Album covers (and inserts) with little illustrations based on all the song titles

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http://eil.com/images/main/The+Drifters+Golden+Hits+-+Sealed+452270.jpg

The Drifters - Golden Hits

http://covers.discorder.com/fullsize/front/4988006859364.jpg

John Lennon - Shaved Fish

http://www.halfhearteddude.com/writegetkick/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/goodbye_yellow_brick_road_inside.jpg

Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Doctor Casino, important war pigeon (Doctor Casino), Monday, 18 January 2016 22:45 (ten years ago)

there can't be many of these!

skip, Monday, 18 January 2016 22:47 (ten years ago)

ballpark

https://dazzrecords.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/86-the-rolling-stones-some-girls-back.jpg

No stage school training, natural talent and attitude by the shed (Noodle Vague), Monday, 18 January 2016 22:49 (ten years ago)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Cheapthrills.jpeg

Cheap Thrills

"Damn the Taquitos" (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 18 January 2016 22:51 (ten years ago)

http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/B/Bowie/bowie_imagesF.jpg

No stage school training, natural talent and attitude by the shed (Noodle Vague), Monday, 18 January 2016 22:52 (ten years ago)

XTC - Nonsuch

http://chalkhills.org/images/cover/Nonsuch_LP_Back.jpg

soref, Monday, 18 January 2016 22:56 (ten years ago)

joanna newsom's Ys. can't find image of the liners online

flappy bird, Monday, 18 January 2016 22:57 (ten years ago)

the cd booklet for Electro-Shock Blues by Eels has cartoon strips for some of the song titles, but not all of them iirc

soref, Monday, 18 January 2016 23:08 (ten years ago)

oh man we're off to a good start

if it really peters out i would be down to open it up to Highlights-esque single images where the different songs/characters can all be found if you look carefully.

Doctor Casino, important war pigeon (Doctor Casino), Monday, 18 January 2016 23:09 (ten years ago)

http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/360/MI0003360655.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

Nilsson went the extra mile.

"Damn the Taquitos" (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 18 January 2016 23:11 (ten years ago)

buttholes hairway to steven had little illustrations on the label in lieu of any written song titles at all iirc

seb mooczag (NickB), Monday, 18 January 2016 23:17 (ten years ago)

Madness -The Madness

http://www.covershut.com/back_covers/Madness-The-Madness-1988-Back-Cover-80549.jpg

soref, Monday, 18 January 2016 23:23 (ten years ago)

wow at that Bert Jansch one, that's amazing.

the thirteenth floorior (Doctor Casino), Tuesday, 19 January 2016 07:07 (ten years ago)

Faust, "So Far"

http://assets.rootsvinylguide.com/pictures/faust-so-far-lp-complete-original-german-w-all-inserts-krautrock-can-kraftwerk_8378337

The Return of the Thin White Pope (Tom D.), Tuesday, 19 January 2016 08:49 (ten years ago)

I used to own this and perhaps still do in a box at my parents house, but yeah, didn't seem so offensive when I was a kid, but if it were released now I think there would be a (justified) minor scandal.

http://eil.com/images/main/Various-Comedy+The+World+Of+Rock+n+Fun+526452.jpg

Camaraderie at Arms Length, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 11:32 (ten years ago)

Phish - Rift

https://mrminer.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/pnt-4.jpg

how's life, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 11:36 (ten years ago)

http://i39.servimg.com/u/f39/14/19/50/77/bbands10.jpg

Mark G, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 11:57 (ten years ago)

https://resources.wimpmusic.com/images/0f370131/4bee/4e9c/b295/dbaa67abf512/1280x1280.jpg

Prince's Around the World in a Day cover has picture elements for each song title, I think.

1. "Around the World in a Day"
2. "Paisley Park"
3. "Condition of the Heart"
4. "Raspberry Beret"
5. "Tamborine"
6. "America"
7. "Pop Life"
8. "The Ladder"
9. "Temptation"

Tuomas, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 12:07 (ten years ago)

...if you include the back cover, that is.

http://www.audiopreservationfund.org/graphics/acquisitions/COL_00005/Back%20Covers/Big/COL_00005_00041.jpg

Tuomas, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 12:09 (ten years ago)

mick softley's any mother doesn't grumble

thought there was an incredible string band cover that did this, but can't remember what it was

no lime tangier, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 12:37 (ten years ago)

Jethro Tull / Too Old to Rock n Roll:
http://jethrotull.com/wp-content/uploads/1976/04/too_old_cartoon2.jpg

mahb, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 13:52 (ten years ago)

Camper Van Beethoven: Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart
http://991.com/NewGallery/Camper-Van-Beethoven-Our-Beloved-Revol-529965.jpg

hardcore dilettante, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 14:09 (ten years ago)

Thriller sleeve (illustrations by Michael Jackson):

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3726/11772888764_2241154255_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7420/11772721893_1f1f1ef7a2_b.jpg

Professor Bworlph (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 19 January 2016 14:17 (ten years ago)

I guess that's 'two' as opposed to 'all' but still.

