Here’s a bit of trivia about the Eastern Indian cover for “Axis - Bold as Love.” Hendrix asked for something to reflect his native heritage. Oopsie!
I’d like to mention my favorite album cover: Rush - Test For Echo. That’s the front cover, and here is the back.
I love this album and the cover art: ELO - Out of the Blue
It was a double album with great inside artwork.
I used to have one of those when I was a kid. Played the crap out of it, I did.
How in the world did Drew Barrymore get onto that cover? Does she have a time machine? The chick on the far left…
Anyway, my submission for today is Judas Priest’s Stained Class: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JpstandclassAP.JPG
The Tragically Hip’s Fully Completely, done with color photocopiers.
Weekend work and heat wave more or less keeping me busy. Need some down time and with that, this instantly popped into my head: Teaser and the Firecat
Golden Earring’s Moontan had an interesting cover (before it was pulled and replaced with this
Probably one of the creepiest (in a dang good way) album covers of all time. (Also one of the best, natch.): Reign In Blood, by the inimitable Slayer.
Mybe it’s not exactly “rock-n-roll,” but I nominate Minor Threat’s Out of Step for the coveted title of “Greatest Album Cover Ever”:
Megadeth’s Youthanasia: File:Megadeth-Youthanasia.jpg - Wikipedia
As far as I’m concerned, there will never be an album cover more iconic than this.
Another fine crop of cover art. A good mix of different things too, making it nearly impossible to rank, but the rankings are pretty much meaningless anyway.
And thus:
- Youthanasia – great image.
- Trout Mask Replica – great line, great photo, great sound.
- Fully Completely - once again, I like a collage
- Wish you were here - my cover was the burning guy, the metal handshake was a sticker that came with the album.
- Electric Ladyland - Hendrix is always in the top ten.
- Moontan - and yes, the original is much more fetching.
- Out of Step - don’t all wish we were black sheep?
- Stained Glass – and stained well, I see.
- News of the World – sci fi stuff always thrills
- Out of Blue – like big-ass neon spaceships.
- Rising - fist the rainbow! What?
- Test of Echo - stacking stones, made difficult.
- Teaser and the Firecat – what can it all mean?
- Reign in Blood - metal mash
- Meet the Beatles – well, there are so many Great Beatles covers, going to the basics is certainly noteworthy.
Oh knickers, I forgot me Sunday pick. Well… hey,
Think proto-Phish. Now is it coming back to you? 
I’ll throw in R.E.M.'s Murmur. A murky landscape of kudzu, as befits a southern band with murky vocals.
The best Who album cover was Who’s Next.
Well, fine, but I didn’t spend hours looking at that cover. Rather partial to Who Are You as too.
But now for something completely different. The Magicians Birthday Another bit of Roger Dean work.
Today’s choice: Draw the Line, by Aerosmith.
Because everything’s better with Hirschfeld.
OT
Favorite Hirschfeld: Jerry Garcia. It was going for around ten grand right before Hirschfeld’s death, don’t know if it climbed or not since.
Another great Hirschfeld cover: Man of la Mancha. But wait, that’s not rock music.
For rock, I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Sabbath yet (unless my read of the thread is way off–apologies if so). There is a lot to choose from, but Sabotage always struck me as a bit … creepy. Not that some of their others aren’t, but this has just enough surreality to hit a nerve. Front. Back.
It’s Ozzy’s pyschedelic robe and Fairie boots that are freaking you out!
I like Radiohead’s The Bends: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Radiohead.bends.albumart.jpg
