For inspiration and nostalgia, we’ve compiled 5 of the most iconic album covers of all time. Click here to see our favorite album cover art.
Did you know that The Eagles holds the record for two of the top three best-selling albums in musical history?
The albums Their Greatest Hits and Hotel California sold 38 million and 26 million copies respectively. Sandwiched between those, Michael Jackson’s Thriller stole second place with 33 million sales.
Although these music legends are the kings of record sales, there are hundreds of other albums that have become notorious for many other reasons besides the quality of the music.
If you close your eyes, how many album covers can you visualize in your mind? Chances are, you can probably see these top 5 iconic album covers.
1. Abbey Road by The Beatles
One of the best album covers of all time is cherished for its simplicity. How did The Beatles make walking more glamorous than supermodels?
This crosswalk is so famous now that you can watch online webcams that record live streams of it. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to spot some of the thousands of others who have recreated this album cover with their friends. If you ever visit England, this crosswalk should be on your itinerary.
2. Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley
Oh Elvis, the hip-swinging hunk who corrupted all the youth.
Before Elvis, no other performers had the audacity to behave as wildly as him. Elvis Presley ranks high among the best album covers because it represents change. With his mouth agape, fingers strumming his guitar in full force, and his hips mid-groove, you can feel his free spirit leaping out the cover.
We can all thank Elvis for theatrical concerts with dancers, props, and costumes. He taught the world that music is fun, so we should all celebrate together.
3. Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
Even if you’ve never heard Pink Floyd’s music, Dark Side of the Moon is one of those album covers that everyone has seen.
During its creation, many critics questioned the legitimacy of this album because the art failed to include the band’s name or album’s name. Even though there are no identifying texts in the image, almost anyone could match this art to Pink Floyd, which proves how legendary the art is.
If you think you have what it takes the create album artwork as memorable as Pink Floyd, you need this album art maker.
4. Born to Die by Lana Del Rey
Born to Die is one of only three albums recorded by a woman that has stayed in the Billboard 200 for over 300 weeks. Lana Del Rey’s haunting vocals pair perfectly with her album cover.
Few women have the confidence to stare directly into the camera to meet the eyes of onlookers in their album cover art. Perhaps her sheer top that gives people a peek at her skin is symbolic of how vulnerable her lyrics are. Though she sings about hardship, her pose suggests that strength can be born from weakness.
5. Nevermind by Nirvana
Nevermind concludes this list of the most iconic album covers because it is one of the strangest. You’d have to live under a rock to not recognize the naked baby reaching for the dollar bill underwater.
This album raises many questions. Is this baby embarrassed now as an adult for being on full display? How did he hold his breath and keep his eyes open? Who taught this boy capitalism at such a young age? Is baby fishing a real job?
If you ever feel embarrassed by your baby pictures, at least the entire world hasn’t seen your bits on a Nirvana album cover.
For More Than Iconic Album Covers
Which of these iconic album covers is your favorite?
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