Over the past 5-6 decades, album covers have become more and more artistic, to the point where the best of them deserve a place in this blog. They featured prominently in the past, and of course they will be present in the new set-up. I have gone for a grouping per years of release (covering 2-3 years per post). I will try not to include the most famous album covers (like Sergeant Pepper, Dark Side of the Moon, Nevermind), but focus on more obscure but very good examples. Also the aim is no duplication of acts within one post. These posts are meant to be illustrative only, not necessarily my personal top twelve for the time period. The image above is created via Photofunia and is free from copyright issues.
Rotary Connection by Rotary Connection (1968)
Rotary Connection is the eponymous debut album of the American soul group Rotary Connection. I had never heard of this band, but the album cover is different and stunning. The album credits include "Curt Cole Burkhart – Photography", so I assume he was responsible for the cover.
Bookends by Simon and Garfunkel (1968)
Bookends is the fourth studio album by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel. It is a concept album that explores a life journey from childhood to old age. The black and white cover was shot by famous photographer Richard Avedon.
Wow/Grape Jam by Moby Grape (1968)
Wow/Grape Jam is the second album by the Ameican rock band Moby Grape. It is different from most double album releases in that it was released as two different albums in separate covers, but packaged together. Wow (shown above) had a colour gatefold sleeve, while Grape Jam had a color non-gatefold sleeve. The Daliesque cover for the Wow album is by Bob Cato.
Clouds by Joni Mitchell (1969)
Clouds is the second album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. The cover is a self-portrait by the artist herself - possibly the first time that this occurred. Incidentally it is also one of my favourite albums of the sixties.
Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band (1969)
Trout Mask Replica is the third studio album by the American rock band Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, a double album with a cover that must have been even more special in those days, and which fits the surreal rock music on the album perfectly. The cover design is credited to Cal Schenkel.
Ummagumma by Pink Floyd (1969)
Ummagumma is the fourth album by English rock band Pink Floyd. It is a double album - one album with live recordings, and one with solo compositions by each member of the band. The artwork is a relatively early effort by the famous design group Hipgnosis and features a number of pictures of the band combined to give a Droste effect, although with a twist as band members swapped places from picture to picture.
Hot Buttered Soul by Isaac Hayes (1969)
Maybe because I sympathize with his lack of hair, but this is a cover which must have stood out at a time when artists were usually depicted facing the camera and hence the record buyer. The cover design is by Christopher Whorf .
Tommy by The Who (1969)
Tommy is the fourth studio album by the English rock band the Who, a rock opera on a double album. Even today it is regarded as an important and influential album in the history of rock music. The pretty unique cover is by Mike McInnerney.
Quatermass by Quatermass (1970)
Quatermass is the only studio album by English progressive rock band Quatermass. The cover is quite stunning for the time in its play with perspective and choice for black and white. It is another relatively early effort by the famous design group Hipgnosis.
Abraxas by Santana (1970)
Abraxas is the second studio album by Latin rock band Santana. The iconic album cover is based on the 1961 painting Annunciation by German-French painter Mati Klarwein.
The Man who Sold the World by David Bowie (1970)
The Man Who Sold the World is the third studio album by English musician David Bowie. It is one of the notorious examples of albums having to be released with different covers in the UK and the USA. The one shown was shot by Keith MacMillan and was an early exploitation of Bowie's androgynic looks he would cultivate more in years to come. It was considered too risky for the US release - they chose a cartoon-like cover drawing by Bowie's friend Michael J. Weller instead.
Time and a Word by Yes (1970)
Time and a Word is the second studio album by English progressive rock band Yes. Although their covers would become really outstanding in the seventies, this one is pretty special as well, from the black and white rendering to the nudity - which of course meant a different cover had to be used for the US release. The UK cover which I selected was photographed by Barrie Wentzell .
Copyright statement: posting lower quality album covers is deemed fair use.
