Album Art-The Stories Behind Music's Iconic Album Covers
Album Art-The Stories Behind Music's Iconic Album Covers-takes a deep dive into the history of iconic album cover art. Images and additional information on Rolling Stones albums may be found at https://iorr.org/albums/. Find album art images at discogs.com by searching the album title. Look for a new episode each Friday.
Episodes
118 episodes
Abbey Road--The Beatles
This may be the most famous crosswalk in the world—and the Beatles made it iconic in just ten minutes. No band name. No album title. Just four lads walking away from work-- John the prophet, Ringo the usher, Paul the barefoot mystery, and Georg...
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Episode 116
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46:59
The Joshua Tree--U2
A barren desert and a band at the height of their powers in both Americas. The Joshua Tree wasn’t just an album; it was a statement. The cover is simple, stark, and unforgettable. Grab a copy and listen along with us. Questi...
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Season 3
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Episode 115
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41:49
Lulu--Lou Reed & Metallica
An Emo Phillips look alike on the cover of the chaotic fusion of Lou Reed and Metallica --love it or hate it, this album—and its cover—demand a reaction. Grab a copy, listen along, and let’s dive in. Grab a copy and listen along with...
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Season 3
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Episode 114
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30:46
Live Through This--Hole
Is that Courtney Love or Carrie White on the cover? It is neither, it is Leilani Bishop who nailed the look that nailed the music for this entire Hole album. Grab a copy and listen along with us. Questions, comments, recommendations? We'd love ...
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Season 3
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Episode 113
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32:02
When the Kite String Pops--Acid Bath (John Wayne Gacy Art)
The John Wayne of serial killers provided the painting that Acid Bath chose for this cover. Gacy's creepy clown persona Pogo reminds us all why we are afraid of clowns. Grab a copy and listen along with us. Questions, comments, recommendations?...
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Season 3
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Episode 112
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33:41
Nantucket Sleighride--Mountain
Ever been on a Nantucket sleighride? You'll want to fasten your seatbelt because Gail Collins is going to give you a peak into her mind and a ride you won't forget. Grab a copy and listen along with us. Questions, comments, recommendations? We'...
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Season 3
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Episode 111
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37:43
British Steel--Judas Priest
Judas Priest, what is that guy thinking? he's thinking this is going to make a really cool album cover. And so it did. Grab a copy and listen along with us. Questions, comments, recommendations? We'd love to hear from you at Albumartthecoversto...
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Season 3
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Episode 110
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26:29
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Small Change--Tom Waits
Small Change was killed with his own .38. He was found in an alley, his pockets turned out, his cigarette is still burning. Tom Waits knows gritty and grimy, the world knows cities teeming with life devoid of humanity. This cover captures...
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Season 3
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Episode 109
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23:50
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Go 2--XTC
We have a theory about this cover. Hipgnosis was up late toking or drinking and riffing on an idea for an album cover that explained the purpose of an album cover in excruciating detail that is hilarious, when stoned. Then one day, under the in...
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Season 3
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Episode 108
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28:48
Come Fly With Me--Frank Sinatra
This was a cover the Chairman of the Board did not like a little bit. it looks like a TWA ad. It comes wrapped in a story that involved Howard Hughes and a Rudyard Kipling controversy. How cool is that? Grab a copy and listen along with us. Que...
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Season 3
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Episode 107
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32:28
Lateralus--Tool
This is one you need to see. Dig out your CD or search out the images on discogs.com, grab a bottle of Kahlua, lace it with LSD and we'll see you when you get back. Grab a copy and listen along with us. Questions, comments, recommendations? We'...
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Season 3
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Episode 106
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45:17
Who's Next--The Who
Thank god, they decided to take the piss instead of putting band members in lingerie drag on this cover. If the monolith was his headstone the cover could not scream Stanley Kubrick more clearly. This is a story you gotta hear. Grab a copy and ...
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Season 3
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Episode 105
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33:39
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road--Elton John
Elton was already a friend of Dorothy and he can be seen embracing his authentic self in the vibrant theatrical imagery of this album cover. This is the album that catapulted John into the stratosphere he still orbits in today as the world's 36...
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Season 3
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Episode 104
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40:25
Paul's Boutique--The Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys borrowed a lot more than props to make this album that only got better with age because it had to. They created and preserved the quintessential NYC corner store one day without permission, of course. Grab a copy and listen alo...
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Season 3
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Episode 103
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32:18
Songs of a Lost World--The Cure
You've waited 16 years for this and neither the cover art nor the music will disappoint. This is the cure for what ails you if you need to contemplate the other side of joy. Grab a copy and listen along with us. Questions, comments, recommendat...
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Season 3
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Episode 102
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35:44
Ogden's NutGone Flake--Small Faces
The origins of this cover go back to 1899. The original round sleeve was the idea of the Stones' original manager, The Small Faces appear as Kings on the cover. Want the story of these East End oiks? We've got it right here. Grab a copy and lis...
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Season 3
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Episode 101
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32:42
Smell the Glove--Noir Harmony
You saw Spinal Tap, right? Did you know they were doing a tribute to an actual album called Smell the Glove? Hear the story of the famous all-black album that inspired the Beatles, Metallica and others. Grab a copy and listen along with us. Que...
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Season 3
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Episode 100
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26:01
Electric Ladyland--The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Hendrix planned the album cover meticulously. At least four versions were used, none of them paid any attention to Jimi. One cover had 19 naked women and one of them may be your mom. Grab a copy and listen along with us. Questions, comments, re...
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Season 2
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Episode 99
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40:01
Use Your Illusion--Guns N' Roses
Why did Axl pay such big bucks for images he could have had for free? What is that Raphaelite scribe on the cover writing? We'd still like to know the answer to that one, but all the rest of the story we have for you here. Grab a copy and liste...
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Season 2
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Episode 98
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32:39
Korn--Korn
This is probably the kreepiest kover we have unkovered. Good news, the little girl is okay, we have found her alive and well. You want this story. Grab a kopy and listen along with us. Questions, komments, rekommendations? We'd love to hear fro...
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Season 2
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Episode 97
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34:34
Strange Days--The Doors
Alf and his dwarf twin, a juggler, a strongman, Zazel Wild, a photographer, and an assistant pile into a limo. They head to Sniffen Court in New York City. There they stage a circus scene straight out of a Fellini movie with a cab driver they h...
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Season 2
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Episode 96
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30:30
Bat Out of Hell--Meat Loaf
You gotta hear the story behind the album cover for this Tod Rundgren produced parody of Bruce Springsteen designed by the comic book artist Richard Corben. It is a keeper. Grab a copy and listen along with us. Questions, comments, recommendati...
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Season 2
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Episode 95
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30:49
Black Sabbath--Black Sabbath
Louisa Livingstone? Your photos are ready. Discover the story behind the album that gave birth to heavy metal—and the haunting album cover that helped bring it to life. Grab a copy and listen along with us. Questions, comments, recommenda...
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Season 2
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Episode 94
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45:07
