music Album Covers
Album cover art is often considered to be one of the “extincted” fields in modern graphics design. In times when digital copies are cheaper and quicker to get, album covers have somehow lost their importance as less and less customers actually buy CDs and LPs in the stores. That’s a pity because album covers can be extremely expressive and convey the message of the album in a number of creative ways. This post attempts to prove exactly that.
Music and art go hand in hand. And the best way to get a potential buyers’ attention is with an eye catching album cover. We all know you can’t just judge a book by it’s cover but it doesn’t hurt to give a CD a spin based off a sexy piece of art.
Below we present 35 excellent examples of beautiful, creative and impressive album covers that will certainly inspire you to head down to the local record shop and start browsing through records and labels. We have tried to address various cover designs and present both CD covers and LP covers from 60s to 2000s, however some excellent album covers are definitely missing. Please let us know about them in the comments to the post!
This post was updated. Thank you for the comments!
Album Covers
The Mars Volta “Frances the Mute”
Danger Doom – The Mouse and the Mask
Michael Jackson: Dangerous by Mark Ryden
Devil’s Gun – Raising The Beast
Smashing Pumpkins: Zeitgeist by Shepard Fairey
Keane: Under The Iron Sea by Sanna Annukka
Kisschasy: United Paper People by Debaser
Editors: The End Has a Start by Idris Khan
Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue
Ground Components: An Eye for a Brow, A Tooth for a Pick by Jonathan Zawada
Arcade Fire: Funeral
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon 1973
Gallows: In The Belly of a Shark by Dan Mumford
Muse – Origin of Symmetry (thanks, Paul)
Lemon Jelly: Lost Horizons by Airside
Tool: 10,000 Days
Circa Survive: On Letting Go
The Last Goodnight – Poison Kiss
Pink Floyd – The Division Bell
Thom Yorke: The Eraser by Stanley Donwood
Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven (thanks, yaara)
Architecture in Helsinki: Places Like This by Will Sweeney
The Chemical Brothers: Push the Button by Tappin Gofton
Rafale: Rock It, Don’t Stop It by Akroe
Dream Theater – Scenes from the memory (thanks, OverZero.it)
Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction
New Order – Power, Corruption and Lies
Designed by one of today’s most influential designers Peter Saville (thanks, Shaun)
The Police – Ghost In The Machine
Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
Genji Siraisi: Censorsh!t by Razauno
VHS Orbeta – Bring On The Comets
Fort-Minor – The Rising Tied Front
The Cribs – Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever
Elton John – Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
Queens Of The Stone Age: Era Vulgaris by Morning Breath Inc
Beck: The Information by Big Active and you
“The album was issued with a blank sleeve and booklet and one of four different sheets of stickers for fans to make their own album art. Beck explained to Wired magazine he wanted no two copies of the CD cover to be the same: “The artwork is going to be customizable. The idea is to provide something that calls for interactivity.” However, because the unique album art concept was seen as a gimmick to bolster retail sales, The Information was deemed ineligible to enter the UK Albums Chart.”
Merzbow – Frog: Remixed and Revisited
Last Click
The World’s First Album Cover
Alex Steinwess, a then 23 years old designer, convinced Columbia’s suits to create the first true album cover. Until then, 78s were sold in generic sleeves. Please notice that there is the word “smash” on the cover.
Related posts
You may want to take a look at the following related posts:
Jess
August 8th, 2008 6:49 amFor “Circa Survive: On Letting Go,” Esao Andrews did the cover. his link is http://www.esao.com . Amazing stuff!
Karinne
August 8th, 2008 10:31 amWow! A Dream Theater album made the cut! I’m impressed! :) \m/
The Odyssey or Paradise Lost by Symphony X could easily make the cut as well … same with some Ayeron ;)
Great list!
