https://i.discogs.com/Lk-NBcreG8WRx05_l7w3snaO1i_JodsAXRO5smWRjHQ/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:400/w:400/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTIwMDk2/ODAtMTMyMzk2ODIx/MS5qcGVn.jpeg
― dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:35 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/Xj0BBJ7TY-DNfxyb6H7SZcKNFTWIy1yKJXg_0SmiVzA/rs:fit/g:sm/q:40/h:300/w:300/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTYxMzM2/OTUtMTQxMTkxNDA4/OC00MDI1LmpwZWc.jpeg
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:40 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/H0QVWwtxkWsBvw2t8Wra3XkIeOau8v0A6bEGW9IkCQA/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE2ODA1/NDgtMTIzNjUwMTEw/MS5qcGVn.jpeg
― dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:43 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/Aha-EcPaVw1r5ungWezEAHGoTg1_NTh9dOrJfS4fxH4/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:597/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTEzMDI3/OTE3LTE1NDY3MzQx/MDItOTk4NC5qcGVn.jpeg
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:45 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/yJsE-ncjlv73kuq5Oxz9PSrwbMf9MZeO1x85mKv5RgY/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:598/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTgzMjQy/MS0xNDM2MTc1ODk1/LTUxMDkuanBlZw.jpeg
― jaymc, Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:57 (two years ago)
Peter Noone:
https://i.postimg.cc/cJw20kcX/tremblers.jpg
(I remember this when it came out...may try to track it down.)
― clemenza, Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:23 (two years ago)
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Heart-Heart-album-cover-web-optimised-820.jpg
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:32 (two years ago)
yessss
― dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:35 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/syCNBpy4otpZVfJd1FjLOB5tv1I7n0jUbtM2CkEEPjM/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:500/w:500/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTcxMjc0/MjMtMTQ1Nzg1MjQy/MS03NDU3LmpwZWc.jpeg
― Bulky Pee Pants (Tom D.), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:38 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/_GFCE5R0iiefN4Ci-otc3SpntZ2DK4Zi02Ekp1cwU-s/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:594/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTEzNzk3/MDYtMTUwMDQ2MDMx/MS04ODI4LmpwZWc.jpeg
― Bulky Pee Pants (Tom D.), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:41 (two years ago)
^^Also deserved a Miami Vice tie-in.
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:44 (two years ago)
those are both great! lol loving these
― dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:45 (two years ago)
https://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/105/cover_131163182019_r.jpg
A cover matching the content.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:47 (two years ago)
nice
the King Crimson ones don't really work imo, they coulda been 70s covers too
― dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:48 (two years ago)
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61bRYzxIGPL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg
― fourth world problems (Matt #2), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:49 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/oAr_MvaXyu2fQnRxaiKWp4QMQs0TOJy2pQAdSAyWJtE/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:550/w:550/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE0MDI1/NTktMTM0NzQ3NjM1/NS04MTcxLmpwZWc.jpeg
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:51 (two years ago)
they kicked Throwing Muses out of the studio while the Muses were making their debut, for THIS
https://i.discogs.com/p0CD8AYUZ1Wo4FeL8Xngxv2e8rHVfuGdLzE06IvauUE/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE2NDE1/MDgtMTUwNzU1MTIx/OC02NDc2LmpwZWc.jpeg
― dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:51 (two years ago)
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91KckQ9b10L._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg
― fourth world problems (Matt #2), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:52 (two years ago)
Great pick
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:52 (two years ago)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/91/IggyPopParty.jpg
― Kim Kimberly, Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:52 (two years ago)
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71vqweeQBUL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg
― fourth world problems (Matt #2), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:57 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/AVlD_9XOnZ2GbRcvKlKW6Sg8A_pFT0sWmYWpm3n7Lwc/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:578/w:593/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTEwMTU0/MjQtMTIwMDgzODQy/Mi5qcGVn.jpeg
― Bulky Pee Pants (Tom D.), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:05 (two years ago)
https://waxvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/05021207.jpg
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:05 (two years ago)
