Staged by British artist Peter Blake and his then-wife, Jann Haworth, the Sgt Pepper album cover depicted 58 different people, chosen by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Peter Blake, Jann Haworth and London art dealer Robert Fraser, presenting a fascinating cross-section of cultures, importance, and each Beatle’s individual interests like Marlon Brando, Karl Marx, and Marilyn Monroe.Ĭlick here for an interactive Sgt Pepper cover to discover who’s who on one of the most important album covers of all time. Pepper album cover remains a pop art masterpiece that has influenced everyone from Frank Zappa ( We’re Only In It For The Money) to The Simpsons ( The Yellow Album). But the most important and, at the time the most expensive album cover ever made, the Sgt.
The Beatles, of course, had plenty of iconic album covers in their career, including Abbey Road and The White Album. The Beatles: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) Two decades later, The Clash and photographer Pennie Smith felt there was still none more rock’n’roll, and nicked the idea for the epochal London Calling vinyl album cover. Caught playing the guitar and singing during a performance at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, on July 31, 1955, you can still feel the primal rock’n’roll energy from a young man ready to take over the world. Two simple words: “Elvis” and “Presley” (the latter barely hiding that controversial pelvis from view): that’s all it needed to say. While you’re reading, listen to our Greatest Album Covers playlist here.
Our list of the 25 most iconic album covers of all time may not be exhaustive, but it certainly reveals why album covers deserve to be held in as high a regard as more traditional modes of artwork. While art might be a matter of taste, lasting legacy is something that’s more easily measured. The best album covers see these graphic designs bypass linear thinking and emerge with an image that is a bona fide work of art in its own right. Andy Warhol, meanwhile, dreamed up The Rolling Stones’ iconic blue jeans crotch and zipper on Sticky Fingers. Peter Saville made Factory Records a sensation with the radio waves of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures (and many more). The firm Hipgnosis defined the 70s with their many optical illusions. Other iconic album covers are envisioned by creative masterminds. Sometimes album covers are helped on their way to iconic status because of the musicians they feature: photogenic stars, such as Elvis Presley, David Bowie, or Prince, whose godlike images are burned into our retinas. Sometimes they do all three: what is The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club album cover, if not the ultimate manifestation of 60s psychedelia for the “peace and love” crowd? Its going to be a lot to take in, so everybody, just take it slow and don't get too excited - nobody wants to pop a blood vessel.Truly iconic album covers don’t just define an album, they define an era, a generation, and, in some cases, an entire musical genre. April 29 is going to be a big day for Drake enthusiasts, what with the album release and the ticket sales. Hopefully, we will get samples of Drake's Canada-loving album on his upcoming Summer Sixteen Tour (tickets go on sale April 29 as well, and I'm just casually mentioning right now that my birthday is coming up very soon). Artistic credit for the album goes to Caitlin Cronenberg, the photographer and Nicky Orenstein, the art director. Drizzy graced us with the album art on his Instagram Sunday the 24, and it is pretty epic looking and very Canada-themed. But the meaning behind the Views From the 6 album art is even more Canada-heavy. The title of the album, which is rumored to be coming out on April 29, is a direct reference to the area codes of Toronto, 416 and 647. Drake is taking his Canadian-ness to the next level with his album Views From The 6, and I'm not mad about it.