Cal
February 8th, 2012 9:58 pmGreat music taste you have :D Dream Theater are my favourite band (V.I.P tickets to see them tomorrw actually :D) Symphony X’s Iconoclast is a mindblower also, however I am GREATLY surprised that Iron Maiden’s ‘Somewhere back in Time’ is not on this list it is if not THE ‘Greatest’ Album Art I’ve ever seen!
im.impressed
August 9th, 2008 12:00 pmthis was so impressive!! thnx, i love this kida stuff!
sawdust, has a pretty great cover art too. i expected to see it…
sid9102
August 10th, 2008 5:21 amWhat about NIN? The Fragile has an awesome cover, and so do many other NIN albums.
Scyfox
August 10th, 2008 3:16 pmNo Follow? http://www.scyfox-site.com
You missed Groove Armada – Soundboy Rock and A lot of Nine Inch Nails covers
http://manchester.diarystar.co.uk/images/groove-armada-soundboy-rock1.jpg
There is a picture of the front cover.-
Silla!
Scyfox
August 10th, 2008 3:17 pmYou missed Groove Armada – Soundboy Rock and A lot of Nine Inch Nails covers
http://manchester.diarystar.co.uk/images/groove-armada-soundboy-rock1.jpg
There is a picture of the front cover.-
Silla!
http://www.scyfox-site.com
Rich
August 12th, 2008 8:27 amYou should have named this post “my fav cd’s”
-]Phatp[-
August 13th, 2008 8:31 amthe Soulwax cover OWNS
santi
August 14th, 2008 1:18 pmWell not sure what this is about. I see some very average stuff that is boring and uninspiring…
Dunno what coldplay does there? Just a painting (representing the French revolution I believe) with some letters over it… Thats not art IMHO…
Anyways for some more original covers, check out the ones for Peter Gabriel 2 and 3 (they where mentioned earlier but I think those are very good, especially 2).
if this was about illustrated covers then you can add anything from genesis (so tresspass, nursery crime, foxtrot, selling england by the pound, wind and wuthering, duke, we can’t dance are good choices). Of course the already mentioned “In the court of the Crimson King” from King Crimson. Marillion has some good painted covers (Fugazi, Script for a Jesters Tear, Clutching at straws, Misplaced Childhood, Curtain Call etc.) and there are a lot of other bands too I suppose. Weather Report has some, Queen (Night at the OPera or Innuendo), of course the famous Bitches Brew from Miles Davis and Im sure that mastermind Frank Zappa has something for this article too…
Marc Lisle
August 15th, 2008 9:53 amI still think one of the best album covers, for both concept and art direction, is Supertramp’s Breakfast in America:
Breakfast in America
It is also a great pop album that brings back many fond memories…
Lucas
August 16th, 2008 3:18 pmwhere’s iron maiden’s somewhere in time?!
Eric
August 17th, 2008 12:34 amI miss Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in your list!
Pants
August 17th, 2008 1:52 amJust in case you weren’t aware, Led Zeppelin’s ‘Mothership’ album cover was also illustrated/designed by Shepard Fairey. You’ll notice his signature ‘propaganda poster’ style not only on that cover but also with the Smashing Pumpkins most recent album ‘Zeitgeist’.
Dave
August 17th, 2008 12:05 pmReally glad to see Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Dj Shadow in there.
SHINODA
August 18th, 2008 7:52 amlinkin park and fort minor
the best band!!!
LINKIN PARK BRAZIL :)
August 19th, 2008 7:39 amLINKIN PARK s2
FORT MINOR s2
s2 s2 s2 s2 s2 s2
Karol =)
August 21st, 2008 3:23 pmGente…eo nun achei nenhum bunito…
todos são feios, como vxs podem achar issu bunito!?
mi poupee viiu gentee, eu prefiro mais as capas aqui do Brasil
elas são lindass! *–*
=3
Bjoz pessoal!