https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273dd621caf7254f8f32579c98b
― mookieproof, Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:15 (two years ago)
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Wap7lDPhL._UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg
― Bulky Pee Pants (Tom D.), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:20 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/GYfgWS9fESGRD9BhV6CxaJPhUbNKYKyNpD0EV-Pofgw/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:599/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTUwMDQ3/NjEtMTU5ODgzNTIw/My03NTAwLmpwZWc.jpeg
― Florin Cuchares, Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:21 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/4XCNeY_vbRk5d5xWIRWE9IK00RVPf7cMV6ambIuGBfw/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:597/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE3MDUz/OTgtMTM3MDYyODA1/My04ODk0LmpwZWc.jpeg
― Bulky Pee Pants (Tom D.), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:24 (two years ago)
https://http2.mlstatic.com/D_NQ_NP_865041-MLM40246738774_122019-O.webp
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:28 (two years ago)
man, that Village People sleeve
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:28 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/48OiKsJLwexQnTNpPmnLp1J5ug3vv2eqH-tYcAHo_-E/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:593/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE1OTY1/MTUtMTI0MTAxNTA5/MS5qcGVn.jpeg
― Bulky Pee Pants (Tom D.), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:28 (two years ago)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Album_cover_I_Am_What_I_Am_by_Jerry_Lee_Lewis.jpg
― fourth world problems (Matt #2), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:29 (two years ago)
Imagine the 80s Elvis album covers that never were
― fourth world problems (Matt #2), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:30 (two years ago)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/61/HaruomiHosonoSFX.jpg
― fourth world problems (Matt #2), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:31 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/ETZ-Z-xo_NPD_-rc7fYFU8W8-k9GNlTHsiHREt195sg/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTI3NjM5/NzEtMTI5OTk2Njk3/NC5qcGVn.jpeg
― Bulky Pee Pants (Tom D.), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:35 (two years ago)
... Schmitt, that is (though even his mother wouldn't recognize him)
https://www.classicpopmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ksh8pfwyxav0kfowy1un.jpg
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:36 (two years ago)
https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2735753a5a5feb434432ad55265
― mookieproof, Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:38 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/1_0Ik37Mcj9A7FrekuG1jauRI6AXvsQZhzbXGOmnO0g/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:400/w:404/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTUxNTMz/NzItMTM4NTkzNDQx/Ni03NTA5LmpwZWc.jpeg
― PaulTMA, Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:41 (two years ago)
I've seen some outtakes from a rejected Born In The USA cover photo shoot featuring the whole band. They're...bad.
― Tahuti Watches L&O:SVU Reruns Without His Ape (unperson), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:42 (two years ago)
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91ALadZaKZL._UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg
― PaulTMA, Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:44 (two years ago)
LOL
So many of these make the artists look like kids who raided the back of their mothers' closets and just pulled stuff out at random.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:45 (two years ago)
wonder what Roy Wood's mother thought of that sleeve
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:45 (two years ago)
https://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/443/cover_634102272009.jpg
― lord of the rongs (anagram), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:45 (two years ago)
I KNEW there was a CSN cover like this, tyvm
― dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:49 (two years ago)
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/7125fAMngFL._UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg
― Bulky Pee Pants (Tom D.), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:49 (two years ago)
XP Covers
https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273baaf9ca39a546781597b0d03
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:51 (two years ago)
^^Went Platinum in '88!
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:52 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/qz7VPzCo_RWmWDPQFXmbuZTe6guePYqsJpWZdhIpHFk/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTI1NjY5/OTMtMTY0OTc5OTM3/OC00MTE3LmpwZWc.jpeg
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:56 (two years ago)
This is fun, but surely the greater challenge would be to find artists who didn't adapt their personal style or packaging at all in the 80s? Only one who leaps to mind is the fiddler from Kansas.
