The Weirdest Album Covers of All Time
In the heyday of vinyl, followed by CDs, album cover art was just that: an art form. Musicians used the images on their albums to express their personalities and capture the themes of that collection of their songs. Other artists have used weird album covers to push the boundaries of social norms. .
In the heyday of vinyl, followed by CDs, album cover art was just that: an art form. Musicians used the images on their albums to express their personalities and capture the themes of that collection of their songs. Other artists have used weird album covers to push the boundaries of social norms. . . and sometimes the boundaries of good taste.
The choices that musicians and artists make about album cover art can ignite your imagination or leave you utterly confused. We’re mystified and, if we’re honest, quite intrigued by this list of the weirdest album covers of all time. Perhaps it’s the train-wreck effect, but we just can’t look away.
The Miracle – Queen
Richard Gray used image-manipulation technology to morph the images of Queen’s band members into a disturbing, yet compelling, gestalt. The band wanted their audience to see Queen’s music as a full collaboration between its members instead of crediting the musicians separately.
If this doesn’t weird you out right away, take a closer look at the eyes…
Yesterday and Today – The Beatles
Although the so-called “butcher cover” doesn’t seem real, we can assure you that it is. Robert Whitaker composed the photograph to be a piece of a larger collection meant to critique the worldwide adoration of the Beatles. The Beatles claimed to be making a statement in opposition to the Vietnam War. Either way, this cover was pulled in favor of something a little less grotesque.
Live It Up – Crosby Stills & Nash
In interviews, Steven Stills has been known to refer to this less-popular album as “Live it Down.” We don’t know what all of this picnic food means, but suddenly we’re hungry?
McCartney – Paul McCartney
Okay, so maybe this is the back of the album cover, but is that a baby in his coat? Yep: it’s his daughter, Mary. Linda McCartney took this tender photo of father and daughter in Scotland. While it does highlight his love for his home and his family, it’s not the safest way to cart an infant around the highlands.
Circus In Town – Merle Evans
It must be the clown’s half-closed eyes that make this weird album cover extra unsettling. And possibly the questionably tousled hair. What’s the clown thinking? What sinister plans does he have for those balloons? Thank you for the nightmares, Merle.
Diamond Dogs – David Bowie
No “weird album art collection” is complete without David Bowie. And unfortunately, you need to see the front and back of this cover to get the full effect. Guy Peellaert, a Belgian artist, counts pop and psychedelic art as his primary inspiration. You can see that here, of course.
Thirty Seconds Over Winterland – Jefferson Airplane
As an aside: Berkeley Systems’ famous “After Dark” screensaver released in 1989 included a similar flying toasters image. Since Jefferson Airplane failed to trademark this. . . surreal. . . image, they lost a copyright suit against the company. Oops.
It’s Me, Mum! – Wally Whyton
Folk singer Wally Whyton hails from London, and also released albums of children’s music. We’re certain his mum is proud.
Witness – Katy Perry
Katy Perry explains that her voice is the way that she “sees” the world and how the world “witnesses” her, and so the eyes are in the mouth. It’s profound. It’s also weird.
Hey! Here’s a fun “Would You Rather”: Would you rather have an eye in your mouth or two mouths on your eyes?
Mellow Gold – Beck
We’re not sure what we’re supposed to be looking at here. (Hint: Beck and the artist, Eddie Lopez, state that the unicorn-robot-oilcan represents the last survivor of a worldwide apocalypse. But who is it, really?).
Hello Nasty – Beastie Boys
But why that line? Because you’ve got to fight! For your right! To lie in a sardine can!?
Obviously.
Life In A Tin Can – The Bee Gees
Well, we suppose they took it the album name quite literally. At least it’s not a sardine can.
Mystery To Me – Fleetwood Mac
People are always saying how they “devoured” a good book. Tried it once, but it didn’t agree with us. Cake is much better.
Love This Giant – David Byrne & St. Vincent
David Byrne as strong-jawed Beauty and St. Vincent (Annie Clark) as distorted Beast was a visual joke meant to poke fun at critiques about the artists’ age difference
You may have guessed it, but these two do not look like this in real life.
Trout Mask Replica – Captain Beefheart
It’s not a matter or why he has a trout mask. It’s a matter of should he have a trout face. We think not.
Goin’ Back To Miami – Wayne Cochran
This image was taken at the height of Wayne Cochran’s career. (See what we did there?) We’d give anything for that kind of volume. (See what we did there, too?)
Born This Way – Lady Gaga
She’s certainly a glamorous transformer.
Now that we’ve swirled your brains around a bit with these weird album covers, aren’t you just the tiniest bit curious to hear some of the music, either for the first time or for the one-thousandth? But as crazy as many of these album covers are, we’re still thankful for the music!
Of course, we’d love your thoughts: which cover do you think wins top prize for the weirdest album cover of all time?
