Genuine iconic album covers not only represent an album but also capture the essence of an era, a generation, and sometimes even an entire music style. These best album covers present images that truly qualify as works of art. Despite art being subjective, a lasting legacy provides a more tangible measure.
Our compilation of the 15 most iconic album covers may not cover everything, yet it underlines why album covers should be esteemed as highly as traditional forms of art.
This is one of the best cover albums that was captured in 1955 at Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in Tampa, Florida. This time, Elvis played the guitar and sang to exude raw rock’n’roll energy and foreshadow his world domination.
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Pepper’s album cover from the Beatles stands out as the most significant and costly one at the time. The pop-art masterpiece is the brainchild of British artists Peter Blake and Jann Haworth which remains influential.
On the cover album, King was sitting barefoot on her Laurel Canyon home window ledge with her cat giving off a relaxed California vibe. The cover helped establish and romanticize the concept of simple, homemade recordings that felt laid-back rather than polished.
The cover features a powerful photo of mirroring Aretha’s image wearing turban head wraps with an earthy orange glow against stained-glass windows while staring at something. This image reflects her African pride and roots in gospel music and creates a warm and palpable portrait against a black background.
This became the best album cover art of all time that was created by Hipagnosis. It showcases a prism dispersing light into six spectrum colors that symbolize various elements of the band and their music, including stage lighting and dark side lyrics.
The album cover defines David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane persona. It’s an evolution from Ziggy Stardust, with the lightning bolt symbolizing Bowie’s sense of being a “cracked actor” amidst sudden superstardom. Meanwhile, the teardrop on Bowie’s clavicle adds a touch of mystery and tenderness to the image.
Purple Rain is the best album cover design of the mid-80s where Prince was a mysterious figure with a charismatic blend of little Richard Pompadour and an intense gaze.
The Smiths consistently deliver eye-catching album covers that form a captivating black-and-white gallery with narratives as intriguing as Morrissey’s lyrics. For this album, Morrissey is a committed vegan who aims to link meat consumption with warfare.
In 1994, artist Richie Bucher crafted a comic book-style world for Green Day’s major label debut that reflected the Bay Area punk scene. The album cover showcases various Easter Eggs, and elements from the Ramones’ Rocket To Russia cover art—a true Who’s Who of Oakland’s Telegraph Avenue.
The distinctive cover of The Smashing Pumpkins’ 1995 landmark album features a woman with melancholy eyes that almost like eyes that turn inward. This enduring image reflects the grand ambitions of the sprawling 28-track album without requiring an Art History degree of appreciation.
One of the best cover albums is Beck’s Odelay album design which was born from a serendipitous encounter with a photo of a rare Hungarian herding dog, the Komondor. Left open to interpretation, the cover has become the ultimate Rorschach test that invites viewers to ponder whether it resembles a thrown stack of hay or a flying mop.
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The Roots also created one of the best cover albums that showcased five limited edition covers featuring impactful photos symbolizing “visual failure in society.” One of them is the iconic image of two women chased by police during the 60s riots in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood.
Lady Gaga nailed the art of portrait shots with the re-release of her first album, The Fame. In this photo, she wears a wiry wig, and her black-and-white image features a shiny, angular coat covering the lower half of her face that creates an iconic look.
The album cover features a black-and-white photo of him wrapped in an American flag. On the original cover, the top of his face is at the bottom, and the lower half of his torso is at the top giving the impression of a rotating fuzzy image. It hints that there might be something wrong with the way he’s showing things.
The close-up image features Tyler sporting an asymmetrical flattop, one eye half-closed, and a slightly open mouth, showcasing his gold teeth and glistening earrings. The rapper appears both dazed and unfazed and embodies the expression of an artist who never quite fits in on Earth but remains effortlessly cool.
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In the making of distinctive album covers, you certainly need fitting fonts. Below is the list of best album cover fonts you can opt for!
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In conclusion, when it comes to creating your best cover albums, choosing a befitting font will surely make a different touch and vibe. String Labs provides a fantastic choice of font for visually appealing and memorable album cover design. Visit the website and get yours immediately!
