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/imagry 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!
- Chart updated: 06/26/2024 05:15
- (Created: 12/01/2017 17:10).
- Chart size: 85 albums.
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[First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
41,010
Rank in 1967:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,344
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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]
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:
8,889
Rank in 1970:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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:
20,532
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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:
54,651
Rank in 1969:
Rank in 1960s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
57,073
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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]
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:
6,414
Rank in 1970:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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]
“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:
5,835
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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:
13,497
Rank in 2004:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 11/15/2021]
Year of Release:
2009
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,609
Rank in 2009:
Rank in 2000s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 85. Page 1 of 9
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Best Ever Album Covers composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 16 | 19% | |
| 1970s | 31 | 36% | |
| 1980s | 9 | 11% | |
| 1990s | 8 | 9% | |
| 2000s | 7 | 8% | |
| 2010s | 11 | 13% | |
| 2020s | 3 | 4% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Bob Dylan | 2 | 2% | |
| The Rolling Stones | 2 | 2% | |
| The Beatles | 2 | 2% | |
| Miles Davis | 2 | 2% | |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 2% | |
| Black Sabbath | 2 | 2% | |
| Nick Cave | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| |
48 | 56% | |
 |
24 | 28% | |
 |
5 | 6% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
Best Ever Album Covers chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 1 from 64th to 63rd무너지기 [Crumbling] by 공중도둑 [Mid-Air Thief] |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 3 from 63rd to 66thLet It Bleed by The Rolling Stones |
| Down 2 from 65th to 67thCourt And Spark by Joni Mitchell |
| Down 2 from 66th to 68thFoxtrot by Genesis |
| New entries |
|---|
| Oh My Gawd!!!... Oh My Gawd!!!...The Flaming Lips by The Flaming Lips |
| Exuma by Exuma |
| Tilt by Scott Walker |
| Leavers |
|---|
| You Won't Get What You Want by Daughters |
Best Ever Album Covers similar charts
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 73 Music Albums of the 1970s | ars2458 | 1970s decade chart | 2020 | |
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| Top 80 Greatest Music Albums | willandthemix | Overall chart | 2018 | |
| Top 64 Music Albums of the 1970s |  Mdemauri | 1970s decade chart | 2014 | |
| Top 100 British Albums |  21stCenturySchiz | Custom chart | 2018 | |
| Top 76 Greatest Music Albums | MaxStorm98 | Overall chart | 2018 | |
| Top 40 Greatest Music Albums | 112806 | Overall chart | 2023 | |
| Top 70 Greatest Music Albums | Emiliano | Overall chart | 2022 |  |
| Top 50 Greatest Music Albums | Gregoriano | Overall chart | 2010 | |
Best Ever Album Covers similarity to your chart(s)
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Beatles | AAL2014 | Custom chart | 2024 | |
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