# The World's Greatest Rock n Roll Album Covers **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 3, 2010, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418 "2010-07-03T12:56:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/21 "2010-07-05T04:30:10Z")
[London Calling](http://nomependente.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/londoncalling.jpg) as an updated take on a [rock legend](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/51/Elvispresleydebutalbum.jpeg). ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/22 "2010-07-05T06:05:40Z")
I was always a big fan of the Police, and [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ghost_In_The_Machine_cover.jpg) was their best album cover. ---
**Author:** ![Negative\_Lite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Negative\_Lite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Negative_Lite)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/23 "2010-07-05T06:55:17Z")
[This](http://www.cddesign.com/covertalk/images/honey-ohio-players.jpg)and [the gatefold was a centerfold](http://www.canalb.fr/shows/un-poco-too-much/ohio_players_honey_2.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/24 "2010-07-05T06:58:25Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > I was always a big fan of the Police, and [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ghost_In_The_Machine_cover.jpg) was their best album cover. Thanks! I never gave the cover a second glance and noticed that there was more to it. From Wiki: [ > [@](#): > > The cover art for Ghost in the Machine features a seven-segment display-inspired graphic that depicts the heads of the three band members each with a distinctive hair style (from left to right, Andy Summers, Sting with spiky hair, and Stewart Copeland with a fringe); the band was unable to decide on a photograph to use for the cover. Interestingly, wire bonds can be seen on the original issue vinyl album cover, suggesting that the display is custom rather than merely seven-segment or perhaps is a photographic collage. The album’s cover is ranked at number 45 on VH1’s 50 Greatest Album Covers. The graphic was designed by Mick Hegarty. ]([Ghost in the Machine (album) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Machine_%28album%29)) If you’re into interesting album covers and what’s really there, check out the cover of [Meddle](http://www.hipgnosiscovers.com/images/meddle_album.jpg). It’s kind of one of those _when you see it, you’ll…_ things. If you’ve never noticed (especially if you have/had the vinyl laying around), give it some staring time; it’s worth it. If anyone knows/has seen it, it’s probably a good idea to put it in a spoiler to keep the fun. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Uncle\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Goat)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/25 "2010-07-05T13:01:01Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > And, sadly, so wrong. Would it have hurt to have the light bend in the right damn direction? Oh relax. It’s an album cover, not a physics text book. And was the light bent “wrong” on purpose? Nonetheless, kudos for Thick as a Brick, a fine “interactive” cover, complete with connect the dot puzzle and fine bits of weirdness. For this set we’ll go: 1. Thick as a Brick 2. Powerslave – tons going on 3. Captain Fantastic – ditto 4. Weasels Ripped My Flesh - humor counts! 5. American Stars N Bars – humor and up skirting, before up skirting was called that. 6. Ghost in the Machine – pretty cool indeed 7. London Calling – nice juxtaposition with Elvis, thanks for that. 8. Meddle – which is creepy cool. 9. Honey – which instantly made me think of this: [A taste of honey](http://strider01.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/album-cover-crap-88_herb_alpert1.jpg) Yeah, not rock… but still… 10. The White Album – or “The Beatles”. Certainly caused a stir. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Uncle\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Goat)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/26 "2010-07-05T13:08:18Z")
And let’s start off the day with some [diamond dogs](http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ian.mcintosh/music/David_Bowie_-_Diamond_Dogs-front.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/27 "2010-07-05T13:22:28Z")
I’ve always been fond of a lot of the psychedelic covers of the 1960’s. I’m particularly fond of this one: [File:Axiscover.jpg - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Axiscover.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/28 "2010-07-06T01:49:38Z")
> [@Uncle\_Goat](#): > > [QUOTE=Askance] > And, sadly, so wrong. Would it have hurt to have the light bend in the right damn direction? Oh relax. It’s an album cover, not a physics text book. And was the light bent “wrong” on purpose? [/QUOTE] Yes, but as the biggest selling album of all time it’s had a real effect on people’s knowledge of optics. It could have been a positive effect if done right. I have always wondered whether it was deliberate or not, the 25 year documentary on DSotM failed to clear up that point unfortunately. I’d love to know. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/29 "2010-07-06T02:15:25Z")
