sometimes you can judge a book or a musical album by its cover
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten iconic classic rock album covers
for this list we’re choosing album
for this list we’re choosing album covers in rock and its various related
covers in rock and its various related
covers in rock and its various related genres based on how iconic cool well
genres based on how iconic cool well
genres based on how iconic cool well recognized or unforgettable they are
like it go
like it go fighting war as the theme of the early
fighting war as the theme of the early
fighting war as the theme of the early 80s and keen to distort their rep for
80s and keen to distort their rep for
80s and keen to distort their rep for being a safe and fairly uncontroversial
being a safe and fairly uncontroversial
being a safe and fairly uncontroversial band u2 settled on war as the title of
band u2 settled on war as the title of
band u2 settled on war as the title of their 1983 release
equally keen to show that war can also
equally keen to show that war can also have mental and emotional elements the
have mental and emotional elements the
have mental and emotional elements the band opted to use a child’s portrait for
band opted to use a child’s portrait for
band opted to use a child’s portrait for the cover instead of violent imagery
a child Bono’s 8 year old neighbor Peter
a child Bono’s 8 year old neighbor Peter Rowan had previously appeared on the
Rowan had previously appeared on the
Rowan had previously appeared on the cover of their 3 EP and debut
cover of their 3 EP and debut
cover of their 3 EP and debut full-length boy and several other
full-length boy and several other
full-length boy and several other YouTube releases so he fit the part
YouTube releases so he fit the part
YouTube releases so he fit the part perfectly
number nine
number nine sticky fingers The Rolling Stones
while also notable for the debut of the
while also notable for the debut of the band’s famous tongue and lips logo the
band’s famous tongue and lips logo the
band’s famous tongue and lips logo the original LP cover of sticky fingers is
original LP cover of sticky fingers is
original LP cover of sticky fingers is perhaps best known for its functional
perhaps best known for its functional
perhaps best known for its functional zipper
though the artwork was thought up by
though the artwork was thought up by Andy Warhol its design was executed by
Andy Warhol its design was executed by
Andy Warhol its design was executed by Craig Braun who hit a snag when many
Craig Braun who hit a snag when many
Craig Braun who hit a snag when many records were damaged during shipments
the zipper damage made the track sister
the zipper damage made the track sister morphine unplayable on many coffees but
morphine unplayable on many coffees but
morphine unplayable on many coffees but the gaff was later remedied by shipping
the gaff was later remedied by shipping
the gaff was later remedied by shipping the record with the zipper at half-mast
following a somewhat lackluster response
following a somewhat lackluster response to their debut album Queen opted to step
to their debut album Queen opted to step
to their debut album Queen opted to step up the visuals on their follow-up
they hired photographer Mick Rock who
they hired photographer Mick Rock who had impressed the band with his work
had impressed the band with his work
had impressed the band with his work with David Bowie Iggy Pop and Lou Reed
with David Bowie Iggy Pop and Lou Reed
with David Bowie Iggy Pop and Lou Reed as such they were confident he could
as such they were confident he could
as such they were confident he could give them the bit of glam they were
give them the bit of glam they were
give them the bit of glam they were looking for
although Brian May John Deakin and Roger
although Brian May John Deakin and Roger Taylor initially found the Marlena
Taylor initially found the Marlena
Taylor initially found the Marlena Dietrich inspired cover pretentious
Dietrich inspired cover pretentious
Dietrich inspired cover pretentious Freddie Mercury loved it
Freddie Mercury loved it
Freddie Mercury loved it and an image was born
the band would even reuse the imagery in
the band would even reuse the imagery in their music videos for Bohemian Rhapsody
their music videos for Bohemian Rhapsody
their music videos for Bohemian Rhapsody and one vision
baby I’m gonna leave you guitarist and
baby I’m gonna leave you guitarist and producer Jimmy Page didn’t have to go
producer Jimmy Page didn’t have to go
producer Jimmy Page didn’t have to go too far when deciding uncover art for
too far when deciding uncover art for
too far when deciding uncover art for the band’s debut album ah can hear the
the band’s debut album ah can hear the
the band’s debut album ah can hear the calling me back it was inspired by
calling me back it was inspired by
