# Which bands had the best art on their album covers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2019, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257 "2019-10-04T13:36:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/21 "2019-10-04T15:08:35Z")
**The Who** had some pretty great ones (especially “Who’s Next”). So did **Jethro Tull**. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/22 "2019-10-04T15:12:50Z")
[“Kansas” is definitely in the running](https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=kansas+album+covers&qpvt=kansas+album+covers&FORM=IQFRML) in my humble opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/23 "2019-10-04T15:23:27Z")
Joe Jackson was excellent in using [his image on covers](https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=joe+jackson+album+covers&qpvt=kansas+album+covers&form=IQFRML&first=1&cw=1129&ch=1761) to sell his personality. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/24 "2019-10-04T15:26:32Z")
Boston. Their music grew more mediocre over the decades, but their album covers were very recognizable and consistent. [https://www.google.com/search?q=Boston+album+covers&client=ms-android-google&source=android-browser&prmd=isnv&sxsrf=ACYBGNTnVhN\_f23l10HKLoZytb0Ys5d3-A:1570202684280&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk2uLp9ILlAhXYrJ4KHeQ-DJ4Q\_AUoAXoECA8QAQ&biw=640&bih=288](https://www.google.com/search?q=Boston+album+covers&client=ms-android-google&source=android-browser&prmd=isnv&sxsrf=ACYBGNTnVhN_f23l10HKLoZytb0Ys5d3-A:1570202684280&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk2uLp9ILlAhXYrJ4KHeQ-DJ4Q_AUoAXoECA8QAQ&biw=640&bih=288) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/25 "2019-10-04T15:27:08Z")
I like Grateful Dead album covers. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/26 "2019-10-04T15:34:37Z")
Al Stewart was another Hipgnosis client, and I think they did very well by him. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/27 "2019-10-04T15:40:55Z")
As a teenage boy, Molly Hatchet album covers always got me to take a second look. But I was into barbarians and vikings and such back then. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/28 "2019-10-04T15:58:57Z")
> [@2Bits](#): > > The Moody Blues, of course! Second. I think a close runner-up is Gail Collins’ work on the Mountain albums. Using her artwork and calligraphy provided quite a bit of consistency and they were all instantly recognizable. And for anyone who might be unaware of it, she later murdered her husband, Felix Pappalardi, producer, songwriter, and bassist for the group. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/29 "2019-10-04T16:44:46Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > Al Stewart was another Hipgnosis client, and I think they did very well by him. Hipgnosis did covers for Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Pretty Things, Renaissance, Yes (after they stopped using Roger Dean), Peter Gabriel, 10cc, Paul McCartney, ELO, and many other UK bands. All of them were striking in design. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/30 "2019-10-04T16:50:16Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Hipgnosis did covers for Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Pretty Things, Renaissance, Yes (after they stopped using Roger Dean), Peter Gabriel, 10cc, Paul McCartney, ELO, and many other UK bands. All of them were striking in design. Yeah, I have a book of their album covers, which show the versatility and wit very well. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/31 "2019-10-04T17:02:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [“Kansas” is definitely in the running](https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=kansas+album+covers&qpvt=kansas+album+covers&FORM=IQFRML) in my humble opinion. Those are terrific. I always found the inside art on a double album the most important of all, though. IYKWIM. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/32 "2019-10-04T17:20:31Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Yes Yes. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/33 "2019-10-04T18:16:20Z")
No love for Meatloaf? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/34 "2019-10-04T18:28:11Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Yes. Yes ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/35 "2019-10-04T18:28:40Z")
I always enjoy [Ghost](https://imgur.com/a/DTvspzK)’s, particularly era 3 (Meliora through Ceremony and Devotion)…the era one covers aren’t anything to write home about, but the references are fun. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/36 "2019-10-04T18:52:04Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Those are terrific. > > I always found the inside art on a double album the most important of all, though. IYKWIM. Yes, it was important to have something nice to look at while removing all the seeds and stems.😉 ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/37 "2019-10-04T18:59:42Z")
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Roxy Music, which made an art out of stylish and sexy-but-not-sleazy album covers [as in this NSFW link](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/beauty-queens-behind-roxy-musics-artwork/). ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/38 "2019-10-04T19:13:35Z")
Jethro Tull had many great covers, many with cool novelty features such as ‘Stand Up’ pop-up figures in the foldout, and ‘Thick as a Brick’ newspaper insert. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/39 "2019-10-04T19:30:32Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Tony Fitzpatrick has been doing some interesting Steve Earle cover art for the last, oh 15-20 or so years. > [Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=1009&ei=5UyXXam1DYvAsAX8pqeABQ&q=tony+fitzpatrick+steve+earle+art&oq=tony+fitzpatrick+steve+earle+art&gs_l=img.3...3834.14838..15003...0.0..0.100.2030.31j1......0....1..gws-wiz-img.....0..0j0i30j0i24.s3E4pZMa4nk&ved=0ahUKEwjpu9LI3oLlAhULIKwKHXzTCVAQ4dUDCAU&uact=5) Those are fantastic! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257/40 "2019-10-04T19:49:41Z")
It’s probably worth mentioning that the late Phil Hartman worked as a graphic artist and designed at least eight album covers. [https://www.fastcompany.com/3044107/8-album-covers-designed-by-legendary-comedian-phil-hartman](https://www.fastcompany.com/3044107/8-album-covers-designed-by-legendary-comedian-phil-hartman) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-had-the-best-art-on-their-album-covers/841257.md?page=3)