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:58 (two years ago)
Roy Wood looks like he's auditioning for Sigue Sigue Sputnik.
― you gotta roll with the pączki to get to what's real (snoball), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:59 (two years ago)
https://i.discogs.com/oQE95knkBhvKW-PDji4_Y0rf70Scq76r4s4-pafFEeo/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:576/w:576/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE2NjQx/NDQtMTI0NTYwMzAy/OS5naWY.jpeg
Leo Sayer – Living In A Fantasy
― Kim Kimberly, Wednesday, 30 July 2025 20:16 (ten months ago)
lol, it's like they attempted cover shoots with seven other concepts and then a collage artist appeared with a big idea to help Sayer update his image for a new generation.
― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 2 August 2025 13:22 (ten months ago)
Bonus "Lonely guy just thinking baout things" at bottom left.
― Kim Kimberly, Saturday, 2 August 2025 16:25 (ten months ago)
...well, I guess Hillage's 80s began already in 1977!
is there a thread about examples of peak 80s album art that predate the '80s? i'm thinking of this Spirit record from '72
https://i.discogs.com/b3h1r9zRfPcxNgULUgfR3UMxyvjA0Wr0VhGYWNbI00c/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTIxMzY4/MTAtMTMzODY2NDI5/MC03ODAzLmpwZWc.jpeg
― budo jeru, Tuesday, 12 August 2025 21:45 (ten months ago)
^ that one is SO ahead of its time. It looks like a Front Line Assembly B-Sides collection
― encino morricone (majorairbro), Tuesday, 12 August 2025 22:03 (ten months ago)
wow my brain is refusing to accept that
― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 12 August 2025 23:19 (ten months ago)
Pornography is what always came to mind (oo er). Shame the music's not up to much - but the fragmentary/sampladelic stuff Randy did circa Future Games is proto-80s in a different way.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Tuesday, 12 August 2025 23:29 (ten months ago)
has this one been done yet?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transverse_City#/media/File:Warren_Zevon_-_Transverse_City.jpg
― some dude, Tuesday, 12 August 2025 23:55 (ten months ago)
going 90s in a big way
― Kim Kimberly, Wednesday, 13 August 2025 00:02 (ten months ago)
This might have linkrotted upthread:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81HsrIgqs8L._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg
Moody Blues: The Other Side of Life
― Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 14 August 2025 04:11 (ten months ago)
Based on solely seeing this album in used bins for years I thought the Fabulous Poodles were some sort of New Wave also-rans (weirdo Power Pop or something), but I heard one of their songs tonight, and they were a bloody Pop-Prog band!
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/614Fm+QxryL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg
Fabulous Poodles: Mirror Stars, 1978
― Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 14 August 2025 04:20 (ten months ago)
...and speaking of Spirit, this is what they were up to in the '80s:
https://i0.wp.com/earofnewt.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/r-3170890-1319139425-jpeg-1.jpg?ssl=1
Spirit of '84
― Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 14 August 2025 04:36 (ten months ago)
The gasmask reminded me of Grand Funk's What's Funk? from 1983, which was their second and final attempt to make a comeback in the 1980s:https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music3/v4/8c/d2/a4/8cd2a4f2-0334-e229-ca37-d045cf5c43ed/603497884698.jpg/600x600bf-60.jpg
It's a puzzling mixture of metaphors, but I think the designer was trying to imply that the lady in the unflattering swimsuit has used electricity to give the Washington Monument an erection and is about to do the same to us. But I don't know. Irritatingly the back cover is just the front cover, flipped.
― Ashley Pomeroy, Thursday, 14 August 2025 18:51 (ten months ago)
That Grand Funk sleeve is a bad Hipgnosis imitation
― Crispy Ambulance Chaser (Boring, Maryland), Thursday, 14 August 2025 19:27 (ten months ago)
The cover of Spirit's Feedback is interesting in that those video-art aesthetics were not unheard of in mainstream TV and movies of the early 70s, but almost no musicians took it up. Even the Residents, who were actually primarily video artists at the time, mostly used cartoons and illustrations on their album covers instead.Transverse City is explicitly a thematic album about science fiction future themes, so it's hard to accuse of riding on any particular 1989 bandwagon. It helps that Zevon doesn't really look much different than he did in 1976, even his glasses look the same.
