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It's no secret that we love a good album cover. The large, square format of vinyl records provides a perfect canvas for artists to create beautiful, quirky, captivating and sometimes downright bizarre cover art. These covers often become iconic in their own right, serving as a visual gateway to the music within. Let's delve into some of the weirdest vinyl record covers and explore why cover art is so important, along with some fascinating facts about these visual masterpieces.

Why cover art is so important...
Album cover art is much more than just a protective sleeve for the record inside.
It serves several critical purposes:

First Impressions: The cover is often the first thing a potential listener sees, making it a crucial marketing tool. A striking cover can intrigue and draw in listeners who might not have heard of the artist before.

Visual Storytelling: Cover art can convey the theme, mood, and style of the music. It sets the stage for what the listener can expect and often reflects the artist's vision and creativity.

Cultural Impact: Iconic album covers can become a part of pop culture, influencing fashion, art, and design. They can also capture and reflect the social and political climate of the time.

Collectability: For vinyl enthusiasts, the cover art adds to the record's value and appeal. Limited edition covers, unique designs, and even mistakes can make a record more desirable.

Some really well known covers...

This cover, designed by Peter Blake and Jann Haworth, features a collage of famous figures and has been parodied countless times. The original cutouts from the cover shoot are now highly valuable collector's items.

Designed by Hipgnosis and George Hardie, the iconic prism cover is one of the most recognizable images in music history. Despite its simplicity, it has profound visual and symbolic impact, perfectly capturing the album's themes.

This cover, designed by Andy Warhol, originally featured a working zipper. When unzipped, it revealed underwear beneath. The innovative design was both controversial and groundbreaking.

The cover featuring a naked baby swimming towards a dollar bill on a fishhook sparked much debate. The baby, Spencer Elden, later recreated the shot as an adult, cementing its place in pop culture.

Check out these well thought out designs....

Have a great day!