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Category Archives: Album Covers
More Album Cover Outtakes
David Bowie – Tonight (1984) Bowie’s ‘tash album? Or Bowie’s trash album? Here are three Polaroid photographs that were taken by English designer Mick Haggerty for Bowie’s Tonight album in 1984, at the Carlyle Hotel NYC following the exhausting Serious … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, David Bowie, Images
6 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
The album cover image for Lou Reed’s New York was based conceptually on a 1932 photograph by Brassai called “La bande du grand Albert” of a Parisian gang standing in an alley. The cover for Lou Reed’s iconic New York (1989) … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images, Lou Reed, Velvet Underground, The
9 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
The front cover to the Minutemen’s enduring masterpiece, the 45-track Double Nickels on the Dime, featured a photo of Mike Watt driving his Volkswagen beetle southbound on highway 10, aka “The Dime”, to his home in San Pedro, CA. Emerging … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Minutemen
8 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
Artist Charles Burns’ cover for Iggy Pop’s 1990 LP Brick By Brick included references to many of the album’s songs, such as a joint-smoking Kate Pierson, and even Roy Orbison! Iggy Pop’s solo career had become something of a hit … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Iggy Pop, Images
2 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
This untreated Polaroid of John’s piercing gaze has recently surfaced, believed to have been taken by Andy Warhol. John Lennon – Imagine (1971) The photograph for the Imagine album cover was taken by Yoko Ono using a Polaroid camera. It … Continue reading
#13: The Clash – Sandinista! (1980)
Here at The Press we take a look at expansive double albums (in this case ‘triple’) and trim it back to a single, filler-free listening experience, negating the need to reach for the skip button or needle repositioning. In some … Continue reading
Sound & Vision | Bowie’s Album Covers Ranked
From the 1967 self-titled debut to his final masterpiece Blackstar, The Press puts their spin on the album artwork of every David Bowie album, including some honourable (and dishonourable) mentions. Bowie’s albums were never just about the music. They concurrently … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Brian Eno, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Iggy Pop, Images, Kinks, The, Mick Rock, Mick Ronson, Mott the Hoople, Robert Fripp, T.Rex
24 Comments
David Bowie | Thank you for the cigs!!
This charming two-page note written by a 30-year old David Bowie to his friend and confidant Tony McGrogan in September ’77 with his shopping list of records, shows he was keeping his finger on the pulse of rock. Bowie made … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Clash, The, David Bowie, On This Day, T.Rex, Talking Heads
13 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
The retro-yet-modern album cover for Elvis Costello and the Attractions’ Get Happy!! LP was designed based on a photo of Elvis lying on a street grill. The packaging for Elvis Costello’s Get Happy!! (1980) sleeve was designed by brilliant graphic artist … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Elvis Costello, Images
8 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
These slightly strange unused portraits of David Bowie were taken by photographer Nick Knight in December 1992, originally intended for the cover of his comeback solo album Black Tie White Noise. The album cover concept for Bowie’s 1993 dance-rock oddity Black … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, David Bowie
5 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
The photograph on the cover of The Kinks’ country-rock masterpiece Muswell Hillbillies was shot at the Archway Tavern in London, a couple of miles away from Muswell Hill in North London where band leader Ray Davies and guitarist Dave Davies grew … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, European Rock Pilgrimage, Images, Kinks, The
10 Comments
T.Rex | The Slider
Released on this day 50 years ago, the timeless photograph of Marc Bolan on the cover of The Slider was credited to have been taken by Ringo Starr. But was it? The iconic photograph of Marc Bolan with his “corkscrew … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, David Bowie, Images, Mainman, On This Day, T.Rex
14 Comments
The Human League | Reproduction
The image on the cover of The Human League’s debut album Reproduction, anticipates their definitive line-up. Before the mainstream success of ‘Don’t You Want Me’, one of the most enduringly popular songs of the 80s, and before the twin sultry … Continue reading
More Album Cover Outtakes
Curiously, the cinematic image that would grace the cover of U2’s classic album The Joshua Tree was not taken at California’s namesake national park, but rather some 250 miles north at Zabriskie Point. Many fans assume that the cover was … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images, U2
15 Comments
Frank Zappa – Läther
Originally conceived as a contractually obliged four-record set in 1977, the ill-fated Läther was eventually released posthumously as a triple album on Rykodisc and remains among the artist’s finest work. Zappa’s career was peppered with conflicts and legal problems with … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Albums That Never Were, Downloads, Frank Zappa
9 Comments
Queen – News of the World (1977)
The terrifying cover art for Queen’s sixth album, 1977’s News of the World, is an adaptation of a painting by science fiction illustrator Frank Kelly Freas. Originally designed for an October 1953 issue of the comic book “Astounding”, it features … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images, Queen
11 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
