Check out our article on DazedDigital.com

http://dazeddigital.com/Music/article/6019/1/Infamous_Album_Art

Dazed Digital: What is your favourite photographic album cover of all time? Why?

Chris: Prince - ‘Dirty Mind’,
because he’s wearing a flasher’s mac and ladies knickers but still somehow manages to be cool.

Ben: ‘Trout Mask Replica’ by Captain Beefheart.
The album is a surreal masterpiece, it’s anti-commercial and was recorded by starving musicians imprisoned in a stinking hovel and bullied into practicing 14 hours a day under Beefheart’s Manson-esque regime… As this record represents total artistic freedom there will always be establishment dullards who don’t “get” it or it’s cover image… The Los Angeles Times even voted it one of the worst album covers of all time. Fuck ‘em. For me the image of sleazy ‘ole Beefheart in his hideous green coat and stovepipe hat leering at you from behind a fish head, palm open in a mock priestly gesture is, well, perfect.

Randall: Herb Albert and Tiajuana Brass - ‘Whipped Cream & Other Delights’.
Mmmmmmmmm.

Pat: Pantera - ‘Vulgar Display of Power’.
I’m sure there are nicer photos on albums and indeed better ones technically speaking, but from an all encompassing standpoint it’s my favourite because it’s an album that changed and redefined an entire genre of music, not only with their style and musicianship but also with the production and marketing approach taken by the label. The album also went in straight at number one in the American billboard charts and went on to sell tens of millions of copies all over the world and at the time the albums cover gave rise to some hot debates on what was ‘acceptable’ or not, so its more matter of fact than of opinion. As far as the cover goes, “the man being punched on the album cover was paid $300 by label executives, or $10 a punch. It took 30 punches to get the right shot” - quite a unique approach I’m sure you’ll agree!

What’s yours?…