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 18 August 2025 02:31 (ten months ago)
https://i.discogs.com/Hz4Rfp6NuEjOvqBTP8uKNAvG3hpk5nzG30-WvGASlug/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:401/w:400/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE3MDY2/NjEtMTMzMzIwNDc0/OC5qcGVn.jpeg
https://i.discogs.com/U8WrcHPEyFfw7EJXCu4SX1TtN94V-ProrRLaUMDFcJk/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:480/w:477/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE3MDY2/NjEtMTUxMTQ0NjU1/MS0xODA4LmpwZWc.jpeg
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Hold On, 1987
IIRC, didn't the original cover painting end up in the possession of Marc Maron's Dad? I remember him mentioning it on an old WTF.
― Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 18 August 2025 02:42 (ten months ago)
Nitty, gritty dirt was actually that colour in 1987
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 18 August 2025 02:55 (ten months ago)
is there a thread about examples of peak 80s album art that predate the '80s?
Frampton's Camel (1973) looks like something from 1985.
― Kim Kimberly, Monday, 18 August 2025 18:14 (ten months ago)
Makes me think of Commodore Amiga graphics.
― Kim Kimberly, Monday, 18 August 2025 18:15 (ten months ago)
I remain unconvinced that Bill Evans' Undercurrent wasn't designed by a four year old Vaughn Oliver in 1962
https://i.discogs.com/4JIP20ABJe9H_s6pFhud9y0CqklthQZIaKduL3uJFP4/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:598/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTIxODM3/NTgwLTE2NTMwMDg3/NTYtOTI1Ny5qcGVn.jpeg
― Primrose Cash Po (bendy), Tuesday, 19 August 2025 14:01 (ten months ago)
https://i.discogs.com/qeRJL29YeK1omC_3xUXZPAhvWYDTNtOGs0a1qpLrK94/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:594/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTk2ODQy/NC0xMjUzMTc4Mzky/LmpwZWc.jpeg
Average White Band – Cupid's In Fashion
― Kim Kimberly, Sunday, 26 October 2025 20:46 (seven months ago)
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61cv6DRhieL._AC_SL1077_.jpg
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71soVS15OCL._AC_SL1072_.jpg
― She's the Tariff (cryptosicko), Sunday, 26 October 2025 21:18 (seven months ago)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f8/GreatestHitsETC.jpg
― the way out of (Eazy), Monday, 10 November 2025 23:29 (seven months ago)
Ornette Coleman - In All Languages (1987)
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31ujjX0aB+L._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg
― throbbing gristle vs the barron knights (Matt #2), Sunday, 16 November 2025 17:31 (seven months ago)
Will future generations realize what a big deal Miami ice was at one point?
― visiual system cohernent image. . fttf . equivament. for so (President Keyes), Sunday, 16 November 2025 19:20 (seven months ago)
Dean Martin, Martha Quinn & MTV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t0NJJKCtAk
Proto-Palmer Girl Action
― Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 10 April 2026 00:15 (two months ago)
Thought of this thread last week when I came across Barry McGuire's Cosmic Cowboy in a thrift shop:
https://i.postimg.cc/fLv2NV0X/barry.jpg
Released in '78, so technically two years too soon, but close enough. (Did not buy...)
― clemenza, Friday, 10 April 2026 00:24 (two months ago)
B.J. Thomas, "Midnight Minute"
https://www.rhino.com/sites/g/files/g2000012691/files/styles/article_image/public/2020-08/603497866588.jpg
― Tom D, focussed with getting on with the job (Tom D.), Saturday, 20 June 2026 13:35 (yesterday)