Best Ever Album Covers by AAL2014

Here we find the records that offer something great before you even press play on them. To make this chart, I considered a few things including the photography and color pallet that appeals to me the most, how well each cover helped convey the story of the music held inside, and simply which covers were too iconic to ignore.

Like my main charts, this one will always be a fun work in progress. Feel free to shoutout some recommendations in the comments!

There are 0 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and this chart has not been rated yet. Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

View the complete list of 53,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.

Share this chart
Share | |
Collector's summaryLog in or register to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!
Sort by
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
51,238
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,988
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
This cover is magical. Just like the music found throughout Bitches Brew, its cover is mystical, far-reaching, and seriously spiritually foreboding. The colors here are just astounding and are key to making me want to play this record every time I take a look at the cover.

There is an entire world to discover in the 100+ minutes contained underneath this cover. The images only help contextualize that.
[First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
10,122
Rank in 1970:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
It took me years to realize they had just pissed on the monolith. Regardless, the image and color pallet of Who’s Next is brilliant and so very Who. Going purely by iconic imagery, Who’s Next is right up there. [First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
24,301
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Seeing this cover simply puts a smile on my face. Not only is Abbey Road one of my all time favorite albums full stop, the photo is absolutely top notch. In terms of iconography, this cover is hard to beat. The blue sky and green trees couldn’t be more perfect. Match that with the Beatles themselves in pitch perfect stride and you have one of time’s greatest images. [First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
1969
Appears in:
Rank Score:
65,792
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
71,836
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
Few albums have covers that genuinely give me chills when I study them. The Black Sabbath debut is absolutely one of them.

The lady in black (regardless of how true the story of the photo shoot is) is about as perfect a subject as they could have had model. A haunting presence with a perfect set of foreboding fall colors behind her without being campy one iota.

This isn’t my favorite Sabbath record but I’ll be damned if it’s not a perfect album cover.
[First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,263
Rank in 1970:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
While this isn’t my favorite Bowie record, I’m simply fascinated with this album cover and have been for some time.

“Heroes” ranks high on this chart for a number of reasons. Let’s start with the fact that its bleakness and stark greyscale color pallet fits the tones and aesthetics of this album’s music to a tee. Another reason being the incredible photo itself. Bowie’s pose and demeanor is disconnected and longing, it’s his hands that hold the real connected magic. I love that each of his pointer fingers are covered and it’s always had me wondering if that was a detail they worked on by design. Judging by the other photos taken during the shoot for this album, probably not, and that just makes me appreciate that detail even more.
[First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,779
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
One of the absolute greatest photos of an artist for any album. There’s DOOM, plain as day, yet some of his details are shadowed. Much like the MC’s mic prowess, there is both directness and abstractness. The mask was never used to better artistic gain than right here. [First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
2004
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,220
Rank in 2004:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • iTunes
  • Spotify
  • #Sponsored
[First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
2009
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,714
Rank in 2009:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 80. Page 1 of 8

Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!

Best Ever Album Covers composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 0 0%
1960s 16 20%
1970s 30 38%
1980s 8 10%
1990s 7 9%
2000s 6 8%
2010s 10 13%
2020s 3 4%
Country Albums %


United States 47 59%
United Kingdom 23 29%
Mixed Nationality 4 5%
Canada 2 3%
Australia 2 3%
Iceland 1 1%
Japan 1 1%
Live? Albums %
No 78 98%
Yes 2 3%

Best Ever Album Covers chart changes

Biggest fallers
Faller Down 1 from 48th to 49th
Drunk
by Thundercat
Faller Down 1 from 49th to 50th
...And Justice For All
by Metallica
Faller Down 1 from 50th to 51st
In A Silent Way
by Miles Davis

Best Ever Album Covers similarity to your chart(s)


Not a member? Registering is quick, easy and FREE!


Why register?


Register now - it only takes a moment!