Karol =)
August 21st, 2008 3:24 pm↑
meu comentario…
mais como diz heein ingles
Comment =P
kim k
August 21st, 2008 6:38 pmYou should of put up a bright eyes one! (esp Casadega) they are cool. also NZ band ‘Goodshirt’ had stickers long before Beck.
danny c
August 22nd, 2008 7:53 pmyikes the only thing worse than this site design is this compilation!
gwennie2006
August 24th, 2008 8:54 amGreat compilation! I am the one from flickr that did the radiohead alternate cover:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/GrfxDziner/1484902355/
You can put it back in, if you like.
This is another one I did:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/GrfxDziner/99772927/
Felipe
August 26th, 2008 10:10 amKeane RULEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Thr3e
August 29th, 2008 2:07 pmI like The cover of Van Halen – 1984 … That cool
S.
September 15th, 2008 5:04 amLove the Keane one. The designer’s name seems like a Finnish one (not sure if it is), so here’s one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen, it’s from a Finnish band. The impact between colorful pattern of the cover and b/w imagery of the booklet is stunning (these web versions don’t look that great though)
http://www.behance.net/Gallery/ItkevA-tyttA-Hiljainen-Berliini/84657
kevin mc Ilhinney
September 19th, 2008 3:03 amLooking for inspiration for a graphic design essay on “typography of Album covers since 1980″, please can anyone help.
thanx.
Doraemon
September 23rd, 2008 12:03 amYou should put SM Town Summer 2007 album cover on the list.. The cover contains some liquid. Very interesting.
Here’s the link if you want to see:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2064/1611532000_18d302e4d9.jpg
Leandro Pena
September 24th, 2008 8:59 amNice post!!!
Note: Yes “Relayer” by Roger Dean; Dream Theater “Scenes From a Memory” by Dave McKean; Pink Floyd “The Division Bell” by Storm Torgensen
sagol
October 6th, 2008 6:32 pmyes sea
http://www.opsiyonblog.com
Mark
October 9th, 2008 6:59 amWheres ‘Court of the Crimson King’ by King Crimson ?
amoondoo
October 13th, 2008 8:40 amwhat about kanya west graduation? great graphic design
amoondoo
October 13th, 2008 8:40 amwhat about kanye west: graduation? great graphic design
Guilherme
October 13th, 2008 12:18 pmNice compilation, but I think that in that compilation you should have put some cover of Journey. All of them are so beautiful and conceptual.
Long View
October 14th, 2008 12:07 pmSurprisingly narrow and pedestrian. My, my, you ARE young, aren’t you???
Had it not been for the Moby Grape cover, I would have completely given up on you. HINT: After Bathing At Baxter’s, Jefferson Airplane, circa 1966.
Raven
October 16th, 2008 11:49 amvery nice albums. nothing really to my taste but very very nice. i would really like to see some with grim reapers. i need some ideas for my bands album. lol
Brooklyn
October 16th, 2008 11:53 amOkaiz. So. Im thinkin that the new Cute Is What We Aim For “Rotation” cover should be on here because i really like the way they use the objects to make the shape of a butterfly and its really colorful. It also contrasts with the grey-ish background. I really like it.
onni
October 16th, 2008 11:54 amcool but u need to get death metal music covers
asf
October 16th, 2008 12:10 pmi think these are simply beautiful,
if you have something to complain about then why dont you start your own site.
Manabaron
October 20th, 2008 4:08 pmHi
Thanks beautiful album
subject add see http://www.opsiyonblog.com
Ale
October 30th, 2008 4:08 pmI’m missing at least one of the jazz album covers from the 50′s. Here’s a publication with a bunch of them: http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/popculture/all/01899/facts.jazz_covers.htm
alain
November 23rd, 2008 7:18 amOzma – Melvins
pixie thumbilina
December 15th, 2008 2:33 pmfirst off im amazed that they would put the smashing pumpkins zeigiest album cover up , over all the other interesting ones…album art shouldnt be boreing….the zeigiest album sucks anywhoo…looks like greenday gone emo wannabe political statement .the only statement is that the album designer blows!!!!!!!!!!!IM not hating , the smashing pumpkins are awesome but , how humiliating for such a good band.
mroofka_Z
December 22nd, 2008 4:48 pmYou should put there one of Iron Maidens covers with Eddie – they changed the way metal-covers are designed.