Kiss – The solo albums (1978) The painted images used for the Kiss solo albums, all released on 18 September 1978, were based on the cover of a 1977 Kiss world tour glossy. Only Ace Frehley’s image doesn’t match up. … Continue reading
More Album Cover Outtakes
The captivating Eurythmics album cover for Revenge (1986) was the work of British artist Eric Scott and long-time graphic designer and visionary for the duo, Laurence Stevens. This impressive oil-on-canvas of a hyperrealistic Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of UK … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images
10 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
David Bowie’s short-lived excursion into aggressive garage alt-rock caused a furore over its controversial LP cover illustration requiring its manly genitalia to be airbrushed out, all in the name of public decency . . . again! After Bowie attended an … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, David Bowie, Images
11 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
Never before had Lou Reed seemed so approachable and joyful as he did on 1984’s New Sensations, an album that cast him in a new light without losing any of what has made him an icon. New Sensations may not … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images, Lou Reed, Robert Quine, Velvet Underground, The
9 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
The album cover for The Fall’s 1985 classic This Nation’s Saving Grace was designed by Danish painter Claus Castenskiold with British photographer Michael Pollard, brilliantly synthesising photography and drawing for one of the band’s strongest-ever releases. The band’s artistic confidence … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Fall, The, Images
7 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
These are the four original photographs of the members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, taken by filmmaker Gus Van Sant, for their Rick Rubin-produced funk-rock classic, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991). In 1991 Van Sant was commissioned by the … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images
2 Comments
RIP Mick Rock
Mick Rock, who captured iconic images of artists including David Bowie, Lou Reed, Queen, Iggy Pop and more, has died, aged 72. A photographic poet and The Man Who Shot The 70s he created some of the most magnificent photographs … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Images, Lou Reed, Mainman, Mick Rock, Mott the Hoople, Queen
4 Comments
Bowie and Egon Schiele
The composition for David Bowie’s Lodger album cover reflected the influence of Egon Schiele’s Self-Portrait as Saint Sebastian (1914). A major figurative painter of the early 20th century, Egon Schiele’s (1890-1918) work is known for its anguished eroticism, explicit sexuality and raw … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Images
13 Comments
Mott the Hoople – All the Young Dudes
Glam rock’s definitive anthem recently turned 49, and this image of a young dude was originally earmarked as the album cover for Mott the Hoople’s All the Young Dudes released in July 1972. Dude ’72 is the name of the image, … Continue reading
More Album Cover Outtakes
Photographer Al Clayton was present during the last session for Bob Dylan’s Self Portrait (1970) album. These black and white pictures here finds Dylan at ease, conversing with musicians and listening to a playback at Columbia Records’ studio in Nashville. Dylan’s … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Bob Dylan, Images
7 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
David Bowie – Earthling (1997) In the mid 1990s, Bowie started to work with the then upcoming fashion wunderkind Alexander McQueen who had designed stage costumes for Bowie and his band for the 1996 tour. The sleeve for his experimental … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, David Bowie, Images
5 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
The elegant aerobics of Grace Jones is captured by French artist, illustrator, and graphic designer Jean-Paul Goude on Grace Jones’ 1985 compilation album Island Life, with the singer, artist and actress in an arabesque position, her skin glistening like metal … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Grace Jones
7 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
The castle depicted on the iconic album cover of U2’s The Unforgettable Fire is the stately ruin Moydrum Castle, and the dramatic image was taken by photographer Anton Corbijn north of Athone in Ireland. The album’s photograph, design, sepia tone … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Brian Eno, Images, U2
11 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
Tom Phillips’ 1972 oil on canvas After Raphael. A detail was used on the front cover of Brian Eno’s 1975 masterpiece, Another Green World. Tom Phillips was one of Eno’s mentors and friends from his Camberwell School Of Art days, and … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Brian Eno, Images, Phil Collins, Producers, Robert Fripp
11 Comments
Look Closely: Black Sabbath’s Heaven And Hell
Black Sabbath – Heaven and Hell (1980) In 1980 Black Sabbath, fronted by the great Ronnie James Dio at the time, were in a jam. They were releasing a new album called Heaven and Hell and the original album cover … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images
7 Comments
Look Closely: Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti
Ever wondered why Led Zeppelin called their 1975 double album Physical Graffiti? Look closely at the fire escapes on the album cover and the subliminal message of L Z can been seen – hence the album’s title. Allegedly. The album’s … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images, Led Zeppelin
14 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
Alice Cooper – DaDa (1983) Alice Cooper delivered his eighth solo album, and something of a comeback in 1983. It was called DaDa, and while far from his most commercially successful release, it really is quite good and holds up … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Alice Cooper, Images, Podcasts