The Beatles by AAL2014 (2023)
Rush - The Studio Albums by AAL2014 (2020)
MetallicA by AAL2014 (2023)
Best Ever Debut Albums by AAL2014 (2023)
Tool by AAL2014 (2021)
Dream Theater by AAL2014 (2024)
Bob Dylan- So Far... by AAL2014 (2023)
Iron Maiden- The Studio Albums by AAL2014 (2021)
Led Zeppelin- The Studio Albums by AAL2014 (2016)
Modern Drummer's 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2014) by AAL2014 (2017)
John Coltrane.... So Far.... by AAL2014 (2024)
Miles Davis... So Far... by AAL2014 (2024)
My Favorite Mike Portnoy Albums by AAL2014 (2021)
Black Sabbath: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2021)
Mastodon by AAL2014 (2021)
Bruce Springsteen- So Far... by AAL2014 (2023)
Album Closers by AAL2014 (2024)
Album Openers by AAL2014 (2023)
Chris Cornell / Soundgarden by AAL2014 (2021)
Top Greatest Albums #101-200 by AAL2014 (2023)
Foo Fighters by AAL2014 (2023)
My Favorite Drummers by AAL2014 (2023)
The Concert List by AAL2014 (2023)
Queen- So Far... by AAL2014 (2020)
Jazz/Jazz Fusion/Jazz Rock by AAL2014 (2024)
Judas Priest: So Far... by AAL2014 (2020)
Manchester Orchestra by AAL2014 (2023)
Thin Lizzy- So Far... by AAL2014 (2019)
Deep Purple: So Far... by AAL2014 (2023)
U2: So Far... by AAL2014 (2020)
Death by AAL2014 (2023)
Motorhead: So Far... by AAL2014 (2021)
Alice Cooper: So Far... by AAL2014 (2020)
Fiona Apple by AAL2014 (2023)
David Bowie: So Far... by AAL2014 (2023)
Rush - The Live Albums by AAL2014 (2021)
Sepultura: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2020)
Slayer: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2020)
Run The Jewels by AAL2014 (2021)
The Greatest Greatest Hits by AAL2014 (2023)
Rap/Hip Hop by AAL2014 (2024)
Billy Cobham: So Far... by AAL2014 (2023)
Elton John: So Far... by AAL2014 (2020)
Stevie Wonder: So Far... by AAL2014 (2022)
Pink Floyd: So Far... by AAL2014 (2023)
Kansas: So Far... by AAL2014 (2020)
The Rolling Stones: So Far... by AAL2014 (2023)
Yes: So Far... by AAL2014 (2024)
Death Grips: So Far... by AAL2014 (2023)
Joni Mitchell: So Far... by AAL2014 (2023)
Deftones: So Far... by AAL2014 (2020)
The Roots: So Far... by AAL2014 (2021)
Talking Heads: So Far... by AAL2014 (2020)
Dinosaur Jr: So Far... by AAL2014 (2020)
AC/DC: So Far... by AAL2014 (2020)
KISS: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2021)
Megadeth: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2020)
Peter Gabriel: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2020)
King Crimson: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Red Hot Chili Peppers: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2020)
System of a Down by AAL2014 (2021)
The Who: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Genesis: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
A Tribe Called Quest by AAL2014 (2021)
MF DOOM: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2021)
Björk: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Brian Eno: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Return To Forever by AAL2014 (2021)
Tony Williams/The Tony Williams Lifetime: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2021)
Eminem: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2021)
Anthrax: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2021)
Neil Young: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Prince: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Van Halen: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2021)
Frank Zappa: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
The Velvet Underground by AAL2014 (2024)
Nick Cave: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Kendrick Lamar by AAL2014 (2022)
Mr. Bungle by AAL2014 (2021)
Ne Obliviscaris by AAL2014 (2021)
Gentle Giant: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2021)
Radiohead: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Best Ever Live Albums by AAL2014 (2024)
Weather Report: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2021)
Renaissance: So Far… by AAL2014 (2021)
Talk Talk by AAL2014 (2021)
Marvin Gaye: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2022)
Ranking Rolling Stone Magazine’s Top 500- An Exploration by AAL2014 (2024)
Kanye West: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
Worst Albums I’ve Listened To by AAL2014 (2023)
Fela Kuti- So Far.. by AAL2014 (2022)
The Honorable Mentions by AAL2014 (2022)
Objectively Ranking BEA’s Top 100 by AAL2014 (2023)
Best Ever Bookends by AAL2014 (2023)
Favorite Album By Letter by AAL2014 (2022)
Ranking The 10’s by AAL2014 (2024)
Parliament Funkadelic: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Pleasant Surprises by AAL2014 (2023)
Joy Division by AAL2014 (2022)
Earl Sweatshirt: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Top Greatest Albums: #201-300 by AAL2014 (2023)
Prog Rock by AAL2014 (2024)
The Mountain Goats: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Best Ever Works of Lyrics by AAL2014 (2023)
Metal (Heavy, Thrash, Death, Black, Nu, Grind, etc…) by AAL2014 (2023)
