every record cover where a 60s or 70s artist goes 80s in a big way.

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i feel like i see another one that i hadn't seen before every other day! so many! they didn't want anyone to think that they had ever owned a copy of Tapestry or had learned macrame in the past. i understand. i don't know where the line is between "going for it in a big way" and "desperation". but most people will do anything for money.

https://i.discogs.com/7t3VGQUkD99MmnZtBLR4KQw7eNfYT0Sx-QMeInOx5kc/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTExNzc1/MDktMTY0OTg2ODE2/OC04MDI4LmpwZWc.jpeg

scott seward, Saturday, 27 January 2024 16:27 (one year ago)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a0/Mad_Love_%28Linda_Ronstadt_album_-_cover_art%29.jpg

dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 16:29 (one year ago)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Software_Grace_Slick.jpg

cellaring potential (morrisp), Saturday, 27 January 2024 16:30 (one year ago)

i love that software cover so much. i like the record too.

scott seward, Saturday, 27 January 2024 16:38 (one year ago)

https://i.discogs.com/i3DHAoPbb9U-ZZ-kil1SUBbktSsemk343chvdI0D5ic/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE1ODUw/MTctMTMwNjIzMTY1/NC5qcGVn.jpeg

^^Really needed a tie-in episode of Miami Vice

an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 16:52 (one year ago)

https://i.discogs.com/i3DHAoPbb9U-ZZ-kil1SUBbktSsemk343chvdI0D5ic/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE1ODUw/MTctMTMwNjIzMTY1/NC5qcGVn.jpeg

an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 16:53 (one year ago)

At least Charlie has the grace to look a little embarrassed.

Dan Worsley, Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:03 (one year ago)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c2/Villagepeople_renaissance.jpg

Zelda Zonk, Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:04 (one year ago)

hahaha nice one

dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:06 (one year ago)

https://i.ibb.co/T0VrNmq/Out-of-Order-album.jpg

never trust a big book and a simile (Neanderthal), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:07 (one year ago)

https://i.ibb.co/jrtcS8Q/Bob-Dylan-Empire-Burlesque.jpg

never trust a big book and a simile (Neanderthal), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:08 (one year ago)

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/419AtsNjF6L._AC_.jpg

Born Under a Bad Sine (Talcum Mucker), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:13 (one year ago)

love this album

https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2735461ac946da7e79705e79d1f

soref, Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:13 (one year ago)

https://i.discogs.com/9LdcAsmyPU9Ro9_gIKAjaHZhdtiCq7Q_WksF2BDJrwQ/rs:fit/g:sm/q:40/h:300/w:300/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE4OTcw/NTYxLTE2MjI1OTY0/MjAtODA5My5qcGVn.jpeg

an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:15 (one year ago)

https://images.genius.com/4b80d1b4a321be13d6b94897bed820e4.1000x1000x1.jpg

soref, Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:15 (one year ago)

https://i.ibb.co/r4crKm4/Animals-Ark.jpg

never trust a big book and a simile (Neanderthal), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:15 (one year ago)

https://i.ibb.co/tDDbm7T/Speaking-of-dreams.jpg

never trust a big book and a simile (Neanderthal), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:21 (one year ago)

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcQyyehxVyN1dS1dhz85not_vtw39eXrC8fMiKjQzLxCuPY_dUAwgg80L9YMZ1W1hrtYahuTv4pq&usqp=CAc

an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:30 (one year ago)

TMI

never trust a big book and a simile (Neanderthal), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:32 (one year ago)

https://i.discogs.com/0FqIp5ZzraZ3xxwmGKO8MP3Qk-nxT-PGXDNHYcFyieM/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:596/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTQ3MDQ2/ODEtMTY4MDQ1ODM0/NS0xMjc2LmpwZWc.jpeg

an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:34 (one year ago)

https://i.discogs.com/Xj0BBJ7TY-DNfxyb6H7SZcKNFTWIy1yKJXg_0SmiVzA/rs:fit/g:sm/q:40/h:300/w:300/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTYxMzM2/OTUtMTQxMTkxNDA4/OC00MDI1LmpwZWc.jpeg

an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:40 (one year ago)

https://i.discogs.com/Aha-EcPaVw1r5ungWezEAHGoTg1_NTh9dOrJfS4fxH4/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:597/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTEzMDI3/OTE3LTE1NDY3MzQx/MDItOTk4NC5qcGVn.jpeg

an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 17:45 (one year ago)

Peter Noone:

https://i.postimg.cc/cJw20kcX/tremblers.jpg

(I remember this when it came out...may try to track it down.)

clemenza, Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:23 (one year ago)

https://www.udiscovermusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Heart-Heart-album-cover-web-optimised-820.jpg

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:32 (one year ago)

yessss

dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:35 (one year ago)

^^Also deserved a Miami Vice tie-in.

an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:44 (one year ago)

those are both great! lol loving these

dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:45 (one year ago)

https://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/105/cover_131163182019_r.jpg

A cover matching the content.

