a picture says a thousand words welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be
to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be
to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for another top
counting down our picks for another top
counting down our picks for another top ten iconic album covers for this list
ten iconic album covers for this list
ten iconic album covers for this list we’re choosing album covers based on how
we’re choosing album covers based on how
we’re choosing album covers based on how iconic cool and well recognized they are
iconic cool and well recognized they are
iconic cool and well recognized they are in our first list we limited our picks
in our first list we limited our picks
in our first list we limited our picks to just the rock genre but for this one
to just the rock genre but for this one
to just the rock genre but for this one we will be opening up to any genre
number 10 nothing shocking Jane’s
number 10 nothing shocking Jane’s Addiction
Harry Pharaoh may have thought nothing
Harry Pharaoh may have thought nothing shocking but this was proved otherwise
shocking but this was proved otherwise
shocking but this was proved otherwise when nine major music vendors in the 80s
when nine major music vendors in the 80s
when nine major music vendors in the 80s refused to stock the albums solely due
refused to stock the albums solely due
refused to stock the albums solely due to its cover art
Beryl conceded and allowed the album to
Beryl conceded and allowed the album to be sold to major retailers wrapped in
be sold to major retailers wrapped in
be sold to major retailers wrapped in brown paper
brown paper
brown paper oddly enough the flaming figures had
oddly enough the flaming figures had
oddly enough the flaming figures had caused all the fuss weren’t even real
caused all the fuss weren’t even real
caused all the fuss weren’t even real but instead were sculptures Ferrell
but instead were sculptures Ferrell
but instead were sculptures Ferrell created based on a body casting of his
created based on a body casting of his
created based on a body casting of his then-girlfriend
years later the controversy renewed when
years later the controversy renewed when Facebook blocked the image leading to an
Facebook blocked the image leading to an
Facebook blocked the image leading to an edited cover for the networking site
number nine blood sugar sex Magik Red
number nine blood sugar sex Magik Red Hot Chili Peppers for the artwork of
Hot Chili Peppers for the artwork of
Hot Chili Peppers for the artwork of their 1991 breakthrough album the Chili
their 1991 breakthrough album the Chili
their 1991 breakthrough album the Chili Peppers enlisted director Gus Van Sant’s
Peppers enlisted director Gus Van Sant’s
Peppers enlisted director Gus Van Sant’s as art designer with some additional art
as art designer with some additional art
as art designer with some additional art by Hank Schiff maker a Dutch tattoo
by Hank Schiff maker a Dutch tattoo
by Hank Schiff maker a Dutch tattoo artist known to his clients as hanky
artist known to his clients as hanky
artist known to his clients as hanky panky
many photos included in the album’s
many photos included in the album’s artwork were taking on the grounds of a
artwork were taking on the grounds of a
artwork were taking on the grounds of a mansion formerly owned by Harry Houdini
mansion formerly owned by Harry Houdini
mansion formerly owned by Harry Houdini where the band recorded the disc
came out of the pasture
came out of the pasture drummer Chad Smith refused to stay at
drummer Chad Smith refused to stay at
drummer Chad Smith refused to stay at the house as he believed that was
the house as he believed that was
the house as he believed that was haunted by spirits
haunted by spirits
haunted by spirits one of which joined the band for a group
one of which joined the band for a group
one of which joined the band for a group photo according to the peppers
number eight London Calling
number eight London Calling The Clash while ray Lowry is credited
The Clash while ray Lowry is credited
The Clash while ray Lowry is credited with the album’s Elvis influenced design
with the album’s Elvis influenced design
with the album’s Elvis influenced design the covers iconic photo was taking by
the covers iconic photo was taking by
the covers iconic photo was taking by penny Smith Smith herself didn’t like
penny Smith Smith herself didn’t like
penny Smith Smith herself didn’t like the photo as it was slightly out of
the photo as it was slightly out of
the photo as it was slightly out of focus
focus
focus however Lowry and guitarist Joe Strummer
however Lowry and guitarist Joe Strummer
however Lowry and guitarist Joe Strummer loved it instantly
the photo was taking at a class show at
the photo was taking at a class show at the New York City Police on September
the New York City Police on September
the New York City Police on September 20th 1979
the album art depicts faces Paul Simonon
the album art depicts faces Paul Simonon in the mists of destroying his beloved
in the mists of destroying his beloved
in the mists of destroying his beloved fender Precision Bass during the song
fender Precision Bass during the song
fender Precision Bass during the song white riot out of anger of the bouncers
white riot out of anger of the bouncers
white riot out of anger of the bouncers who are not allowing the audience to
who are not allowing the audience to
who are not allowing the audience to stand up out of their chairs
number seven doggy style Snoop Doggy dog
number seven doggy style Snoop Doggy dog better sky my mind stores trippin attea
better sky my mind stores trippin attea