Danny Brown: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Thundercat: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Best Ever Final Albums by AAL2014 (2023)
Outkast: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Big Star by AAL2014 (2023)
Charles Mingus: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Max Roach: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Blue Öyster Cult: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Buddy Rich: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Tyler, The Creator: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Lingua Ignota by AAL2014 (2023)
Phoebe Bridgers by AAL2014 (2023)
Wu-Tang Clan & Solo Members: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Tom Petty (& The Heartbreakers): So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
RUN-DMC: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Lil Wayne: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Pavement: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Michael Jackson: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
KRS-ONE w/Boogie Down Productions: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Noname by AAL2014 (2023)
Jay-Z: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
The Police: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
The Notorious BIG by AAL2014 (2023)
Aretha Franklin: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Aerosmith: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Allan Holdsworth: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Black Thought: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
James Brown: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Jeff Beck: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
John Cale: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Kate Bush: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Leprous: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Napalm Death: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Nirvana by AAL2014 (2023)
Paul McCartney (Solo): So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Pixies: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Roxy Music: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Sun Ra: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
The Beach Boys: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
The Kinks: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Beastie Boys: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
1970’s: #’s 101-200 by AAL2014 (2023)
Jiro Inagaki: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
McKinley Dixon: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Favorite Albums From Japan 🇯🇵 by AAL2014 (2023)
Janet Jackson: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Elvin Jones (Solo/Co-Leader): So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
The Clash: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
Dorothy Ashby: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Favorite Albums From Australia 🇦🇺 by AAL2014 (2024)
Elvis Presley: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Bob Marley & The Wailers: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
D’Angelo by AAL2014 (2023)
Billy Woods: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2023)
Knower by AAL2014 (2024)
Art Blakey: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
John Frusciante: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
Best Ever Album Titles by AAL2014 (2024)
Matana Roberts: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
Fire!/Fire! Orchestra by AAL2014 (2024)
Ranking Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums (#’s 101-200) by AAL2014 (2024)
Swans/Gira: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
Favorite Albums From Sweden 🇸🇪 by AAL2014 (2024)
LSD and the Search For God by AAL2014 (2024)
Mammal Hands: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
Can: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
The Doors: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
Best Ever Sophomore Albums by AAL2014 (2024)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
R.E.M.: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)
ZZ Top: So Far.. by AAL2014 (2024)

Best Ever Album Covers ratings

Not enough data Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.

Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating

Best Ever Album Covers favourites

Please log in or register if you want to be able to add a favourite

Best Ever Album Covers comments

Be the first to add a comment for this Chart - add your comment!

Please log in or register if you want to be able to add a comment

Your feedback for Best Ever Album Covers

Anonymous
Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!
Log in or register to assign a rating or leave a comment for this chart.
Best Artists of the 1980s
1. The Smiths
2. Prince
3. Pixies
4. The Cure
5. Talking Heads
6. U2
7. Metallica
8. Kate Bush
9. R.E.M.
10. The Stone Roses
11. Sonic Youth
12. Michael Jackson
13. Bruce Springsteen
14. Tom Waits
15. Iron Maiden
16. Prince And The Revolution
17. Joy Division
18. New Order
19. Talk Talk
20. Rush
Back to Top