A Sampling Of GREAT Album Covers...

Hi all! I hope everyone is gearing up for a great holiday season!

Looking at the heading that I decided to title this particular blog posting, I guess that I find it a bit humorous how some of us older farts find it hard to change our vocabularies when it comes to certain things. I find it extremely difficult to call a recording anything but an "album". And to think that there are plenty of folks possibly reading this who never really knew that vinyl format. I sometimes feel sorry that some of today's younger people never have known the holding an album in their hands, so much larger than today's CD's. It was an experience in itself, reading the liner notes, the album sleeve, often the lyrics with the credits listed.

I also find that I often apply this same dynamic when I mentally recall certain types of "styles" of music. In my teenage years, "hard rock" was Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Montrose, Bad Company, and yes, even Kiss. I listen to some of this music today and realize how very tame it really was. We had no real music back then like Metallica or Disturbed....we didn't realize that "hard" was a relative term....compared to some of the guttural, almost violent-driven guitars of today.

I thought in this posting I would show a few of the album covers that, for various reasons, I consider my favorites. Some of my choices are just based on great artwork or photography, others on the nostalgic aspect, I suppose. I have placed them in no particular order.

Yes - Yessongs

Just great artwork. Actually, there any number of Yes albums done by the great Roger Dean that I could include.

Bad Company - Straight Shooter

Great artwork for a dynamite album. Brings back so many memories from high school. Maybe the best cover for a Bad Company album.

Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

This was a very creative piece of artwork, although not as detailed and imaginative as.....

Elton John - Captain Fantastic &

The Brown Dirt Cowboy

Made me almost think of Alice In Wonderland. The back of the album was just as great!

The Beatles - Let It Be

Great candid shots of a band that most music listeners felt was on their way to separating. I love the fact that each photo was of them in performing mode. Also showed how much each of their personal tastes had changed in regard to their appearance.

Carole King - Tapestry


This, I believe, was a perfect example of showing not only how our generation's music was changing, but how we ourselves were changing. If you saw a photo of Carole back when she was churning out hits for other artists from the Brill Building, you will see what I'm talking about. From "establishment" to quintessential barefoot hippie with freestyle hair....all she's missing is the flowers in it. Serene. Comfortable in her own skin. Peacenik. Love the cat.















CSN&Y - Deja' Vu

A great idea for a portrait. The sepia tone was a stroke of genius...this album wouldn't have made it into my favorites if it had been in color. Loved the idea of the various outfits. Loved the font. And the altruism and selflessness of the times showed in including the bassist's and drummer's names prominently up front.



















This is just a sampling of some of my favorites. I will possible make similar posts from time to time. Also, be advised of a future post of what I think are some of the WORST covers of rock and roll..... :)