Best rock album covers/sleeves by year since 1965

Listed below are this blog author’s favorite album covers (sleeves) by year since 1965. Instead of including images of the best or better known ones that all of us are familiar with, this post includes some images of lesser known albums with great covers (sleeves).

Musicians with the most appearances on the list include Aerosmith (3), Pink Floyd (2), The Who (2), The Beatles (2), Radiohead (2), Green Day (2), The Cars (2), The Stills (2), The Joy Formidable (2), The Strokes (2), and Weezer (2).

Often, the simplest design can be the most memorable. Cut by Golden Earring clearly fits this mold. The image also perfectly fits the album title. Many others, including The Car, Abbey Road and Who’s Next tend to follow this format.

Meanwhile, otherworldly/space age designs (I’m You Mind Fuzz, Bossanova, Boston, and Apollo 18) and dystopian images (Momentary Lapse of Reason, Plastic Beach, Marsh Drones and Oceans Will Rise) are quite common. Furthermore, photo montages (Exile on Main Street, Achtung Baby, and Blame My Ex are three examples) tend to appear on the list.

In some cases, humor is a catchy way of gathering attention. A personal favorite of this comes from Cheap Trick’s 1977 album In Color And In Black and White…though you have to look at both sides to get the joke. (see image above)

Hope you enjoy the list. Peace and rock on!

p.s. Additional album images are shown below the list.

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After stenciling the road cases himself with "The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East", legendary photographer, Jim Marshall had the roadies stack the cases, then put the band⁣ in front of them.

April 5-6, 1971 Macon Georgia across the street from Capricorn Studio
#allmanbrothers #albumcovers

#HughSyme’s covers for the Rush anniversary editions are terrible. It’s a hack version of #StormThorgerson’s post Hipgnosis work. The originals were a better knock off of #Hipgnosis. #GraphicDesign #AlbumCovers

Grace Under Pressure is particularly awful.

new digital ep on friday. celebrate spring.
part 1 of a 4 part series of eps.

https://oddperson.bandcamp.com/album/the-oracle-of-oleander

influenced by artists such as Vasilisk, Tribes of Neurot, Rainforest Spiritual Enslavement, etc

spring is the contemplative awakening.
summer is the fire of spirit.
autumn is the somber decay.
winter is the boundless ethereal.

#albumcoverart #experimentalmusic #ambient #ambientmusic #Spring #albumcovers