# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/61 "2010-07-07T13:33:30Z")
Ooh, I just remembered another favourite: Genesis - [Seconds Out](http://i36.tinypic.com/15d86lk.jpg) . Love the photo, and it has that cool logo they used for a while. They were one of the first bands to use a sophisticated light show on stage, and the photo really captures how impressive it looked in 1977. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/62 "2010-07-07T13:40:45Z")
[Child is Father to the Man](http://image.betamonline.com/sdimages/upc06/090771527813.jpg) by Blood Sweat and Tears ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/63 "2010-07-07T13:42:05Z")
[Appetite for Destruction](http://images.sneakernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/guns-n-roses-appetite-for-destruction.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/64 "2010-07-07T15:51:13Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > [Appetite for Destruction](http://images.sneakernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/guns-n-roses-appetite-for-destruction.jpg) Yes. But only if it’s the [original, uncensored cover](http://rgcred.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/guns-n-roses-appetite-for-destruction-banned-cover.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 7, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/65 "2010-07-07T17:32:06Z")
Ooh, almost forgot another old favorite: ELP’s “Brain Salad Surgery”. [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ELP_-_Brain_Salad_Surgery.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ELP_-_Brain_Salad_Surgery.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/66 "2010-07-07T18:09:04Z")
NOFX’s [Heavy Petting Zoo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_Petting_Zoo) Both the regular album cover and the 12"LP cover (a little lower on the page). Certainly not the “greatest” but very funny… ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/67 "2010-07-08T05:53:17Z")
I’ve always liked Danzig’s [How the Gods Kill](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danzig_III:_How_the_Gods_Kill) based on Geiger’s work. Not a cover per se, but the Dead Kennedys got in trouble for [this poster insert](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Frankenchrist.jpeg) within their \*Frankenchrist \*album. WARNING: Neither link is NSFW, if you’ll pardon the grammar. I am also a big fan of Derek Riggs’ work. I’ve seen many Maiden concerts and he’s done some great t-shirt designs. I wish I would have saved these shirts from my youth. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/68 "2010-07-08T11:44:43Z")
Today’s choice: [**The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars**](http://www.gay2shareworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/ZiggyStardust.jpg), by David Bowie. This remains my favorite Bowie album cover, despite other strong contenders. ---
**Author:** ![jinty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jinty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jinty)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/69 "2010-07-08T12:14:37Z")
Great title, striking cover… AC/DC’s [Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap](http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Deeds-Done-Dirt-Cheap/dp/B00008BXJ4) ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/70 "2010-07-08T13:27:20Z")
If iconic albums are in play—especially inserts—gotta love [Big Bambu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bambu). Okay, not rock per se, but there is music.🆒 ---
**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 8, 2010, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/71 "2010-07-08T14:08:34Z")
A fine set of covers again. Good humor abounds. And I always thought this one was noteworthy, as it’s a striking image and sort of a “wacky packages” deal too. Oddly enough, I barely recall the music: [Octopus by Gentle Giant](http://newworldodor.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/gentle_giant_octof.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/72 "2010-07-08T15:38:48Z")
[Act Like Nothing’s Wrong](http://991.com/newGallery/Al-Kooper-Act-Like-Nothings-376281.jpg) by All Kooper (ignore the Japanese on the right; it was the only image I could find that was large enough). For the curious, [here’s the back cover](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Lyaz6AXoQDU/SV1gjkL6IOI/AAAAAAAAAFs/w4R8jTofTys/s320/act+like+nothing2.jpg). In the days before Photoshop, this was especially impressive. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/73 "2010-07-08T16:16:49Z")
