In the US 141 million CSs, LPs, CDs, and digital albums were sold in 2018. While the music itself is an art form, often it’s also the album covers that get people talking and listening to bands.
As more music is sold digitally, there is less of a need for an iconic album cover to help with album sales. But while how we listen to music changes, one thing that won’t change is that people are still arguing over which are the best album covers of all time.
If you’re wondering if your favorite iconic album covers have made the cut, keep reading. We’re about to list the seven most famous album covers of all time.
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The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band(1967)
Many famous people were included on the Beatles most iconic album cover, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. From stars like Marilyn Monroe and Mae West to writers and comedians like Edgar Allen Poe and Lenny Bruce, they were all people who served as muses for members of the most famous band of all time.
While most bands favor a more minimalist look, the Beatles took a different approach and went bold. It’s a decision that still holds people’s attention to this day.
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Nirvana: Nevermind(1991)
It wasn’t just Nirvana’s alternative rock music that held the youth of America’s attention in 1991, their album which featured a naked baby swimming after money was equally fascinating.
While rumors of the reasoning behind the photo run rampant, apparently the inspiration came when lead singer Kurt Cobain had recently watched a documentary on underwater birth.
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Bruce Springsteen: Born In The USA(1984)
The album cover to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” is the ultimate homage to the American everyman in the 1980s. The photo was taken by famous photographer Annie Leibovitz.
The reason Springsteen chose this shot was because the star felt that the picture of his behind, “looked better than the picture of my face.” If this story inspires you, make your own cover with Adobe Spark’s album cover maker.
- NWA: Straight Outta Compton(1988)
This album defined gangsta rap with both its lyrical content and imagery. It was taken from the perspective of someone about to be killed.
And while no one is really sure if the gun Eazy-E is pointing was loaded, it was real.
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AC/DC: Back in Black(1980)
Selecting an all-black cover design was the perfect decision for a band coming out from under dark times after the death of vocalist Bon Scott.
Not only was it a memorial to Scott, it instantly became one of the most recognizable and beloved covers in rock history.
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Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley(1956)
It was Elvis Presley who introduced mainstream American audiences to rock and roll so it’s fitting that his album cover did the same.
It’s so iconic that 20 years later the British band, The Clash would replicate this album using pink and green lettering to introduce British fans to punk music.
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Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3(2009)
Many fans believe the meaning behind Jay-Z’s iconic album cover is a commentary on the whitewash of music. Songs like “Death of Autotune” help to back up that theory.
The three red bars painted horizontally across the album stands in stark contrast to the white, cluttered background making the artwork stand out.
Listen to Music Here
One way to further enjoy musing about your favorite album covers is by listening to the music at the same time. But it’s also great to learn about your favorite musicians as well.
We’ve got it all here on our site. Browse around to listen to interviews, podcasts, and music.