August Burns Red – Thrill Seeker… should be there also.
And definitely Black Light Burns – Cruel Melody (the one with hands).
Also, “Indestructible” by Disturbed is worth mentioning, i think.
Mike
January 3rd, 2009 3:26 pmI am an inspiring graphic designer and I’ve always wanted to design music ablum covers (cover art for books, video games, and various covers in general). If this is what I wanted to do primarily, could anyone point me in the right direction?
luom
January 18th, 2009 6:02 pmok
David
February 27th, 2009 12:55 pmThey are very good but I addit the cover of the lp Mike Oldfield’s The Complete. It´s Great photo.
ryan thompson
March 2nd, 2009 5:34 pmI liked the album art. My two favorite covers weren’t on it though: In Flames: Reruite to remain and Rise Againts: Revolutions per minute. You should check them out, they’re worth seeing.
lovebunny
March 23rd, 2009 11:12 amthis is a really nice compilation and it has some very inspiring artwork. i just dont like elton john that much!
Billy Bob
March 24th, 2009 11:52 amthese are some very good choices. but elton john is not good.
Joed
March 24th, 2009 11:57 amThis is super cool! I love how you worked your imagination and came up with many masterpeices! I love the Deerhunter one, it messes with your eyes! 0.o
Brittney
March 24th, 2009 11:59 ammichael jackson-dangerous album cover was very unique…
Emily
March 24th, 2009 12:05 pmI liked the end has a a start. The cover shows alot of motion. I adore the michanical look to the structure inside the wooshing motion, It is a very cool peice. =)
Dwayne Michael Carter III
March 24th, 2009 12:09 pmi think the “Nightmare” album cover by Lil’ Wayne should be apart of these album covers, it would make this page more unique
sarge
June 8th, 2011 2:15 amwhy don’t you spend less time d*ck riding Lil Wayne and start your own site? This way you can put all the Wayne covers that you want and stop trying to tell people what they should have on their own site. What clown! And I like Wayne.
WADE#3
March 24th, 2009 12:14 pmi like all of these but it shouldve included SOAD’s debut album by the same name
Big NO
March 25th, 2009 11:48 amthey were very cool and interesting to look at.
Rudeeeee
March 25th, 2009 11:48 amThe album covers are TITE! i like The Mars Volta album cover!
Nightmare N!cholas
March 26th, 2009 11:38 amThere are a lot of great works and some of my favorite albums of all time are on this list. I don’t like the song that well, but I love the album cover for Gallows: in the belly of a shark. The song is decent but the album cover is amazing.
LOOPY LIZARD PANTS!
March 26th, 2009 11:53 amLED ZEPPLIN SUCKS!! PINK FLOYD ROCKS! SO DOES THE REST OF THE BANDDSSS! MUSIC IS LIFE. PEACE OUT!!
Rammy McManly
May 30th, 2011 9:22 pmLed Zeppelin was great
chuckbutler
May 15th, 2009 6:57 pmI enjoyed looking through your list, but I think KISS “Destroyer” is a serious oversight.
SonyaLynn
May 21st, 2009 11:59 pmSome criminally-overlooked covers…
Porcupine Tree, “Fear of a Blank Planet”
Levitation, “Need For Not”
Andy Prieboy, “…upon my wicked son” and “Sins of My Fathers”
King Crimson, “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic” and “Discipline”
Jethro Tull, “Thick As a Brick”
Pure Reason Revolution, “The Dark Third”
Barkmarket, “Vegas Throat”
ELP, “Brain Salad Surgery” (HR Giger, for crying out loud!)
Eloy, “Colours”
The Mars Volta, “Deloused In the Comatorium”
Mike Oldfield, “Tubular Bells”
Primus, “Frizzle Fry”
VAST, “Visual Audio Sensory Theater”
Devo, “Q: Are We Not Men?”