better sky my mind stores trippin attea drops my iconic hip-hop artwork for an
drops my iconic hip-hop artwork for an
drops my iconic hip-hop artwork for an iconic hip-hop album snoop enlisted the
iconic hip-hop album snoop enlisted the
iconic hip-hop album snoop enlisted the help of his cousin Darryl Joe Cool
help of his cousin Darryl Joe Cool
help of his cousin Darryl Joe Cool Daniel to draw the cover giving them
Daniel to draw the cover giving them
Daniel to draw the cover giving them both a break as an artist and motivation
both a break as an artist and motivation
both a break as an artist and motivation to quit hard drugs
to quit hard drugs
to quit hard drugs it’s the mouth of the Wow free
it’s the mouth of the Wow free
it’s the mouth of the Wow free controlled and Nicki yes Joel and Snoop
controlled and Nicki yes Joel and Snoop
controlled and Nicki yes Joel and Snoop Doggy Dogg to create the controversial
Doggy Dogg to create the controversial
Doggy Dogg to create the controversial image Daniel had his then-girlfriend
image Daniel had his then-girlfriend
image Daniel had his then-girlfriend pose for him on his mother’s couch in
pose for him on his mother’s couch in
pose for him on his mother’s couch in the ticular style later on that day my
the ticular style later on that day my
the ticular style later on that day my homies actor Drake came through with a
homies actor Drake came through with a
homies actor Drake came through with a gang the title race and a fat ass Jake
gang the title race and a fat ass Jake
gang the title race and a fat ass Jake of some bubonic chronic that made me
of some bubonic chronic that made me
of some bubonic chronic that made me choke she is this ain’t no girl practice
choke she is this ain’t no girl practice
choke she is this ain’t no girl practice speech bubbles featured on the cover
speech bubbles featured on the cover
speech bubbles featured on the cover meanwhile we’re cool Joe’s own idea and
meanwhile we’re cool Joe’s own idea and
meanwhile we’re cool Joe’s own idea and are made of quotes from George Clinton’s
are made of quotes from George Clinton’s
are made of quotes from George Clinton’s atomic sauce
Oh
Oh Laidback with my bar don’t wanna get my
Laidback with my bar don’t wanna get my
Laidback with my bar don’t wanna get my money
number 6 Rage Against the Machine Rage
number 6 Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine
never a bad to shy away from making a
never a bad to shy away from making a statement rage made a powerful one with
statement rage made a powerful one with
statement rage made a powerful one with the cover of their debut self-titled
the cover of their debut self-titled
the cover of their debut self-titled album the cover art features a world
album the cover art features a world
album the cover art features a world press photo of the year taken by Malcolm
press photo of the year taken by Malcolm
press photo of the year taken by Malcolm Brown in 1963 of the Vietnamese Buddhist
Brown in 1963 of the Vietnamese Buddhist
Brown in 1963 of the Vietnamese Buddhist monk thich Quang Duc lighting himself on
monk thich Quang Duc lighting himself on
monk thich Quang Duc lighting himself on fire in protest of the government’s
fire in protest of the government’s
fire in protest of the government’s treatment of Buddhists
in 1963 the image was powerful enough to
in 1963 the image was powerful enough to make JFK see supporting Vietnam while
make JFK see supporting Vietnam while
make JFK see supporting Vietnam while nearly 30 years later it quickly summed
nearly 30 years later it quickly summed
nearly 30 years later it quickly summed up rage against the machines image as a
up rage against the machines image as a
up rage against the machines image as a take-no-prisoners whole no punches
take-no-prisoners whole no punches
take-no-prisoners whole no punches politically-minded back
van Halen originally wanted an image of
van Halen originally wanted an image of for dancing chrome women and tapped
for dancing chrome women and tapped
for dancing chrome women and tapped artist Margot Nahas to do the job
she declined claiming that the project
she declined claiming that the project would be too much work but allowed the
would be too much work but allowed the
would be too much work but allowed the band to look through her portfolio the
band to look through her portfolio the
band to look through her portfolio the eventual cover was painted years earlier
eventual cover was painted years earlier
eventual cover was painted years earlier and was based off a photo Nahas had
and was based off a photo Nahas had
and was based off a photo Nahas had taken of a friend’s four-year-old son
taken of a friend’s four-year-old son
taken of a friend’s four-year-old son with candy cigarettes despite rumors
with candy cigarettes despite rumors
with candy cigarettes despite rumors claiming that the artwork featured David
claiming that the artwork featured David
claiming that the artwork featured David Lee Roth
the idea for this iconic cover came from
the idea for this iconic cover came from Kurt Cobain who had been watching a
Kurt Cobain who had been watching a
Kurt Cobain who had been watching a documentary on water births with Dave
documentary on water births with Dave
documentary on water births with Dave Grohl when stock images proved too
Grohl when stock images proved too
Grohl when stock images proved too expensive and too grotesque the label
expensive and too grotesque the label
expensive and too grotesque the label hired photographer Kirk Weddell to
hired photographer Kirk Weddell to
hired photographer Kirk Weddell to capture the image
the photo of a clearly nude male infant
the photo of a clearly nude male infant caused trouble with Geffen Records who