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:47 (one year ago)

nice

the King Crimson ones don't really work imo, they coulda been 70s covers too

dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:48 (one year ago)

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61bRYzxIGPL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

fourth world problems (Matt #2), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:49 (one year ago)

https://i.discogs.com/oAr_MvaXyu2fQnRxaiKWp4QMQs0TOJy2pQAdSAyWJtE/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:550/w:550/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE0MDI1/NTktMTM0NzQ3NjM1/NS04MTcxLmpwZWc.jpeg

an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:51 (one year ago)

they kicked Throwing Muses out of the studio while the Muses were making their debut, for THIS

https://i.discogs.com/p0CD8AYUZ1Wo4FeL8Xngxv2e8rHVfuGdLzE06IvauUE/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE2NDE1/MDgtMTUwNzU1MTIx/OC02NDc2LmpwZWc.jpeg

dead precedents (sleeve), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:51 (one year ago)

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91KckQ9b10L._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

fourth world problems (Matt #2), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:52 (one year ago)

Great pick

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:52 (one year ago)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/91/IggyPopParty.jpg

Kim Kimberly, Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:52 (one year ago)

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71vqweeQBUL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

fourth world problems (Matt #2), Saturday, 27 January 2024 20:57 (one year ago)

https://waxvinylrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/05021207.jpg

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:05 (one year ago)

https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273dd621caf7254f8f32579c98b

mookieproof, Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:15 (one year ago)

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Wap7lDPhL._UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg

Bulky Pee Pants (Tom D.), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:20 (one year ago)

https://http2.mlstatic.com/D_NQ_NP_865041-MLM40246738774_122019-O.webp

an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 27 January 2024 21:28 (one year ago)

Got the headshots ready for the Absolutely Fabulous and Miami Vice auditions

Grape Fired At Czar From Crack Battery (President Keyes), Tuesday, 14 January 2025 19:54 (nine months ago)

Aww, I once had that album in my collection and still fondly remember that back cover. Stylist clearly wasn't fazed by monobrows.

sawdust lagoon, Tuesday, 14 January 2025 20:48 (nine months ago)

I mentioned Renaissance on that Dino Wavo thread a long time ago. They seemed like one of the unlikeliest bands to try this.

1981 = year of 70s dino rockers w modren/wavo comeback LPs

Glam conspiracist (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 14 January 2025 22:15 (nine months ago)

Wow this sends me waaay back. I reviewed records throughout the decade in question, handled many of these as promo copies, wrote about a significant number. My professional life (such as it was) flashes before my eyes. Thanks for the memories!

mom jeans VS yacht rock (m coleman), Thursday, 16 January 2025 15:16 (nine months ago)

https://i.discogs.com/6s1QHBXyQ6nKxh5oLtiDlvPJ0wVDrlg5JwvTakpN_RI/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:593/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE4ODA1/ODItMTI0OTc2Nzg3/NC5qcGVn.jpeg

Triumvirat: Russian Roulette, 1980

Okay, heteros are cutting edge this year, too. (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 16 January 2025 15:25 (nine months ago)

not to mention their follow-up, in which Camp looks like Dennis Reynolds!

https://i.discogs.com/4uk8VX8zl3KnhYy3PKCavBu1Gt0wbXe_sgYB5b8N5AM/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:599/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTIxMzk1/MDctMTQwNDUwMjk4/NS01NTE2LmpwZWc.jpeg

I really love this band, I've seen a hundred photos of them, if I flipped through this or the back cover of Camera I'd have no clue who it was

frogbs, Thursday, 16 January 2025 15:25 (nine months ago)

https://static.becododisco.com.br/product/picture/6104577205d1f015f558fe52/66363956389357039977665c/original-vinil-peter-frampton-the-art-of-control-usa.jpg

Peter Frampton: The Art of Control, 1982

Okay, heteros are cutting edge this year, too. (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 16 January 2025 15:28 (nine months ago)

these are both great

Muad'Doob (Moodles), Thursday, 16 January 2025 17:20 (nine months ago)

This thread is grrrreat! And it's sent me looking for some stuff I've never heard - and don't expect to have much replay value lol.

