this is dudical.

This is a crosspost from my blog, but since it pertains to this site, I decided to post it here as well.

These are my all-time favorite album covers. Most of them are quite iconic and the majority are accompanied by exceptional records as well, which I think often goes hand in hand with a great cover. There might be a few surprises though.

One thing I had never noticed before, which may be a complete fabrication on my part, is the similarity between Jane’s Addiction’s Nothing’s Shocking cover, and Prince’s Purple Rain. An intentional reference, possibly? It’s pretty subjective, but I think you could definitely argue that there are some strong resemblances.

The list is in no particular order, although I would say that my all-time favorite is Hum’s You’d Prefer An Astronaut. Also, I think we can safely say that The Rolling Stones had the most consistently great covers.

The list:

Throbbing Gristle
20 Jazz Funk Greats (1979)

The Cure
Three Imaginary Boys (1979)

Big Star
#1 Record (1972)

Big Star
Third/Sister Lovers (1978)

Suicide
Suicide (1977)

Cyndi Lauper
She’s So Unusual (1983)

The Beatles
“Yesterday” … And Today (1966)

Magazine
Real Life (1978)

Prince
Purple Rain (1984)

Jane’s Addiction
Nothing’s Shocking (1988)

Public Image Ltd.
First Issue (1978)

New Order
Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)

Elvis Costello
My Aim Is True (1977)

Talking Heads
Remain In Light (1980)

Hole
Live Through This (1994)

Nirvana
Nevermind (1991)

Beastie Boys
Check Your Head (1992)

The Beatles
The Beatles (1968)

Joy Division
Closer (1980)

Dinosaur Jr
Green Mind (1991)

XTC
Go 2 (1978)

The Afghan Whigs
Gentlemen (1993)

Mudhoney
Superfuzz Bigmuff (1988)

Deerhoof
Friend Opportunity (2007)

Swans
Filth (1983)

Rage Against The Machine
Evil Empire (1996)

Liz Phair
Exile In Guyville (1993)

Melvins
Electroretard (2001)

Devo
Freedom Of Choice (1980)

The Cure
Boys Don’t Cry (1980)

Laurie Anderson
Big Science (1982)

Sonic Youth
Dirty (1992)

Nine Inch Nails
Pretty Hate Machine (1989)

X
Los Angeles (1980)

The Jesus And Mary Chain
Darklands (1987)

The Jesus And Mary Chain
Psychocandy (1985)

The Beatles
Revolver (1966)

The Beatles
Abbey Road (1969)

Crystal Castles
Crystal Castles (2008)

Deerhunter
Microcastle (2008)

Sonic Youth
Washing Machine (1995)

Sonic Youth
Goo (1990)

PJ Harvey
Rid Of Me (1993)

PJ Harvey
Dry (1992)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It’s Blitz! (2009)

Wavves
King Of The Beach (2010)

New Order
Get Ready (2001)

Wire
Pink Flag (1977)

Gang Of Four
Solid Gold (1981)

The Sex Pistols
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols (1977)

Led Zeppelin
Houses Of The Holy (1973)

The Doors
Strange Days (1967)

Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin (1969)

The Rolling Stones
Exile On Main St (1972)

The Rolling Stones
Sticky Fingers (1971)

Richard Hell & The Voidoids
Blank Generation (1977)

Iggy Pop
The Idiot (1977)

Cream
Disraeli Gears (1967)

Led Zeppelin
Physical Graffiti (1975)

The Rolling Stones
Some Girls (1978)

Tripping Daisy
I Am An Elastic Firecracker (1995)

The Rolling Stones
Beggars Banquet (1968)

Ramones
Ramones (1976)

New York Dolls
New York Dolls (1973)

Sonic Youth
Daydream Nation (1988)

Filter
Short Bus (1995)

Weezer
Weezer (1994)

The Clash
London Callin (1979)

Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley (1956)

The Mothers Of Invention
We’re Only In It For The Money (1968)

The Beatles
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

The Smiths
The Smiths (1984)

My Bloody Valentine
Loveless (1991)

The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses (1989)

Hum
You’d Prefer An Astronaut (1995)