calling me back it was inspired by earlier discussions about forming a band
earlier discussions about forming a band
earlier discussions about forming a band and how the idea would probably go over
and how the idea would probably go over
and how the idea would probably go over like a lead Zeppelin
designed by George Hardy around a photo
designed by George Hardy around a photo of the Hindenburg disaster the front
of the Hindenburg disaster the front
of the Hindenburg disaster the front sleeve created quite the stir especially
sleeve created quite the stir especially
sleeve created quite the stir especially in Denmark
they’re members of the Zeppelin family
they’re members of the Zeppelin family who were behind the early 20th century
who were behind the early 20th century
who were behind the early 20th century airship development complained about the
airship development complained about the
airship development complained about the image and the band’s name
this resulted in Led Zep touring the
this resulted in Led Zep touring the region as the knobs
number six are you experienced the Jimi
number six are you experienced the Jimi Hendrix Experience
first released with a relatively
first released with a relatively uninteresting photo that could be
uninteresting photo that could be
uninteresting photo that could be described to those of the Sears Portrait
described to those of the Sears Portrait
described to those of the Sears Portrait Studio variety
the Jimi Hendrix experience’s debut
the Jimi Hendrix experience’s debut album cover for the UK failed to impress
album cover for the UK failed to impress
album cover for the UK failed to impress anyone including Hendrix himself
feeling the image didn’t match the
feeling the image didn’t match the band’s psychedelic sound
band’s psychedelic sound
band’s psychedelic sound the guitarist requested a do-over with
the guitarist requested a do-over with
the guitarist requested a do-over with Carl Ferris
the photographer and graphic designer
the photographer and graphic designer didn’t only shoot a low-angle infrared
didn’t only shoot a low-angle infrared
didn’t only shoot a low-angle infrared and fisheye lens enhanced shot but also
and fisheye lens enhanced shot but also
and fisheye lens enhanced shot but also helped pick out the band’s wardrobe and
helped pick out the band’s wardrobe and
helped pick out the band’s wardrobe and hairstyles you don’t get that at Sears
the band was set to release the album
the band was set to release the album under the title yesterday’s gone but
under the title yesterday’s gone but
under the title yesterday’s gone but given the famously tense work
given the famously tense work
given the famously tense work environment under which they recorded
environment under which they recorded
environment under which they recorded their eleventh effort bassist John McVie
their eleventh effort bassist John McVie
their eleventh effort bassist John McVie suggested the much more fitting rumors
simple yet suggestive the cover features
simple yet suggestive the cover features drummer and founder Mick Fleetwood and
drummer and founder Mick Fleetwood and
drummer and founder Mick Fleetwood and singer Stevie Nicks in their standard
singer Stevie Nicks in their standard
singer Stevie Nicks in their standard stage where
but it’s also notable for its balls all
but it’s also notable for its balls all three of them on close inspection the
three of them on close inspection the
three of them on close inspection the crystal ball Fleetwood holds has a
crystal ball Fleetwood holds has a
crystal ball Fleetwood holds has a flipped image of himself and McVie while
flipped image of himself and McVie while
flipped image of himself and McVie while the balls hanging from his waist were
the balls hanging from his waist were
the balls hanging from his waist were originally part of a club’s toilet in
originally part of a club’s toilet in
originally part of a club’s toilet in the band’s early days which he wore as a
the band’s early days which he wore as a
the band’s early days which he wore as a lucky charm
taken by David Alexander and John Koch
taken by David Alexander and John Koch while sitting on a cherry picker over
while sitting on a cherry picker over
while sitting on a cherry picker over Sunset Boulevard during rush hour this
Sunset Boulevard during rush hour this
Sunset Boulevard during rush hour this darkly haunting shot of the Beverly
darkly haunting shot of the Beverly
darkly haunting shot of the Beverly Hills Hotel perfectly fulfilled Don
Hills Hotel perfectly fulfilled Don
Hills Hotel perfectly fulfilled Don Henley’s request for a typical
Henley’s request for a typical
Henley’s request for a typical California hotel with a menacing vibe
the artwork including the band photo at
the artwork including the band photo at the Lido hotel well as cautious title
the Lido hotel well as cautious title
the Lido hotel well as cautious title graphic reportedly cost are then