"Banks Statement" wtf?

That Ian Anderson album way upthread is phenomenal and sounds just like the sleeve.

completely suited to the horny decadence (Capitaine Jay Vee), Thursday, 16 January 2025 17:45 (nine months ago)

Wow, never seen that Frampton cover before --- that's a gem.

Doctor Casino, Thursday, 16 January 2025 17:57 (nine months ago)

I feel like i'm impossibly late to Mccartney II

ok (D-40), Thursday, 16 January 2025 17:59 (nine months ago)

its like a robert palmer album except way weirder

ok (D-40), Thursday, 16 January 2025 17:59 (nine months ago)

Peter Frampton: The Art of Control, 1982

I like this whole subcategory of "cover photos where the musician is looking at themselves on TV"

braunschweiger winter (Eazy), Thursday, 16 January 2025 18:04 (nine months ago)

(cf., New Sensations)

braunschweiger winter (Eazy), Thursday, 16 January 2025 18:04 (nine months ago)

The Frampton is an inner sleeve... the actual cover is posted upthread.

Kim Kimberly, Thursday, 16 January 2025 18:11 (nine months ago)

omg

sleeve, Thursday, 16 January 2025 18:25 (nine months ago)

@D-40: join us! mccartney ii is sick

Doctor Casino, Thursday, 16 January 2025 18:45 (nine months ago)

Why did Peter Frampton put a picture of Stewart Copeland on the back cover?

Hideous Lump, Thursday, 16 January 2025 20:54 (nine months ago)

https://pienemmatpurot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/steve_hillage_green.jpg

Just by the look of it, I always assumed this was an 80s album but in fact predates the decade by a couple of years.

jvc, Thursday, 16 January 2025 22:41 (nine months ago)

...well, I guess Hillage's 80s began already in 1977!

https://kane.fi/174392-large_default/hillage-steve-lp-motivation-radio-kansi-ex-levy-ex-kaeytetty-lp.jpg

jvc, Thursday, 16 January 2025 22:49 (nine months ago)

two months pass...

it took BOC until 1985, but then they REALLY went for it

https://i.discogs.com/Ost_35aFcEnkcJOmp8YPNjSlTyz9Wym3rSCEyiZeBiI/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTY1OTE4/My0xMjMxNTExOTcy/LmpwZWc.jpeg

Hedwig and the Angry Ents (sleeve), Sunday, 30 March 2025 18:59 (six months ago)

60s or 70s artist goes Electric Light Orchestra in a big way

Hideous Lump, Sunday, 30 March 2025 20:43 (six months ago)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kenny_Rogers-Eyes_That_See.jpg#/media/File:Kenny_Rogers-Eyes_That_See.jpg

the way out of (Eazy), Sunday, 30 March 2025 21:01 (six months ago)

whoops, that was

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CQpSiE3xSw

the way out of (Eazy), Sunday, 30 March 2025 21:02 (six months ago)

one month passes...

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61-PBcIgQkL.jpg

From Chocolate Chip to Jello Pudding Pops

(Issac Hayes: U-Turn)

Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 16 May 2025 16:05 (five months ago)

One of my favorite Cecil Taylor album covers is in a very similar vein:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/6184CAD+ogL.jpg

Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Friday, 16 May 2025 16:35 (five months ago)

two months pass...

lol, it's like they attempted cover shoots with seven other concepts and then a collage artist appeared with a big idea to help Sayer update his image for a new generation.

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 2 August 2025 13:22 (two months ago)

Bonus "Lonely guy just thinking baout things" at bottom left.

Kim Kimberly, Saturday, 2 August 2025 16:25 (two months ago)

...well, I guess Hillage's 80s began already in 1977!

is there a thread about examples of peak 80s album art that predate the '80s? i'm thinking of this Spirit record from '72

https://i.discogs.com/b3h1r9zRfPcxNgULUgfR3UMxyvjA0Wr0VhGYWNbI00c/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTIxMzY4/MTAtMTMzODY2NDI5/MC03ODAzLmpwZWc.jpeg

budo jeru, Tuesday, 12 August 2025 21:45 (two months ago)

^ that one is SO ahead of its time. It looks like a Front Line Assembly B-Sides collection

encino morricone (majorairbro), Tuesday, 12 August 2025 22:03 (two months ago)

wow my brain is refusing to accept that

Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 12 August 2025 23:19 (two months ago)

