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.
For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music (1973)
For Your Pleasure is the second album by the English rock band Roxy Music. It was their last to feature synthesizer and sound specialist Brian Eno, who would later gain acclaim as a solo artist and producer. It is one of two Roxy Music albums of this year that could have made the final twelve (Stranded has also a brilliant cover). The cover photo, taken by Karl Stoecker, featured Bryan Ferry's girlfriend at the time, singer and model Amanda Lear, who later became Salvador Dalí's muse, and a hit singer in her own right.
Aladdin Sane by David Bowie (1973)
Aladdin Sane is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. According to Wikipedia, the cover artwork features a shirtless Bowie with red hair and a red-and-blue lightning bolt splitting his face in two while a teardrop runs down his collarbone. It was shot in January 1973 by Brian Duffy. It has become one of the most iconic images from seventies' pop/rock. My self imposed limitation of one cover per act per post means that two other strong contenders (Pin Ups from 1973 and Diamond Dogs from 1974) only get a mention here.
Hand Made by Passport (1973)
Hand Made is the third studio album by the German jazz/fusion group Passport. I have never heard the album, but the cover is something special. It is credited to Wandrey's Studio.
Camel by Camel (1973)
Camel is the debut studio album by English progressive rock band Camel. The band is remembered (at least by me) for their excellent prog albums, but also for their album covers (Mirage from 1974 would have been another strong candidate for this post). The cover of their debut album is a stunning piece of neo Art Deco. The design is credited to Modula.
Moontan by Golden Earring (1973)
Moontan is the ninth album by Dutch rock band Golden Earring. Whenever I post something about this band (that had something like thirty top ten hits in the Netherlands), I want to include "they are so much more than Radar Love". Unfortunately, this album is the one that includes this worldwide hit... The cover is another icon of rock, at least here in the Netherlands (of course it was censored in some other countries). Unexpectedly, I have not been able to get information about the sleeve design.
New Born Day by Ruphus (1973)
New Born Day is the debut album by Ruphus, one of the most important seventies'Norwegian hard rock band with progressive tendencies. I have not heard one note of their music, but when I came across this album cover, I had to include it. The art work is credited to Anders Kaardahl.
Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan (1974)
Pretzel Logic is the third studio album by the American jazz rock band Steely Dan. Their first two albums were promising, wbut this is the one where everything fell in its right place: song writing, lyrics, singing, instrumental parts. And of course a wonderful cover, based on a photograph by Raeanne Rubenstein.
Crime of the Century by Supertramp (1974)
Crime of the Century is the third studio album by the English rock band Supertramp. It was their commercial and artistic breakthrough, and the first of a string of albums that established them as a radio-friendly melodious progressive rock band (also known as progressive pop or prog lite). Cover design and photography are by Paul Wakefield.
Relayer by Yes (1974)
Relayer is the seventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, their first release after the controversial extravaganza of Tales from Topographic Oceans - the cover of which also would have deserved a listing in today's post. The album cover is of course by Roger Dean, and is even more stunning in its gatefold version. One of the very best of all time.
Queen II by Queen (1974)
Queen II is the second studio album by British rock band Queen. Sporting a progrressive heavy rock style, it marked the end of the first phase of the band's career. The album may not have been a bestseller, but the cover became iconic, not least because a similar set up was later used for the Bohemian Rhapsody video. It was shot by photographer Mick Rock, a classic example of chiaroscuro, inspired by a photograph of Marlene Dietrich. Read the full story here, it's worth it.yself.
Il Tempo della Gioia by Quella Vecchia Locanda (1974)
Il Tempo della Gioia is the second album by Italian progressive rock band Quella Vecchia Locanda. Musically a notch below their debut (which featured in my album covers 1971-1972 post), the cover is even better. For me this is a candidate for the top ten of all time. The design is credited to Kazvnori Akita.
On the Border by The Eagles (1974)
On the Border is the third studio album by American rock group the Eagles. Not their best album by a long shot, but it does have the best cover, based on a painting by Beatian Yazz.
Copyright statement: posting lower quality album covers is deemed fair use.