caused trouble with Geffen Records who
caused trouble with Geffen Records who wanted to remove the offending member
wanted to remove the offending member
wanted to remove the offending member the record label backed down when Kurt
the record label backed down when Kurt
the record label backed down when Kurt would only agree to a sticker accusing
would only agree to a sticker accusing
would only agree to a sticker accusing anyone offended as being a closeted
anyone offended as being a closeted
anyone offended as being a closeted pedophile
the number three Appetite for
the number three Appetite for Destruction guns and roses
although instantly recognizable this was
although instantly recognizable this was not the classic Guns N’Roses albums
not the classic Guns N’Roses albums
not the classic Guns N’Roses albums original cover instead the bag had used
original cover instead the bag had used
original cover instead the bag had used in 1978 Robert Williams painting also
in 1978 Robert Williams painting also
in 1978 Robert Williams painting also titled Appetite for Destruction
however its image of a sexually
however its image of a sexually assaulted woman a rapist
assaulted woman a rapist
assaulted woman a rapist robot and a revengeful preacher with
robot and a revengeful preacher with
robot and a revengeful preacher with knives for her teeth was deemed as
knives for her teeth was deemed as
knives for her teeth was deemed as inappropriate this controversial cover
inappropriate this controversial cover
inappropriate this controversial cover was replaced by the now-familiar cross
was replaced by the now-familiar cross
was replaced by the now-familiar cross and skulls which was created by tattoo
and skulls which was created by tattoo
and skulls which was created by tattoo artist Billy white jr.
that wasn’t the band’s only option
that wasn’t the band’s only option however as Axl Rose at one point
however as Axl Rose at one point
however as Axl Rose at one point suggested a photo on the NASA Challenger
suggested a photo on the NASA Challenger
suggested a photo on the NASA Challenger shuttle explosion from the year prior as
shuttle explosion from the year prior as
shuttle explosion from the year prior as the cover class act
taking our number-two spot is Michael
taking our number-two spot is Michael Jackson’s legendary 1992 album Thriller
clearing away the more memorable of
clearing away the more memorable of Jackson’s two releases that year the
Jackson’s two releases that year the
Jackson’s two releases that year the simple shot of MJ rocking a white suit
simple shot of MJ rocking a white suit
simple shot of MJ rocking a white suit has become iconic due to the album’s
has become iconic due to the album’s
has become iconic due to the album’s phenomenal success which includes 29
phenomenal success which includes 29
phenomenal success which includes 29 million copies sold in the US alone the
million copies sold in the US alone the
million copies sold in the US alone the album has also spawned a number of
album has also spawned a number of
album has also spawned a number of parodies including most notably Weird
parodies including most notably Weird
parodies including most notably Weird Al’s eat it cover absolute in the
Al’s eat it cover absolute in the
Al’s eat it cover absolute in the album’s UPC code became the stuff of
album’s UPC code became the stuff of
album’s UPC code became the stuff of legend
legend
legend due to a widespread rumor that the code
due to a widespread rumor that the code
due to a widespread rumor that the code contained the prints of pops phone
contained the prints of pops phone
contained the prints of pops phone number needless to say it didn’t
before we unveil our top pick here are a
before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions
number one sergeant pepper’s Lonely
number one sergeant pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles boat on a
Hearts Club Band The Beatles boat on a
Hearts Club Band The Beatles boat on a river with tangerine trees and the spark
river with tangerine trees and the spark
river with tangerine trees and the spark for the instantly iconic cover came from
for the instantly iconic cover came from
for the instantly iconic cover came from Paul McCartney but was fully executed
Paul McCartney but was fully executed
Paul McCartney but was fully executed and designed by photographer Peter Blake
and designed by photographer Peter Blake
and designed by photographer Peter Blake and his wife Jan Hayworth would you
and his wife Jan Hayworth would you
and his wife Jan Hayworth would you stand up the cover costed an astonishing
stand up the cover costed an astonishing
stand up the cover costed an astonishing 3,000 pounds at a time when artwork
3,000 pounds at a time when artwork
3,000 pounds at a time when artwork topped out at 50 most of the faces on
topped out at 50 most of the faces on
topped out at 50 most of the faces on the cover are people the Beatles admired
the cover are people the Beatles admired
the cover are people the Beatles admired in some way however Adolf Hitler Jesus
in some way however Adolf Hitler Jesus
in some way however Adolf Hitler Jesus and Gandhi were all rejected for various
and Gandhi were all rejected for various
and Gandhi were all rejected for various reasons meanwhile actor leo gore c was
reasons meanwhile actor leo gore c was
reasons meanwhile actor leo gore c was painted out of the photo when he
painted out of the photo when he
painted out of the photo when he requested $400 to appear
so do you agree with our list which is
so do you agree with our list which is your favorite iconic album cover
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