Professor Bworlph (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 19 January 2016 14:17 (ten years ago)

http://eil.com/images/main/The+Bloodied+Sword+The+Bloodied+Sword+207903.jpg

The inner sleeve and booklet have more, but struggling to find pics. Coincidentally one of the worst records I was ever bought.

suffeeciant attreebution (aldo), Tuesday, 19 January 2016 14:22 (ten years ago)

Damn, I should have remembered the Dookie illustrations...used to read along to the lyrics in the cassette foldout

skip, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 14:24 (ten years ago)

willie nelson - red headed stranger
http://superhypeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Willie-Nelson-Red-Headed-Stranger-Back.jpg

mizzell, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 14:25 (ten years ago)

willie nelson - tougher than leather
http://www.music-bazaar.com/album-images/vol15/735/735732/2584823-big/Replay-Music-2-picture.jpg

mizzell, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 14:26 (ten years ago)

http://images.45worlds.com/f/cd/the-beach-boys-la-light-album-cd.jpg

The Return of the Thin White Pope (Tom D.), Tuesday, 19 January 2016 14:29 (ten years ago)

https://thriftyvinyl.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/sam_1365.jpg

There Goes Rhymin' Simon

the thirteenth floorior (Doctor Casino), Wednesday, 20 January 2016 19:00 (ten years ago)

Oops, looks like the one I posted didn't work. Try again. Beach Boys, "Light Album":

http://img.cdandlp.com/2013/06/imgL/115995302.jpg http://img.cdandlp.com/2013/06/imgL/115995302-2.jpg

The Return of the Thin White Pope (Tom D.), Wednesday, 20 January 2016 20:48 (ten years ago)

Tori Amos: Strange Little Girls

http://www.danner.dk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Strange-Little-Girls-504x252.jpg

A different character for each song (album art differs slightly)

"Damn the Taquitos" (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 20 January 2016 21:05 (ten years ago)

Friends of mine recently released this:

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12360287_1084764554889290_9019213311727891094_n.jpg?oh=e31e5ca3e40aea51e168dbb8bc890cbb&oe=573B49B1

Retro novelty punk (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 20 January 2016 21:32 (ten years ago)

Which reminds me a little of the Drifters album in the OP.

Retro novelty punk (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 20 January 2016 21:33 (ten years ago)

how about song titles based on all the little illustrations included on the inserts:

art bears' winter songs

no lime tangier, Wednesday, 20 January 2016 21:41 (ten years ago)

Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

http://cdn.discogs.com/UOOznM5FRFx4HyoYHUSNLuwKXv0=/fit-in/586x586/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(96)/discogs-images/R-367739-1258476251.jpeg.jpg

etc.

J. Sam, Wednesday, 20 January 2016 21:44 (ten years ago)

Dan, your friend's album cover is great!

the thirteenth floorior (Doctor Casino), Thursday, 21 January 2016 05:07 (ten years ago)

six months pass...

The 2004 Smile gatefold is one of these; the only image I can find is hueg so just linking it here.

we're gonna live in spatula city (Doctor Casino), Tuesday, 2 August 2016 18:56 (nine years ago)

Supposedly this album, "Paranoia Picknick" by Ernst Schultz, fits the bill, though as all the lyrics are in German I couldn't say for sure:

http://www.covershut.com/covers/Ernst-Schultz-Paranoia-Picknick-Front-Cover-33491.jpg

Aw naw, no' Annoni oan an' aw noo (Tom D.), Tuesday, 2 August 2016 20:38 (nine years ago)

The inner sleeve/lyric sheet of Todd Rundgren's 'A Wizard/A True Star'.

The only site where I can find pics won't allow direct linking to images but you can check them out here:
http://www.45worlds.com/vinyl/album/br2133

Bloody Snail, Tuesday, 2 August 2016 23:52 (nine years ago)

It's a huge photo and a bit NSFW, so I'll only link to it, but the booklet for Ghost's Infestissumam seems to fit the bill.

Ex Slacker, Wednesday, 3 August 2016 01:52 (nine years ago)

http://www.asburyrecords.com/public/cover/24459.jpg

Related: The song titles appear as headlines on the cover of Heartattack and Vine, with the lyrics making up the stories.

