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The Young Rascals - Groovin' (Atlantic, 1967) - Design by Loring Eutemey, illustration by Lynn Rubin, concept by Dino Danelli

Apologies for the sticker placement.

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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Fleetwood Mac - Mr. Wonderful (CBS-Blue Horizon UK, 1968) - Design and photograph by Terence Ibbott

This cover was the result of two ideas the group had for it, both of which CBS UK turned down. The first idea was to have a figure representing a phallus, while the second would've had Mick Fleetwood under a cow. Mick settled on posing naked here as a last-minute idea, which CBS UK approved.

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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Scorpions - Taken By Force (RCA Schallplatten, 1977) - Art direction by Stefan Böhle, photograph by Michael von Gimbut

That's the Normandy Cemetery in France. For obvious reasons you can see why people were unnerved by it. RCA seemed to agree, putting out a new cover in other territories.

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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Roxette - Look Sharp! (Parlophone Sweden/EMI America US, 1988) - Design by Kjell Andersson, photography by Carl Bengtsson

Coincidentally, Guns 'N Roses used a similar newspaper-esque design for G N' R Lies the same year.

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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Happy Juneteenth!

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No way to slow down

Jethro Tull - Aqualung (Chrysalis UK/Reprise US, 1971) - Design and illustrations by Burton Silverman

Not exactly a fan of Jethro Tull (I do like "Mother Goose" and "Bungle in the Jungle", at least), but I admire Ian Anderson's good taste in art.

Anderson and Silverman hold differing accounts on how these paintings were made. Anderson said he posed as the homeless man here, while Silverman maintains he modeled the man after himself. Who's telling the truth? We may never know.

Here's the gatefold just for the heck of it.

Sadly, the original artwork for the front and back covers are missing, presumably stolen during a robbery (the gatefold painting is in then-manager Terry Ellis' possession).

Images courtesy of Discogs.

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Jethro Tull - Stand Up (Island UK/Reprise US, 1969) - Design by James Grashow, concept by Terry Ellis and John Williams (no, not that John Williams)

This was all carved in wood. Grashow followed the band for a week to get their looks right.

The original LP issue featured a gatefold featured a pop-up cut-out of the group that evoked the album's title when opened. Reissues do not include this pop-up (though it was restored in the 2017 limited edition LP).

Here's the back:

Images courtesy of Discogs.

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The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed (Deram, 1967) - Design and painting by David Anstey

A common theme among prog rock acts is their taste for elaborate album art, and The Moody Blues definitely exemplified that.

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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Johnny Rivers - Realization (Liberty-Imperial, 1968) - Art direction by Woody Woodward, design and collage by Wayne Kimbell, photograph by George Rodriguez

Ah, that slick 60s psychedelic feel. I wonder how many photographs they used to make that collage.

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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Jethro Tull - M.U. - The Best of Jethro Tull (Chrysalis, Compilation, 1975) - Art direction by Oz Studios Los Angeles, design by Eric Michelson

Ian Anderson - or as I like to call "The Flamingo Man".

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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Various Artists - Grease: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (RSO, 1978) - Art direction by Glenn Ross, design by George Carsillo and Tim Bryant, photography by Lee Gross Associates

Yeah, not much to say here. Other than the fact that I had no idea Frankie Valli sung the title song.

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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(Paul McCartney &) Wings - "My Love" (EMI-Apple, Single, 1973) - Photograph by Linda McCartney

As heard on Red Rose Speedway.

This was one of several photos used for the Red Rose Speedway booklet included in the album. Interestingly, a close-up sepia version was used for some releases of "Helen Wheels", even though that was recorded during the Band on the Run sessions.

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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Jethro Tull - "Skating Away (On the Thin Ice of a New Day)" / "Sea Lion" (Chrysalis, Single, 1975) - Designer unknown

As heard on War Child.

This is an alternate photo from the War Child cover shoot. In all its color glory.

Fun fact: this track was actually recorded during the early sessions for A Passion Play, aka the "Chateau D'isaster Tapes". The track was abandoned when the record was completely re-worked, but during the War Child sessions someone at Chrysalis discovered a polished version of the song (along with a few other tracks from the Chateau sessions) and convinced Ian to include them on the record. The rest, as we say, is history.

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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Come together

Right now

Over me

The Beatles - Abbey Road (EMI-Apple, 1969) - Design and photography by Iain Macmillan

This zebra crossing outside the Abbey Road Studios is now a Grade II listed structure.

Took me a while to notice Paul was barefoot.

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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The Band - Music from Big Pink (EMI-Capitol, 1968) - Design by Milton Glaser, painting by Bob Dylan

Yes, that Bob Dylan. This painting was basically him returning the favor for The Band helping back him during his 1966 World Tour.

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando - Tuneweaving (Bell, 1973) - Art direction by Beverly Weinstein, art by Miriam Greenfield, design by Kaleidoscope

OK this is pretty cool. I wonder if this design still exists somewhere.

In the UK, this record is known as Tie a Yellow Ribbon and uses a different cover.

Image courtesy of Discogs.

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Jim Croce - You Don't Mess Around with Jim (ABC, 1972) - photograph by Paul Wilson

Yeah, I wouldn't want to mess with Jim, either. Keep your time in a bottle.

Image courtesy of Discogs.