The latest issue of American Photo magazine includes a terrific article titled "100 Best Photo Album Covers." And while it's hard to argue with the magazine's choices, several other worthy candidates spring to mind. Bearing in mind that only photo album covers are open to consideration, here are ten great ones that should be added to the list.
T.Rex: The Slider (1972)
This iconic photo – credited to Ringo Starr on the album sleeve – was actually taken by T.Rex producer Tony Visconti. Visconti took the shot during a misty day on John Lennon's estate, while the T.Rex documentary Born to Boogie was being filmed. Years later, a young guitarist named Slash would adopt the stovepipe-hat look for his own image.
Lou Reed: Transformer (1972)
One of two covers from this list to feature the work of Mick Rock, this cover shot sported an image so powerful it was later appropriated by Tim Curry for his role in the film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Reed himself cannibalized the photo ten years later for his 1982 masterpiece, The Blue Mask. Bidding for a signed print is currently underway at the prestigious Christies auction house.
Iggy Pop: The Idiot (1977)
This cover shot – taken by David Bowie while he and Iggy were living in Berlin – was inspired by the work of Austrian painter Egon Schiele. Bowie's fascination with Schiele was so deep he commissioned several film scripts for a proposed biography. Bowie employed the same artistic concept for the cover photo for his Heroes album.
Jobriath: Jobriath (1973)
This cover photo of glam rock's most interesting cult figure was manipulated on the reverse sleeve to appear to be that of a deteriorating sculpture. Shot by esteemed Japanese-American photographer Shig Ikeda, the cover was splayed across a Times Square billboard for weeks in 1973. Ironically, the hype surrounding Jobriath undercut recognition of his talent. For an in-depth look at the cover art, click here.
Talking Heads: More Songs about Buildings and Food (1978)
Drawing upon his art school background, David Byrne conceived several striking album covers for the Talking Heads. None was more inventive than this one. Echoing the fractured, nervous energy of the album's songs, the cover sported a photograph of a life-size mosaic of the band that was made from 529 close-up Polaroid snapshots.
Alice Cooper: Killer (1971)
Versatile photographer Pete Turner was the man behind this shot of Kachina, the pet python that belonged to Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith. Known mainly for his design-work on jazz album covers, Turner published a book in 2006 titled, fittingly, The Color of Jazz. Several of his album-cover shots are housed in museums around the world.
Deep Purple: Machine Head (1972)
Deep Purple's previous two albums – In Rock and Fireball – featured images of the band cast in stone and fire, respectively. For Machine Head, the band chose a shinier substance. Capturing a blurry reflection of the group in a five-foot square of sheet metal, photographer Shep Sherbell created a perfect symbol for the music contained therein.
Harry Nilsson: Son of Schmilsson (1972)
Harry Nilsson's legendary wit – on full display in such songs as "Joy" and "You're Breaking My Heart" – extended to several of his album covers. This vampire image, shot by photographer Michael Putland on a staircase inside George Harrison's house in Oxfordshire, was one of his best. Fittingly, the reverse sleeve included a reminder to "Donate to Your Local Blood Bank."
10cc: Sheet Music (1974)
During the '70s, no company was responsible for more classic album covers than the British art design group, Hipgnosis. Many of their designs featured elaborately manipulated photographs that pre-figured "photoshop" techniques. This 10cc cover – which shows group member Lol Creme tugging the album's yellow border into a pastel-doctored snapshot – exemplified the company's approach.
Queen: Queen II (1974)
This 1974 cover shot of Queen was inspired by Mick Rock's fascination with a Marlene Dietrich photograph taken on the set of the film, Shanghai Express. Queen frontman Freddie Mercury insisted the cover sport a black and white theme, and that it be a gatefold design. The result was one of rock's most enduring and iconic images.
Did we leave out one of your favorites? Let us know by using the comment section below.