Kenneth Without Anger (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 3 August 2016 03:09 (nine years ago)

Grimes did this for Art Angels:

http://diymag.com/2015/10/27/grimes-has-shared-artwork-for-the-tracks-on-art-angels

you think Lou Bega gave up after Mambo Number One??? (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 3 August 2016 14:29 (nine years ago)

Fila Brazillia's Power Clown has a basic, wordless but good comic strip for each track in the inlay drawn by one of the duo - doesn't seem to be online tho.

nashwan, Wednesday, 3 August 2016 15:05 (nine years ago)

Alison Statton & Spike: "Bimini Twist"
https://i.imgur.com/AMecr7b.jpg

ernestp, Thursday, 28 May 2020 03:26 (five years ago)

Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells a Story (back cover)

https://img.discogs.com/y7r-tmjqYexQkxPA6hFvVldTgOY=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-603424-1437940137-6249.jpeg.jpg

(wonder why "Amazing Grace" didn't get an illustration)

Lee626, Thursday, 28 May 2020 08:51 (five years ago)

great selections, all

Doctor Casino, Thursday, 28 May 2020 12:46 (five years ago)

"Amazing Grace" is not listed on the label on most editions

Kim Kimberly, Thursday, 28 May 2020 13:12 (five years ago)

ten months pass...

The booklet for Taylor Swift’s Fearless: Platinum Edition features some amusingly cheesy (and, as they say, “yawnsomely literal”) photo tableaus illustrating many of the songs.

beer drops on my keytar (morrisp), Sunday, 28 March 2021 07:14 (four years ago)

On the flip side, all of the song titles on Mike Watt's "hyphenated-man" are based on illustrations, specifically the creatures in Heironymous Bosch paintings, like "Arrow-Pierced-Egg-Man" and "Head-And-Feet-Only-Man."

Hideous Lump, Sunday, 28 March 2021 16:01 (four years ago)

Saint Etienne - Tales From Turnpike House
Booklet has little illustrations for each song

http://www.saintetiennedisco.com/full/tfth/b2cd/b2cd.html

Kim, Sunday, 28 March 2021 16:08 (four years ago)

Not sure any of it was included in the original album packaging, but Peter Gabriel’s Us album had a set of art pieces inspired by each song that were used on posters etc

https://petergabriel.bandcamp.com/merch/art-from-us-catalogue

Kim, Sunday, 28 March 2021 16:16 (four years ago)

The gatefold of Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren has little photos illustrating each song, taken by Ron Mael of Sparks!

Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 28 March 2021 16:43 (four years ago)

Rod Stewart's Foot Loose And Fancy Free came with a big booklet with illustrations for each track. Viewable here

"what are you DOING to fleetwood mac??" (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 28 March 2021 18:06 (four years ago)

eleven months pass...

Lou Reed's Berlin also came with a booklet with photos for each song, viewable here

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 16 March 2022 20:22 (three years ago)

two weeks pass...

Elsa Lanchester - Songs for a Shuttered Parlor

https://i.imgur.com/A9GVOs3.jpg

Hans Holbein (Chinchilla Volapük), Saturday, 2 April 2022 05:47 (three years ago)

https://i.discogs.com/LlP7GI3XeFKFXo0SM-dXLXfCb51DToadve6gztjeCTA/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:473/w:473/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTUyODgz/OS0xMTI3OTU0NTA1/LmpwZWc.jpeg

Future Bible Heroes – Memories Of Love booklet has a puzzle for every song.

Hideous Lump, Saturday, 2 April 2022 08:04 (three years ago)

Great additions. The Elsa Lanchester one is quietly very strange.

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 2 April 2022 11:41 (three years ago)

Elsa Lanchester bravely paving the way for Tori & the Strange Little Girls booklet.

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 2 April 2022 13:12 (three years ago)

Mrs Badger-Butts???

emil.y, Saturday, 2 April 2022 13:35 (three years ago)

The Madness by The Madness #onethread

The album's sleeve was designed by Dave Gibbons and Rian Hughes.[10] On the back-sleeve each song listed was accompanied with a small drawing in similar style to the album's cover – resembling a face.[11]

https://i.discogs.com/YAYcvLz3TUYn9puRh65m2kU8M2PXXt-OGJJW9KJsoOg/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTIyMzA1/MTkzLTE2NDU4Mjkx/ODEtOTIyNS5qcGVn.jpeg

visiting, Saturday, 2 April 2022 19:25 (three years ago)

huh, nobody said "rocket to russia" yet unless it was one of the numerous broken pic links

unknown or illegal user (doo rag), Saturday, 2 April 2022 19:45 (three years ago)

I did the sleevenotes for the The Madness reissue!

politics is about vibes and the vibes are off (stevie), Saturday, 2 April 2022 19:51 (three years ago)

Cool!