[Styx, _The Grand Illusion_](http://i38.tinypic.com/261n2as.jpg) Like, that’s really profound, man. Hey, give me that pipe and crank the volume and put on Castle Walls again, OK? ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/74 "2010-07-09T00:34:38Z")
> [@Uncle\_Goat](#): > > 1. London Calling – nice juxtaposition with Elvis, thanks for that. > … > 2. 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… If you like these, there’s another one you should see - [Soul Asylum](http://img.maniadb.com/images/album/181/181885_1_f.jpg). ---
**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 9, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/75 "2010-07-09T03:25:40Z")
The grand illusion of it all. As quick listing I’ll rank the set as: 1. Heavy Petting Zoo – because that got the biggest laugh. 2. Child is the father to the man – awesome effect. 3. Freeze Frame – I love collage and this is pretty snazzy. 4. Ziggy Stardust – making love with his ego, Ziggy sucked up into his mind! 5. Grand Illusion – certainly having fun with it. 6. Brain Salad Surgery - great title too. 7. How the Gods Kill - pretty much a tie with the ELP one. 8. Appetite for Destruction – uncensored of course. 9. Fragile - and Dean’s work seems a bit soft compared to some of these. 10. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap – pretty cool. 11. All the Right Reasons – driving hard 12. Seconds out – I understand the attraction, but generally speaking concert photos never stood out that much for me. Unless really wild. Which this isn’t. 13. Octopus – in a jar! yummy. 14. Soul Asylum – which only works if you know the one they’re mocking. To many it was a private joke they didn’t get. 15. Virgin Killer - Yeah, “infamous” So sleepy… so very sleepy… Trying too hard if you ask me. What’s next? Crucifix in a jar of urine? 16. Act like Nothings Wrong – pick number 2 got this beat hands down. Honestly these are all good picks. Though this set did seem to go for more tricks of the eye than others. Fun times indeed. The weight the album, the hiss of the needle and the cover to stare at as the songs played. What does this mean? How did they do that? Who’s the artist? Who or what is going to show up next? ---
**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 9, 2010, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/76 "2010-07-09T12:24:24Z")
Saw a thread called Humping Giant Robots here and that got me thinking. Oh, of course, the sci-fi lifted cover by Queen. [News of the World](http://www.derekhess.com/images/upload/8/image1/queen06big.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/77 "2010-07-09T13:07:11Z")
Jimi Hendrix Experience… Electric Ladyland… the original cover… [http://www.lanceta.es/jimi-hendrix/COMMON/cover/Electric\_Ladyland.jpg](http://www.lanceta.es/jimi-hendrix/COMMON/cover/Electric_Ladyland.jpg) NSFW!!! ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/78 "2010-07-09T13:24:28Z")
How’s about a little [**Rainbow Rising**](http://users.ntua.gr/el01155/fun/mousikh/rainbow/2rainbow.jpg) for today’s pick? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/79 "2010-07-09T14:03:39Z")
Pink Floy’d _Wish You Were Here_ had a lot of interesting album art: 1. [Cover](http://www.rankopedia.com/CandidatePix/37454.gif) 2. [Man Bursting into Flames](http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg234/Ryan_Nicholls_bucket/600px-Pink_Floyd_Wish_You_Were_Here.jpg) 3. [Transparent guy with album](http://www.vinylrecords.ch/P/PI/Pink_Floyd/Wish_DE/wish-you-here-31.jpg) Sorry, don’t remember which of those was the back cover and which was on the inside fold. This one was hard to locate: 1. [Trees & Scarf from the inside fold](http://farm1.static.flickr.com/116/288681694_308bf05af2_m.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418/80 "2010-07-09T15:21:42Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Pink Floy’d _Wish You Were Here_ had a lot of interesting album art: > > 1. [Cover](http://www.rankopedia.com/CandidatePix/37454.gif) > 2. [Man Bursting into Flames](http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg234/Ryan_Nicholls_bucket/600px-Pink_Floyd_Wish_You_Were_Here.jpg) > 3. [Transparent guy with album](http://www.vinylrecords.ch/P/PI/Pink_Floyd/Wish_DE/wish-you-here-31.jpg) > > Sorry, don’t remember which of those was the back cover and which was on the inside fold. > > This one was hard to locate: > > 1. [Trees & Scarf from the inside fold](http://farm1.static.flickr.com/116/288681694_308bf05af2_m.jpg) It was also originally marketed using a opaque blue plastic shrink wrap, so you couldn’t seen the album art until you bought it. I’ll nominate Captain Beefheart’s [Trout Mask Replica](http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsock/53686998/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-worlds-greatest-rock-n-roll-album-covers/545418.md?page=5)