• LIFE

35 of the Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Album Covers of All Time

3 minute read

At the very outset of their colossal and very cool new book, Rock Covers (TASCHEN), authors Robbie Busch and Jonathan Kirby acknowledge that there might well be “better or differently focused collections” of rock covers out there in the world. Theirs, after all, is just one of myriad ways to celebrate the singular experience of encountering — for the first time, or the thousandth — a memorable album cover.

“Is it the book on rock covers?” they ask in the introduction, and then answer their own question with another: “Could there ever be such a volume?”

The obvious answer? Of course there couldn’t. But in this 550-page opus, the reader is treated to more than 750 covers that, taken together, comprise as inclusive a selection of great, influential, bizarre, unsettling and, quite often, downright eye-popping rock and roll album covers that any fan is ever likely to find in one place.

“We knew we would never satisfy everybody,” Busch (who owns around 50,000 albums and more than 10,000 45s) told LIFE.com, when discussing the process for choosing covers for the book. “So we didn’t try to satisfy everybody.”

Instead, he and Kirby and the book’s editor, Julius Wiedemann, tried to convey, in a single volume, the enormous energy and variety that bands, photographers, artists and designers have brought to the rock cover through the years.

Here, then, is the cartoon-like exuberance of KISS’ Destroyer. The cool romance of Robert Mapplethorpe’s cover photo for Patti Smith’s Horses. The power and anger of London Calling and Bad Brains. The monkey-centric weirdness of Doolittle. The hint (or promise) of debauchery on the cover of Pearl. Zeppelin’s unforgettable first album cover, and the clever, semi-surreal echo of that classic in David Juniper’s design for Led Zeppelin II. The black-and-white artistry of Revolver and, less than a year later, the hypnotic, color-saturated chutzpah of Sgt. Pepper’s.

Here’s Elvis Presley’s sex appeal. Gene Vincent’s anarchic rockabilly. The proto-punk attitude of 19-year-old Van Morrison and his mates in Them.

And let’s not forget New Hampshire’s immortal Wiggin sisters, who performed as the Shaggs, released one album — modestly titled Philosophy of the World — and to this day are celebrated and derided in equal measure by musicians and music fans, alike. Their album cover is included here not because the Shaggs are in the same league as the Stones, T. Rex, Ike & Tina or the Replacements, but because the cover and the Shaggs’ music is so decidedly, defiantly amateurish. (Robbie Busch characterizes that cover as “a perfect naive artifact.”)

In the end, here’s the thing about the Shaggs — and about all the other acts and all the other covers represented in this gallery: it’s only rock and roll, but we like it.


Buy here: Rock Covers (authors Robbie Busch and Jonathan Kirby; editor Julius Wiedemann), hardcover, 11.5 x 11.5 in., 552 pp.