Never Mind the ILX, Here's the Blecch Pistols (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 3 April 2022 22:56 (three years ago)

one year passes...

https://media.pitchfork.com/photos/63ff7c7bbf5a7e7985f23002/1:1/w_600/Young-Nudy-Gumbo.jpg

young nudy - gumbo

devvvine, Tuesday, 8 August 2023 13:12 (two years ago)

eight months pass...

excellent

not the one who's tryin' to dub your anime (Doctor Casino), Monday, 15 April 2024 18:37 (one year ago)

niiice. that one's a legend in other threads for the title; had no idea the insides delivered as well. the "It's All Right" one has a hilarious desperation about it.

not the one who's tryin' to dub your anime (Doctor Casino), Wednesday, 24 April 2024 14:04 (one year ago)

ELP's Tarkus has this in the gatefold, seven drawings which correspond to the different sections of the title track, although the lyrics don't really match the drawings. though they do match the titles of the section. it's kinda weird, I suspect there's no overarching concept just the band doing two things at once

frogbs, Wednesday, 24 April 2024 14:10 (one year ago)

three months pass...

Level 42's Staring at the Sun does this. So does The Style Council's Confessions of a Pop Group

The Beautiful South's 0898 Beautiful South has a full page illustration that corresponds to each song

The cover of Blur's fanclub single "Colours" has a symbol for all 25 songs supposedly worked on in the Think Tank sessions

you can see me from westbury white horse, Sunday, 11 August 2024 13:55 (one year ago)

common's electric circus does this.

interstellar anthropologist+music philosopher, (Austin), Sunday, 11 August 2024 15:21 (one year ago)

six months pass...

Rosalía's El Lal Quarter does this too, with full page images for each song in a booklet insert if that counts

octobeard, Sunday, 23 February 2025 19:11 (eleven months ago)

El Mal!!

octobeard, Sunday, 23 February 2025 19:11 (eleven months ago)

Omg I need to stop posting here from my phone

octobeard, Sunday, 23 February 2025 19:12 (eleven months ago)

Lotta yawnsomely literal there.

Also, Aretha and the Nazz forced to share an image.

Kim Kimberly, Wednesday, 5 March 2025 17:32 (eleven months ago)

yeah its almost like those puzzles where you need to guess the song titles

frogbs, Wednesday, 5 March 2025 18:16 (eleven months ago)

three months pass...

https://i.discogs.com/PYCoe3rWphMW1Cgbc9QHj9NpCO8yLWbmisHymqW31ys/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:534/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTI3MDQ5/MDMtMTM3OTk2MDIy/OC00NTU2LmpwZWc.jpeg

Brian Wilson: Gettin' In Over My Head

Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 23 June 2025 02:19 (seven months ago)

The Super Hits Volume Five

The picture for "Ride Captain Ride" seems to think you take a saddle on board a boat.

Halfway there but for you, Monday, 23 June 2025 02:31 (seven months ago)

from the choirgirl hotel by Tori Amos includes a hand-drawn map with various doodles in different locations each corresponding to a song.

Halfway there but for you, Monday, 23 June 2025 02:34 (seven months ago)

lol re: "Ride Captain Ride"

Doctor Casino, Monday, 23 June 2025 16:37 (seven months ago)

https://i.discogs.com/bN3Ir6z9oB0cE7avkRJmL5sT_khkn7FLoFV8zybmEjM/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:574/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTEyNjc1/NTQtMTM2OTU5NjQ2/My04NDQ4LmpwZWc.jpeg

Johnny Cash: Everybody Loves A Nut (Art By Jack Davis!)

Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 4 July 2025 05:44 (seven months ago)

more Madness: the cover of Rise and Fall has each band member dressed as a character from one of the songs, I think.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/38/Madnesstheriseandfall.jpg

fetter, Friday, 4 July 2025 06:09 (seven months ago)

including Mile Barson in brown-face, I've just remembered.

fetter, Friday, 4 July 2025 06:17 (seven months ago)

That Jack Davis Johnny Cash one is a beaut.

Doctor Casino, Friday, 4 July 2025 11:59 (seven months ago)

Surprised this hasn't been on here before ut it looks like it hasn't. Particularly surprised I've never thought of it before for this thread because it's an important record to me: Positive Touch by the Undertones. Can't really see this in photos but there are little diagrams embossed on the mostly-white sleeve; helpfully there's a key on the inner:
https://i.discogs.com/DrT_rVS9teBcz2MAvTzkzabPvHPA6cuv4Une61QgT2o/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:394/w:395/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTYzODgx/Ni0xMTY4MjUwMjYy/LmpwZWc.jpeg

Tim, Tuesday, 8 July 2025 18:12 (seven months ago)

wow what the heck. is their mascot a fridge?

Doctor Casino, Sunday, 13 July 2025 12:37 (six months ago)

Jack Davis Strikes Again!

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81AiUks-OML.jpg

Sheb Wooley: Spoofing The Big Ones

Wooley did a whole series of parody albums with similar illustrated covers, but this one is the most elaborate re: multiple tracks.

Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 26 July 2025 00:47 (six months ago)


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