graphic reportedly cost are then
graphic reportedly cost are then astonishing $60,000 but perfectly
astonishing $60,000 but perfectly
astonishing $60,000 but perfectly matched Henley’s vision of the successes
matched Henley’s vision of the successes
matched Henley’s vision of the successes losses and general weirdness of
losses and general weirdness of
losses and general weirdness of California stabbed it with this demon
California stabbed it with this demon
California stabbed it with this demon ass but just can’t kill the P following
ass but just can’t kill the P following
ass but just can’t kill the P following the album success the Beverly Hills
the album success the Beverly Hills
the album success the Beverly Hills Hotel considered suing but drop the idea
Hotel considered suing but drop the idea
Hotel considered suing but drop the idea when bookings for their rooms triple
number three born in the USA Bruce
number three born in the USA Bruce Springsteen
photographed by Annie Leibovitz this
photographed by Annie Leibovitz this patriotic close-up of the bosses but is
patriotic close-up of the bosses but is
patriotic close-up of the bosses but is perhaps one of the most famous images of
perhaps one of the most famous images of
perhaps one of the most famous images of the 80s even without seeing his face his
the 80s even without seeing his face his
the 80s even without seeing his face his confident stance rootsy small-town jeans
confident stance rootsy small-town jeans
confident stance rootsy small-town jeans and t-shirt say all anyone needs to know
and t-shirt say all anyone needs to know
and t-shirt say all anyone needs to know about Bruce Springsteen
while viewed by some as a sexual
while viewed by some as a sexual statement
and by others as suggestive heated
and by others as suggestive heated political commentary
political commentary
political commentary Bruce has explained that this picture
Bruce has explained that this picture
Bruce has explained that this picture bested any taken of his face during the
bested any taken of his face during the
bested any taken of his face during the photo shoot although some may beg to
photo shoot although some may beg to
photo shoot although some may beg to differ
number two Abbey Road
number two Abbey Road the Beatles
shot the morning of August 8 1969
shot the morning of August 8 1969 outside EMI studios on the road that
outside EMI studios on the road that
outside EMI studios on the road that gave the record its name this simple but
gave the record its name this simple but
gave the record its name this simple but iconic photo is among the most famous
iconic photo is among the most famous
iconic photo is among the most famous and most parodied in the world
local police allotted photographer in
local police allotted photographer in McMillan just 10 minutes to get what
McMillan just 10 minutes to get what
McMillan just 10 minutes to get what would ultimately grace the Beatles 11th
would ultimately grace the Beatles 11th
would ultimately grace the Beatles 11th effort in all six photos were taken Oh
but it was only the fifth frame that
but it was only the fifth frame that caught the fat for walking in sync
McCartney’s barefooted Ness helped fuel
McCartney’s barefooted Ness helped fuel the infamous and endearing Paul is dead
the infamous and endearing Paul is dead
the infamous and endearing Paul is dead conspiracy adding to the covers mystique
before we unveil our top pick here are a
before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions
my friend is a blowin in the wind
my friend is a blowin in the wind blowing in the wind
number one the Dark Side of the Moon
number one the Dark Side of the Moon pink floyd–
instructed by the band to create
instructed by the band to create something that was clever and elegant
something that was clever and elegant
something that was clever and elegant designers Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey
designers Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey
designers Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell delivered the now iconic prism
with artwork by George Hardy the image
with artwork by George Hardy the image represented the thought and ambition of
represented the thought and ambition of
represented the thought and ambition of Pink Floyd’s music but was also
Pink Floyd’s music but was also
Pink Floyd’s music but was also suggestive of the Bands live light show
the final image was so strong that
the final image was so strong that neither the album’s title or the band’s
neither the album’s title or the band’s
neither the album’s title or the band’s name was included on the album sleep do
name was included on the album sleep do
name was included on the album sleep do you agree with our list what’s your
you agree with our list what’s your
you agree with our list what’s your favorite classic rock album cover
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