[Live Dead](http://www.livedownloads.com/labels/gd439569.jpg), by the Grateful Dead. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/30 "2010-07-06T02:25:18Z")
Led Zeppelin I Led Zeppelin- Houses of the Holy The Beatles- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Kiss- Destroyer ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Uncle\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Goat)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/31 "2010-07-06T03:17:55Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Led Zeppelin I > Led Zeppelin- Houses of the Holy > The Beatles- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band > Kiss- Destroyer Just one album per person a day, vision. And please include a link. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Uncle\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Goat)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/32 "2010-07-06T03:30:05Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Yes, but as the biggest selling album of all time it’s had a real effect on people’s knowledge of optics. Oh my. You have no idea the things I was on while listening to this. You are so right about my optics being effected. Wait, what was the question? > [@](#): > > It could have been a positive effect if done right. > > I have always wondered whether it was deliberate or not, the 25 year documentary on DSotM failed to clear up that point unfortunately. I’d love to know. Ah, well. All part of the fun is wild speculation. Abbey Road, listed earlier, was a prime example. Why is Paul barefoot? Why is he walking out of step with the other Beatles? Is Paul dead? Jeepers creepers. Any cheap trick they could think of to sell more albums. Total mind blow for a group of kids who wanted their minds blown. The packaging as part of the show. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/33 "2010-07-06T03:35:22Z")
I nominate Man’s [Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_Good_to_Yourself_at_Least_Once_a_Day)…but not for the cover. It’s the [fold out inner sleeve](http://www.manband.co.uk/misc/wales.htm) that that makes it one of the truly great examples of album art. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/34 "2010-07-06T04:32:50Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > If you’re into interesting album covers and what’s really there, check out the cover of [Meddle](http://www.hipgnosiscovers.com/images/meddle_album.jpg). It’s kind of one of those _when you see it, you’ll…_ things. If you’ve never noticed (especially if you have/had the vinyl laying around), give it some staring time; it’s worth it. If anyone knows/has seen it, it’s probably a good idea to put it in a spoiler to keep the fun. I don’t see it! Wah! Spoiler it? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/35 "2010-07-06T04:40:07Z")
> [@Savannah](#): > > I don’t see it! Wah! Spoiler it? It’s a view into someone’s ear. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/36 "2010-07-06T04:50:33Z")
Oh. It wasn’t a testicle, then. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/37 "2010-07-06T15:03:36Z")
I have always been a fan of the cover of [Discipline by King Crimson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:King_Crimson_Discipline.jpg), which I believe mirrors the [lyrics to Indiscipline](http://www.elephant-talk.com/wiki/Indiscipline) (_…I carried it around with me for days and days… playing little games, like not looking at it for a whole day, and then… looking at it… to see if I still liked it… I did_), which I believe mirrors the tensions among the band members over time and space within and out of the music… of course, [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiscipline) refutes everything I believe, but I still like the cover, which appears to be a [Celtic Knot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discipline_(King_Crimson_album)) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/38 "2010-07-06T15:15:51Z")
**Scorpions** [Lovedrive](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scorpions-album-lovedrive.jpg). Another Strom Thorgerson/Hipgnosis creation. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/39 "2010-07-06T15:19:55Z")
_[Bat Out of Hell.](http://sleevage.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/meatloaf_bat_out_of_hell.jpg)_ ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/40 "2010-07-06T15:24:54Z")
I came in to nominate Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy but ZenBeam beat me to it. Thanks for the Ghost in the Machine lesson - I never saw the band member pix before - that raises the awesomeness level of what was already a clever cover. For those who don’t know, “ghost in the machine” was originally a philosophical reference to the idea of the mind or soul inhabiting the human body. I’ll nominate this Supertramp album which never fails to amuse me. [http://diskoduck.cz/shop/images/supertramp-breakfast%20in%20america-album-cover.jpg](http://diskoduck.cz/shop/images/supertramp-breakfast%20in%20america-album-cover.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418.md?page=3)