Sean-Alan
May 29th, 2009 5:01 amLykke Li is defiantly missing, i love her album cover it’s very victorian inspired.
Fabiano Melo-Natal Brazil
August 7th, 2009 12:11 pmFriends, I love the major of cover you have posted herr,but for me the one of the most beautiful album cover is Nirvana Nevermind.
B.r
Fabiano Melo-Natal Brazil
August 7th, 2009 12:13 pmFriends, I love the major of covers you have posted here,but for me the one of the most beautiful album cover is Nirvana Nevermind.
luiz
September 13th, 2009 9:30 amonly one from New Order? it is clearly the band with the best covers ever, perhaps the list should have at least the Technique one
but good list anyway
steve
October 6th, 2009 11:35 amWould liked to have seen Blue Note represented but your list gets mega points for the inclusion of Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s, Lift Your Skinny Fists…
Thanks for the cool article.
TayMan
October 27th, 2009 7:05 pmHello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What about Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips!!
Anne
December 6th, 2009 12:54 pmAbsolutely wicked… Love the creative, clever and talented artwork.
One to add… please?
Powderfinger’s 1st? album cover… it won the Aria for Best Album Cover Art.
Labbai
December 31st, 2009 3:13 amDunno if anyone ever posted this suggestion, but Rod Stewart’s Foot Loose & Fancy Free has the most beautiful cover art ever. Not to talk about the booklet inside. So there. I’m talking about vinyl LP cover arts. Ok? No cd’s…
Labbai
December 31st, 2009 3:20 amDunno if anyone ever posted this suggestion, but Rod Stewart’s Foot Loose & Fancy Free has the most beautiful cover art ever. Not to talk about the booklet inside. So there.
stevejobs
January 20th, 2010 1:53 pmlove those covers! should’ve had dookie by green day though
doozer
February 12th, 2010 11:15 pmMansun’s ‘Attack of the Grey Lantern’ and ‘Six’ are both good, check those covers out.
Blur ‘Modern Life is Rubbish’ and ‘Think Tank’
well there’s hundreds of great album covers (and lots of bad ones).
daniel
April 29th, 2010 6:22 amFragile – Yes
that’s just beaty art
Jacob
April 29th, 2010 10:22 amHow did Nirvana’s Nevermind not make it on here? it’s probably one of the most iconic album covers of all time, let alone being pure genious.
Glenn
May 4th, 2010 7:22 pmI liked the artwork. Suprisingly some of my personal favorites are on this list too. thanks for sharing your collection with us.
Thorsten
May 22nd, 2010 10:31 amI don’t know if it has been mentioned yet, but I really think “Under Byen: Af Samme Stof Som Stof” deserves a place on the list.
http://images.uulyrics.com/cover/u/under-byen/album-samme-stof-som-stof.jpg
Iain
May 26th, 2010 10:00 amDust – Hard Attack should be in this list.
Gary
June 1st, 2010 9:50 amOnly ONE Roger Dean cover? (Yes’s “Relayer”). He could have easily had 5 of his covers in this top 35 list. “Tales From Topographic Oceans” alone should be in the top 5 of this list. Some great Album art here, but some great omissions, too!
willie
June 8th, 2010 1:39 pmTalk about inspirational; music AND design together. My wife is utilizing the album covers as inspiration for her interior design stile-ings. Check these out:
http://bit.ly/aZ9HUS (Flaming Lips)
http://bit.ly/cClPuC (BlackStar, Bjork,
Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
http://bit.ly/avHCHH (Just Jack, The LK)
http://bit.ly/bWpMWI (Crystal Castles, Cut
Copy, Passion Pit, Cold Cave, Jay
Electronica, The xx)
Thank you very much for ‘listening.’
e11world
June 29th, 2010 3:45 pmMy favorite one is Michael Jackson’s Dangerous!!! I LOVE IT!
