Best Album Artwork/Packaging

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I'm not sure if this thread's been done before, but what are some examples of really creative album covers, inner sleeve designs, packaging material, etc.? PiL's Metal Box get's my vote.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 09:22 (twenty-two years ago)

― Rollie Pemberton (Rollie Pemberton), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 09:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Led Zeppelin to thread.

― Schwingung (Damian), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Unusual packaging material:
the first pressing of The Return Of The Durutti Column (sandpaper cover)
that Bee Gees album with the suede cover (I THINK it was Odessa)
Alice Cooper - School's Out; the record itself was packaged in paper underwear

― Schwingung (Damian), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:06 (twenty-two years ago)

The Smashing Pumpkins - The Aeroplane Flies High
every Dead Kennedys album
the Hopelessly Devoted to You sampler

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:48 (twenty-two years ago)

'ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space'

― enrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I really like the design for the inner sleeve/booklet of Nina Nastasia's The Blackened Air. A picture probably wouldn't do it justice, the brown paper actually has a particular texture and character. It's printed in all silver(on the cover) and black with distinctive typography and sort of minimalist/moody artwork in the center fold. The printing has a sort of inky hand-pressed quality when you look at it. It just looks weathered and dark and beaten, but elegant in a way. It's probably one of my favorite sleeve designs ever, as I can't think of another one as striking and tactile.

― Blood and sparkles (bloodandsparkles), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:59 (twenty-two years ago)

the original vinyl edition of Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry, but Shellac totally own this thread.

http://www.petdance.com/actionpark/shellac/discography/

― neil simpson (neil simpson), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 12:38 (twenty-two years ago)

― 39 Steps + 40 Winks (39 Steps + 40 Winks), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

the delicate arty packaging of most rachel's releases accurate reflect their music ...

particularly beautiful is Music for Egon Schiele

― Matt Sab (Matt Sab), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Matt: OTM!!!

Apparently the first album came in a ltd. ed. of 25 in glass sleeves. I wish.....

― neil simpson (neil simpson), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I really like the deluxe reissue of T.Rex's Electric Warrior.

The awesome cover art really helps that one, tho.

― ben welsh (benwelsh), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

How about Sanctuary's reissues of the Iron Maiden catalog with sleeves over the jewel cases.

Again, the cover art, tho.

― ben welsh (benwelsh), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Christian Marclay's Record Without A Cover.

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:01 (twenty-two years ago)

There was an album by the Feederz whose title escapes me, but both sides of the sleeve had sandpaper on them, so they damage your other sleeves when you slid it into your collection. Dickish Genius.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 18:05 (twenty-two years ago)

the diecut booklet in the new shins album is kinda great.

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

To Neil Simpson: Shellac's At Action Park is actually one of the albums that inspired me to start this thread.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Savage Republic put out some nice stuff.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Second and third that...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

charley patton's revenant box sets the standard for packaging; however, that is a box set.

the special edition of vision creation newsun by the boredoms that croaks like a frog when opened is the best synthesis of artwork/packaging i can think of.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

i own this thread
http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/%A5Artist%20GIF%20Images/Ronnie-Dyson-CD-Cover-1.jpg

http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/%A5Artist%20GIF%20Images/Ronnie-Dyson-CD-Cover-2.jpg

― dyson (dyson), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 20:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Tool to thread

― JP Almeida (JP Almeida), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

This is the very best of the CD age:

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc000/c070/c07020127t4.jpg

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 22:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh no it's fucking well not.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 22:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I like it and all.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 22:21 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.niagara.edu/neworder/graphics/bluemondaysmall.gif

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 22:26 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.ausoug.org.au/working/dennis/factory/images/075.gif

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 22:27 (twenty-two years ago)

and on and on...

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 22:29 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.btinternet.com/~comme6/saville/True_Faith_a.jpg

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 22:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Another Alice Cooper vote. Killer had a calendar that could be detached, Billion Dollar Babies' cover was gatefold and embossed with lyric sheet, and had punch-out photos of the band and a die-cut money clip that held a poster-sized dollar bill. Muscle of Love came in a cardboard box, and contained a school book cover.

― Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 22:36 (twenty-two years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002LGS.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 22:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Spencer OTM, Peter Saville's covers for New Order and Joy Division are fantastic.

I'm sure that "Loveless" has been mentioned before. Its beautiful pink bluriness just seems to sum up the music perfectly.

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000024TUJ.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Neil FC (Neil FC), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 22:50 (twenty-two years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre400/e424/e42457fkaoe.jpg

― TK, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 23:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Hard to avoid "Sgt. Pepper" here too if the entire package is included. Particularly if you take into account what was usual before its release.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 23:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, I also really like the designs for the Geraldine Fibbers' _Lost Somewhere Between The Earth and My Home_ and Rasputina's _Thanks For The Ether_. I think I must like sleeves that look old-timey.