Elvis Presley; Elvis Presley; 1956; RCA Victor; photo -- William V. "Red" Robertson
Elvis Presley; Elvis Presley; 1956; RCA Victor; photo -- William V. "Red" Robertson Courtesy of TASCHEN
Lou Reed; Transformer; 1972; RCA Victor; design -- Ernst Thormahlen; photo -- Mick Rock
Lou Reed; Transformer; 1972; RCA Victor; design -- Ernst Thormahlen; photo -- Mick RockCourtesy of TASCHEN
Nirvana; Nevermind; 1991; DGC; art director -- Robert Fisher; photo -- Kirk Weddle (cover), Kurdt Kobain (money photo)
Nirvana; Nevermind; 1991; DGC; art director -- Robert Fisher; photo -- Kirk Weddle (cover), Kurdt Kobain (money photo)Courtesy of TASCHEN
The Beatles; Revolver; 1966; Parlophone; art -- Klaus Voormann; design -- Klaus Voormann; photo -- Robert Whitaker
The Beatles; Revolver; 1966; Parlophone; art -- Klaus Voormann; design -- Klaus Voormann; photo -- Robert Whitaker Courtesy of TASCHEN
The Beatles; Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band; 1967; Parlophone; art director -- Robert Fraser; design -- Mc Productions and Apple staged by Peter Blake, Jann Haworth; photo -- Michael Cooper
The Beatles; Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band; 1967; Parlophone; art director -- Robert Fraser; design -- Mc Productions and Apple staged by Peter Blake, Jann Haworth; photo -- Michael Cooper Courtesy of TASCHEN
The Sex Pistols; Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols; 1977; Virgin; art director -- Malcolm Mclaren; design -- Jamie Reid
The Sex Pistols; Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols; 1977; Virgin; art director -- Malcolm Mclaren; design -- Jamie ReidCourtesy of TASCHEN
Janis Joplin & the Full Tilt Boogie Band; Pearl; 1971; Columbia; cover design -- Camouflage Productions: Barry Feinstein, Tom Wilkes; photo -- Barry Feinstein, Tom Wilkes
Janis Joplin & the Full Tilt Boogie Band; Pearl; 1971; Columbia; cover design -- Camouflage Productions: Barry Feinstein, Tom Wilkes; photo -- Barry Feinstein, Tom WilkesCourtesy of TASCHEN
T. Rex; Electric Warrior; 1971; Reprise; design -- June Child (concept), Hipgnosis; photo -- Spud Murphy
T. Rex; Electric Warrior; 1971; Reprise; design -- June Child (concept), Hipgnosis; photo -- Spud Murphy Courtesy of TASCHEN
New Order; Power, Corruption & Lies; 1983; Factory; art -- Henri Fantin-Latour; design -- Peter Saville
New Order; Power, Corruption & Lies; 1983; Factory; art -- Henri Fantin-Latour; design -- Peter SavilleCourtesy of TASCHEN
Them; Here Comes The Night; 1965; Parrot Records
Them; Here Comes The Night; 1965; Parrot RecordsCourtesy of TASCHEN
Primal Scream; Screamadelica; 1991; Creation; art -- Paul Cannell; design -- ES(P)
Primal Scream; Screamadelica; 1991; Creation; art -- Paul Cannell; design -- ES(P)Courtesy of TASCHEN
The Shaggs; Philosophy of the World; 1969; Third World Recordings
The Shaggs; Philosophy of the World; 1969; Third World RecordingsCourtesy of TASCHEN
Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps; Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps; 1957; Capitol
Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps; Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps; 1957; CapitolCourtesy of TASCHEN
Patti Smith; Horses; 1975; Arista; design -- Bob Heimall; photo -- Robert Mapplethorpe
Patti Smith; Horses; 1975; Arista; design -- Bob Heimall; photo -- Robert MapplethorpeCourtesy of TASCHEN
King Crimson; In the Court of the Crimson King; 1969; Island Records; art by Barry Godber
King Crimson; In the Court of the Crimson King; 1969; Island Records; art by Barry GodberCourtesy of TASCHEN
The Clash; London Calling; 1979; CBS; design -- Ray Lowry; photo -- Pennie Smith
The Clash; London Calling; 1979; CBS; design -- Ray Lowry; photo -- Pennie SmithCourtesy of TASCHEN
Led Zeppelin; Led Zeppelin; 1969; Atlantic; design -- George Hardie
