Reranking Rolling Stone’s worst five album covers ever

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As a seasoned gamer and music enthusiast, I cannot stress enough the significance of album covers. They’re more than just a marketing tool; they can be works of art in their own right, leaving lasting impressions on listeners. The best album covers complement the music, adding an extra layer to the overall experience.

Some album covers have been disturbingly unpleasant to look at. However, it’s unfortunate when poor taste comes into play, as album covers hold the potential to be artistic masterpieces. They not only serve to promote a band but can also become enduring symbols that resonate for generations.

It’s hard not to associate the title “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” by the Beatles with its iconic album cover in our minds. The record was truly impressive, the band was at the top of their game, and the artwork beautifully complemented the music. Almost as if it were an essential part of the package.

More recently, Rolling Stone published an article featuring the 100 most impressive album covers (accessible only with a subscription). Notably, Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division took the leading position in this esteemed collection. The cover art itself is just one aspect of this iconic release; when we think about Joy Division, the image instantly comes to mind.

Reranking Rolling Stone’s worst five album covers ever

Following their esteemed “best-of” compilation, Rolling Stone compiled a list of the worst albums. While I agree that Rolling Stone is an excellent publication, there were some concerns with their top five selections. The runner-up was Roger Daltrey’s “Ride a Rock Horse” album. Although the idea of Daltrey as a centaur on the cover may seem amusing, it isn’t the most disappointing aspect of this selection.

The first spot went to Limp Bizkit’s album “Chocolate Stárfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water” in our list. Although the cover art is unsettling with its gollum-esque figures, it’s not the most disturbing one we’ve seen.

As a gamer, I would have preferred selecting “Love Grenade” by Ted Nugent as my top pick instead. In this song’s album art, you’ll find a woman portrayed nude and playfully tied up, mimicking the appearance of a turkey – except she holds a grenade in her mouth instead. Believe me, it’s quite an intriguing image!

I’ve been following music journalism for decades now, and I’ve seen some truly terrible album covers in my time. But the one gracing Ted Nugent’s latest release might just take the cake. It’s not merely a contender for the second-worst cover ever; it’s quite possibly the worst.

As a gamer, I would have preferred if number two on the list was “Hard Labor” by Three Dog Night instead. In this quirky game, you encounter a weird scenario where a chicken is giving birth to an actual record in a delivery room. Yes, it’s as bizarre as it sounds! However, in reality, “Hard Labor” actually came in eighth place.

The third song on the list, “Disco Train” by Donny Osmond (originally ranked as number 11), features Osmond attempting to maneuver or perform on a white grand piano situated near railway tracks as a train draws near. Given the level of risk involved in this scenario, it seems reasonable to argue that this song should have been given a higher position in Rolling Stone’s ranking due to its inherent foolishness.

I’ve been a graphic designer for over two decades now, and I’ve seen my fair share of controversial album covers. But the one that still leaves me scratching my head is the fourth cover of Orleans’ “Waking and Dreaming.” I remember when this cover was first released, there was quite an uproar about it.

Completing the list of the top five contenders could have been “Lovedrive” by the Scorpions, featuring an intriguing image of a man and a woman in the backseat of a limousine. The man seems to have stuck gum on the woman’s exposed shoulder next to him. She appears almost topless and stares straight ahead with a look of fear or shock etched on her face. This image is quite unsettling.

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2024-07-22 18:00