Paris
November 7th, 2010 5:37 pmSurprised you didn’t include the album cover for Zepher’s Sunset Ride, –the blue one with the big white plane flying across an orange moon. It’s beautiful. I’ve seen the cover art many times/places, but nobody seems to have heard of the album except me : – )
Jake
December 29th, 2010 11:25 pmFew that definitely need to be mentioned:
Tool’s Salival
Rage Against The Machine’s title album
Senryu’s Inkling
Led Zepplin’s Houses Of The Holy
Kasabian’s Empire
Daniel
January 23rd, 2011 8:04 pmSome brilliant album covers here.
Other beautiful covers are:
Gloves – Operator Please
Like Magic (Single) – Operator Please
Harmony – NeverShoutNever!
Into The Blue Again – The Album Leaf
Afterglow (EP) – For Our Hero
luke
March 15th, 2011 6:29 pmi think “Rise or Die Trying” by Four Year Strong should be up here. its got the best album cover ever. or theire other album, im not sure what its called
mike
May 17th, 2011 6:03 amwow you guys suck at counting. there arent 35 albums here, theres actually 55 (not including the columbia pictures/records one)
Rammy McManly
May 30th, 2011 9:26 pmcheck out the cover of Rainbow – Rising and Motorhead – Another Perfect Day. Two of THE best album covers of all time.
faida
June 25th, 2011 3:15 amwhy don’t you put “a fever you can’t sweat out” from panic! at the disco.
it’s definetly the most artistic album cover i’ve ever seen.
G. Nollid
July 13th, 2011 7:40 amIt is a great variety, but I think there are some other albums to consider. OneRepublic has some nice expressive covers, with “Dreaming Out Loud” and “Waking Up”. Owl City has truly beautiful album covers, that perfectly convey his message of dreaminess, like “Maybe I’m Dreaming”, “Ocean Eyes”, and his new one, “All Things Bright and Beautiful”. I wish you would take out the comments with expletives.
jjharris6
July 20th, 2011 8:55 pmawolnation’s album cover is soooo insane
Paul
August 4th, 2011 4:35 amCan’t believe there are no Meatloaf covers in the selection! Bat Out of Hell 1 & 2, surely?
Mandy
August 22nd, 2011 1:14 pmThe Circa Survive cover is by Esao Andrews, one of my favorite artists – http://www.esao.net/index.php
César
August 24th, 2011 7:44 pmBuscaba algo interesante como fondo de pantalla, gracias a esto di con Mark Ryden / I was looking for something interesting for my pc wallpaper, thanks to this website I found Mark Ryden.
Miles D
September 8th, 2011 7:16 pmI’m really glad you put Beck in there.
However I think Odelay is a classic album cover.
Linda
October 31st, 2011 1:49 pmHi. Someone who knows who designed Buckcherry´s album cover for the album “time bomb” and “buckcherry” ??
albi
November 7th, 2011 4:10 pmi think vampire state building by alcatraz should be in this selection!
Spen
November 12th, 2011 2:38 amI feel that these album covers should have been mentioned:
Telegram by Björk- http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegram_(album)
Liquid Swords by Gza- http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_Swords
Portishead by Portishead- http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portishead_(album)
fritolay
November 27th, 2011 1:44 pmYour missing a couple of dots on Endtroducing…..
Chris
December 16th, 2011 12:11 amI’d like to blow a couple of these (and other) covers up onto canvas to hang on the wall. You need a good digital file to blow it up much. Anyone know how to get ahold of hi res digital files of album covers (not the tiny low res ipod ones)? I’m willing to pay for them, but haven’t had much luck. Thanks.
Emmanuel
January 19th, 2012 3:32 amI love this post I still got Michael’s LP “Dangerous” I’m so happy to still have it.
YOu shoulda included “Kanye West – Graduation Cover”
Rami AJ
February 28th, 2012 9:34 pmWhere is Sgt. Pepper album? :O
Mark
March 6th, 2012 3:44 amThe Afghan Whigs “Gentelman” is a fantastic cover.
Chris
June 19th, 2012 12:22 pmStill my favorite
http://titans-of-old.bandcamp.com
Needs more love