Led Zeppelin; Led Zeppelin; 1969; Atlantic; design -- George HardieCourtesy of TASCHEN
Led Zeppelin; Led Zeppelin II; 1969; Atlantic; art -- David Juniper; design -- David Juniper
Led Zeppelin; Led Zeppelin II; 1969; Atlantic; art -- David Juniper; design -- David JuniperCourtesy of TASCHEN
The Surfaris; The Surfaris Play; 1963; Decca
The Surfaris; The Surfaris Play; 1963; DeccaCourtesy of TASCHEN
Bruce Springsteen; Nebraska; 1982; Columbia; art director -- Andrea Klein; photo -- David Michael Kennedy
Bruce Springsteen; Nebraska; 1982; Columbia; art director -- Andrea Klein; photo -- David Michael KennedyCourtesy of TASCHEN
Sonic Youth; Sister; 1987; SST Records
Sonic Youth; Sister; 1987; SST RecordsCourtesy of TASCHEN
The Rolling Stones; Exile on Main St.; 1972; Rolling Stones Records; design -- John Van Hamersveld; photo -- Robert Frank
The Rolling Stones; Exile on Main St.; 1972; Rolling Stones Records; design -- John Van Hamersveld; photo -- Robert FrankCourtesy of TASCHEN
The Rolling Stones; Some Girls; 1978; Rolling Stones Records; art -- Hubert Kretzschmar; design -- Peter Corriston
The Rolling Stones; Some Girls; 1978; Rolling Stones Records; art -- Hubert Kretzschmar; design -- Peter CorristonCourtesy of TASCHEN
The Replacements; Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out The Trash; 1981; Twin/Tone; design -- Bruce C. Allen; photo -- Greg Helgeson
The Replacements; Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out The Trash; 1981; Twin/Tone; design -- Bruce C. Allen; photo -- Greg HelgesonCourtesy of TASCHEN
Pixies; Doolittle; 1989; 4AD; design -- Vaughan Oliver/ V23; photo -- Simon Larbalestier
Pixies; Doolittle; 1989; 4AD; design -- Vaughan Oliver/ V23; photo -- Simon Larbalestier Courtesy of TASCHEN
David Bowie; Hunky Dory; 1971; RCA; art director -- George Underwood; art -- Terry Pastor; photo -- Brian Ward
David Bowie; Hunky Dory; 1971; RCA; art director -- George Underwood; art -- Terry Pastor; photo -- Brian WardCourtesy of TASCHEN
Blondie; Blondie; 1976; Private Stock; design -- David Perl; photo -- Shig Ikeida
Blondie; Blondie; 1976; Private Stock; design -- David Perl; photo -- Shig IkeidaCourtesy of TASCHEN
Kiss; Destroyer; 1976; Casablanca; art -- Ken Kelly
Kiss; Destroyer; 1976; Casablanca; art -- Ken KellyCourtesy of TASCHEN
Elvis Costello; My Aim is True; 1977; Stiff; art director -- Barney Bubbles, Jake Riviera; photo -- Keith Morris
Elvis Costello; My Aim is True; 1977; Stiff; art director -- Barney Bubbles, Jake Riviera; photo -- Keith MorrisCourtesy of TASCHEN
Cream; Disraeli Gears; 1967; Reaction; art -- Martin Sharp; photo -- Robert Whitaker, Jim Marshall (additional photography)
Cream; Disraeli Gears; 1967; Reaction; art -- Martin Sharp; photo -- Robert Whitaker, Jim Marshall (additional photography) Courtesy of TASCHEN
Bad Brains; Bad Brains; 1982; Roir; art -- Mir, Jay Jones, Donnell Gibson; photo -- Laura Levine
Bad Brains; Bad Brains; 1982; Roir; art -- Mir, Jay Jones, Donnell Gibson; photo -- Laura Levine Courtesy of TASCHEN
Ike & Tina Turner; Dynamite!; 1963; Sue Records
Ike & Tina Turner; Dynamite!; 1963; Sue Records Courtesy of TASCHEN
AC/DC; For Those About to Rock (We Salute You); 1981; Atlantic
AC/DC; For Those About to Rock (We Salute You); 1981; AtlanticCourtesy of TASCHEN
Big Brother & the Holding Company; Cheap Thrills; 1968; Columbia; art -- Robert Crumb
Big Brother & the Holding Company; Cheap Thrills; 1968; Columbia; art -- Robert CrumbCourtesy of TASCHEN
The Mothers of Invention; We’re Only in it for the Money; 1968; Verve; ad -- Cal Schenkel; photo -- Jerry Schatzberg
The Mothers of Invention; We’re Only in it for the Money; 1968; Verve; ad -- Cal Schenkel; photo -- Jerry Schatzberg Courtesy of TASCHEN

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com