Pornography is what always came to mind (oo er). Shame the music's not up to much - but the fragmentary/sampladelic stuff Randy did circa Future Games is proto-80s in a different way.

you can see me from westbury white horse, Tuesday, 12 August 2025 23:29 (two months ago)

has this one been done yet?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transverse_City#/media/File:Warren_Zevon_-_Transverse_City.jpg

some dude, Tuesday, 12 August 2025 23:55 (two months ago)

going 90s in a big way

Kim Kimberly, Wednesday, 13 August 2025 00:02 (two months ago)

This might have linkrotted upthread:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81HsrIgqs8L._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

Moody Blues: The Other Side of Life

Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 14 August 2025 04:11 (two months ago)

Based on solely seeing this album in used bins for years I thought the Fabulous Poodles were some sort of New Wave also-rans (weirdo Power Pop or something), but I heard one of their songs tonight, and they were a bloody Pop-Prog band!

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/614Fm+QxryL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

Fabulous Poodles: Mirror Stars, 1978

Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 14 August 2025 04:20 (two months ago)

...and speaking of Spirit, this is what they were up to in the '80s:

https://i0.wp.com/earofnewt.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/r-3170890-1319139425-jpeg-1.jpg?ssl=1

Spirit of '84

Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 14 August 2025 04:36 (two months ago)

The gasmask reminded me of Grand Funk's What's Funk? from 1983, which was their second and final attempt to make a comeback in the 1980s:
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music3/v4/8c/d2/a4/8cd2a4f2-0334-e229-ca37-d045cf5c43ed/603497884698.jpg/600x600bf-60.jpg

It's a puzzling mixture of metaphors, but I think the designer was trying to imply that the lady in the unflattering swimsuit has used electricity to give the Washington Monument an erection and is about to do the same to us. But I don't know. Irritatingly the back cover is just the front cover, flipped.

Ashley Pomeroy, Thursday, 14 August 2025 18:51 (two months ago)

That Grand Funk sleeve is a bad Hipgnosis imitation

Crispy Ambulance Chaser (Boring, Maryland), Thursday, 14 August 2025 19:27 (two months ago)

The cover of Spirit's Feedback is interesting in that those video-art aesthetics were not unheard of in mainstream TV and movies of the early 70s, but almost no musicians took it up. Even the Residents, who were actually primarily video artists at the time, mostly used cartoons and illustrations on their album covers instead.
Transverse City is explicitly a thematic album about science fiction future themes, so it's hard to accuse of riding on any particular 1989 bandwagon. It helps that Zevon doesn't really look much different than he did in 1976, even his glasses look the same.

Halfway there but for you, Monday, 18 August 2025 02:31 (two months ago)

https://i.discogs.com/Hz4Rfp6NuEjOvqBTP8uKNAvG3hpk5nzG30-WvGASlug/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:401/w:400/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE3MDY2/NjEtMTMzMzIwNDc0/OC5qcGVn.jpeg

https://i.discogs.com/U8WrcHPEyFfw7EJXCu4SX1TtN94V-ProrRLaUMDFcJk/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:480/w:477/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE3MDY2/NjEtMTUxMTQ0NjU1/MS0xODA4LmpwZWc.jpeg

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Hold On, 1987

IIRC, didn't the original cover painting end up in the possession of Marc Maron's Dad? I remember him mentioning it on an old WTF.

Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 18 August 2025 02:42 (two months ago)

Nitty, gritty dirt was actually that colour in 1987

Halfway there but for you, Monday, 18 August 2025 02:55 (two months ago)

is there a thread about examples of peak 80s album art that predate the '80s?

Frampton's Camel (1973) looks like something from 1985.

Kim Kimberly, Monday, 18 August 2025 18:14 (two months ago)

Makes me think of Commodore Amiga graphics.

Kim Kimberly, Monday, 18 August 2025 18:15 (two months ago)

I remain unconvinced that Bill Evans' Undercurrent wasn't designed by a four year old Vaughn Oliver in 1962

https://i.discogs.com/4JIP20ABJe9H_s6pFhud9y0CqklthQZIaKduL3uJFP4/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:598/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTIxODM3/NTgwLTE2NTMwMDg3/NTYtOTI1Ny5qcGVn.jpeg

Primrose Cash Po (bendy), Tuesday, 19 August 2025 14:01 (two months ago)


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