9 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
Roxy Music – Siren (1975) South Stack, Anglesey, Wales. Supermodel Jerry Hall poses as a mermaid for the cover of their fifth studio album. Led Zeppelin – II (1969) The design was based on a photograph of a Division of … Continue reading
The Beatles – The Final Images
This is the last ever photo of The Beatles. The Beatles broke up 50 years ago, and their music remains embedded in the fabric of pop culture. By the time Paul McCartney sued his fellow Beatles, and their parent company … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Beatles, The, George Harrison, Images, John Lennon, On This Day, Paul McCartney
4 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
Andy Warhol’s diary entry for Tuesday, April 12, 1977. “Mick wants me to do the cover on his next album. I’m trying to think of ideas, how to do “Rolling Stones.” The original Warhol design was without words, Andy believed that … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images, Rolling Stones, The
11 Comments
David Bowie – The Man Who Sold the World
Hard rocking, heavy metal hybrid The Man Who Sold the World was released 50 years ago by Mercury Records in the US, Bowie’s third studio album, although considered the second of his ‘classic’ period. It’s release in the UK was … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, David Bowie, Mick Ronson, On This Day, Rank the Songs, T.Rex
3 Comments
McCartney III
Live And Let Dice. Amazing news: Looks like we might be getting Paul’s lockdown record. Still more inclined to consider Chaos & Creation in the Backyard (2005) the real McCartney III, but either way, very excited about this. McCartney III is … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Albums That Never Were, Paul McCartney
8 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
Peter Gabriel – Peter Gabriel II (Scratch) (1978) Another Hipgnosis classic album cover, this was the second of four self-titled albums by Peter Gabriel after leaving Genesis. Due to the iconic nature of the image, it is often referred to … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images, Peter Gabriel
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More Album Cover Outtakes
The Rolling Stones – Tattoo You (1981) Ever wondered who that chick was on the Stones’ Tattoo You album sleeve? Well wonder no more, it’s Mick Jagger. This is the evolution of photographer Hubert Kretzschmar’s Jagger portrait into the album … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images, Rolling Stones, The
2 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
David Bowie – Young Americans (1975) Bowie’s Young Americans sleeve was based on Toni Basil’s image on the cover of Sept ’74’s After Dark magazine. It inspired Bowie to commission the photographer Eric Stephen Jacobs to shoot and airbrush the … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, David Bowie, Images
3 Comments
More Album Cover Outtakes
The Rolling Stones – Aftermath (1966) A mirror image of the band ended up on the cool sepia-tinted Aftermath album cover in 1966 for the Stones. The front cover photo for the British release was taken by master of the … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images, Rolling Stones, The
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More Album Cover Outtakes
Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks (1975) Toronto photographer Paul Till snapped the profile shot of Bob and his Telecaster during a January 1974 concert in the city, and then used a combination of sophisticated dark room development techniques … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Bob Dylan, Images
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More Album Cover Outtakes
Pink Floyd – A Saucerful of Secrets (1968) A Saucerful of Secrets was Pink Floyd’s second album and featured both Syd Barrett and David Gilmour as part of the band. The album cover was Storm Thorgerson and partner Aubrey Powell’s … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Images, Pink Floyd
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More Album Cover Outtakes
The Police – Outlandos d’Amour (1978) Janette Beckman shot this photo for the cover of the Police’s first album Outlandos d’Amour in a tunnel on London’s South Bank, near Waterloo Station, in 1978. Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland unveiled … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Andy Summers, European Rock Pilgrimage, Images, Police, The, Sting
1 Comment
More Album Cover Outtakes
The Beatles album cover for originally the Please Please Me album in 1963 and later for the 1969 promo-copy for the never-eventuated Get Back album, were taken at the now demolished EMI Headquarters, 20 Manchester Square, Marylebone. It showed The … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, Beatles, The, European Rock Pilgrimage, Images, Sex Pistols
4 Comments
The Bowie Connection
Linking brilliant Canadian artist William Kurelek’s Pre-Maze and Bowie’s Kenny Everett Space Oddity clip and 2016’s colossal Blackstar video is essentially linking artistic genius. William Kurelek, Pre-Maze, c. 1953, watercolour and graphite on paper, 25.3 x 37.7 cm, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. … Continue reading
More Album Cover Outtakes
David Bowie – Hunky Dory (1971) Photographed by Brian Ward, Bowie’s classic 1971 Hunky Dory album cover was a colourised version of the black and white photograph below. In the early 1970s, illustrator Terry Pastor was asked by Bowie’s childhood friend and … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, David Bowie
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More Album Cover Outtakes
Jeff Beck – Beck-Ola (1969) The second and final album from the first incarnation of the Jeff Beck Group – the marvelous Beck-Ola. The album art is a reproduction of The Listening Room (1958) by the great Belgian surrealist René … Continue reading
Posted in Album Covers, European Rock Pilgrimage
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