― Blood and sparkles (bloodandsparkles), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 23:37 (twenty-two years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000003RHD.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Gear! (Gear!), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 23:40 (twenty-two years ago)

there was a single by AMP that had a sleeve that opened out into a sunflower shape. that was pretty neat. also, the Aqua Vista/Bearsuit single that came in a mummified cloth sleeve. which i've never opened because i wouldn't know how to close it again

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 23:45 (twenty-two years ago)

This is the very best of the CD age

Ned, I'm not saying you can't like it, but to call it the very best of the CD age is a bit rich, don't you think?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 01:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I liked the packaging of the second Firewater album, the one that came in that handy metal tin. The fourth volume of the American Anthology of Folk Music (also released by Revenant) also had some dandy packaging, with the two CDs being sleeved in a small hard-cover book. The last Six Finger Satellite album had this kind of transparent, cellophane thing going on, which always struck me as nifty.
I think it might have been the very best of the CD age.

― Christian Rawk (Christian Rawk), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 01:38 (twenty-two years ago)

the first bows single and the first lp had beautiful packaging.

― keith m (keithmcl), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 05:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Hawkwind's Space Ritual! Although Metal Box is/was pretty darn cool.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 05:03 (twenty-two years ago)

the new Japan reissues are stunning, using some of the highest quality paper ever seen. the photos are brilliant as well. i wish there were liner notes, but alas...

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 05:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Shellac's definetely up there, but Geir gave the correct answer: Sgt. Pepper.

And since we're on the topic, how long did it take before the little red light on Pink Floyd's Pulse stopped blinking?

― Shaun (shaun), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 05:50 (twenty-two years ago)

― christoff (christoff), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, I'm not saying you can't like it, but to call it the very best of the CD age is a bit rich, don't you think?

Talk to Geir about that one!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

There's no talking to Geir.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

I was noticing last night that the music of my generation, the 80s, totally has a look to it, as I was looking at SY's Daydream Nation and Butthole Surfers Pioughd. Looking up above at the New Order and MBV images, they also just don't look like covers that would be made today.

― Cranberry Orifice, Sunday, 25 September 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

... and this surprised me for some reason, though I'm not sure why. I was thinking, "It's not like it's the 50s, 60s or 70s where design had these certain looks to it, typical of the generation," but it seems there was a certain look to the 80s, however vague it was.

With design culture meshed with home computers, have we finally entered into a generationless era? Or will people always be following some vague current? The first pic on this thread by Rollie reminds me of DJ Shadow, which is current enough. But, it also reminds me of Blues Traveller and possibly Stray Cats or some 70s jazz record.

― Cranberry Orifice, Sunday, 25 September 2005 14:19 (twenty years ago)

the over-sized MEGO paper sleeves, chix on speed graphics
same with Touch albums, with the over-sized cardboard and John Wozencroft photographs.
SYR relases are pretty sharp.
Dirty Three albums (Mick Turner paintings)
Storm and Stress (the clear one w/decal)
Francisco Lopez cd's and white MEGO record

― Palpatean Mists, Sunday, 25 September 2005 15:19 (twenty years ago)

I thought the Pink Floyd double live "PULSE" package, which had a blinking LED. When it came out I took one to the counter of a local store and asked the clerk how to change the battery. He didn't know.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Sunday, 25 September 2005 16:05 (twenty years ago)

The Laibach vinyl releases were always pretty special, with layers of imagery and text finished in embossing and metallic inks.

The recent ANTHEMS retrospective maintains the standard - 2CDs in a hardcover colour booklet. Helps that they're just one wing of the wider NSK art movement, I suppose.

― Soukesian, Sunday, 25 September 2005 16:50 (twenty years ago)

Beatles' white album gets my vote.

― David L., Sunday, 25 September 2005 18:13 (twenty years ago)

arrrr, you beat me to it by a few minutes.
So I'm looking for a picture of that XTC cover that explains cover marketing to the buyer.

― blunt (blunt), Sunday, 25 September 2005 18:19 (twenty years ago)

..can you read it ?

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005ATHK.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― blunt (blunt), Sunday, 25 September 2005 18:20 (twenty years ago)

That (horrible!) Smashing Pumpkins cover being posted = the ultimate example of fan-worship unduly influencing aesthetic appreciation :-O

― fandango (fandango), Sunday, 25 September 2005 23:29 (twenty years ago)

Throbbing Gristle/Current 93/Coil/Nurse With Wound etc. to thread. Great artwork (esp. Stapleton's paintings) and good packaging. I love TG+ with the set of 5 credit-card sized stencils.

― Sasha (sgh), Monday, 26 September 2005 01:07 (twenty years ago)

I really like the cover of Richie Hawtin's DE9: Closer to the Edit, it sums up the logic and the aesthetics of the record in one simple picture:

http://www.kompaktkiste.de/cd/mute/nomu94cd.jpg

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Monday, 26 September 2005 08:46 (twenty years ago)

Jim O'Rourke Eureka and Insignificance

― Treat Williams, Monday, 26 September 2005 16:41 (twenty years ago)

http://www.amoebamusic.com/html/modules/Amoeba_Promo/includes/MWLwinter2005/images/can_tago_mago.jpg

yep...

― Christopher Costello (CGC), Tuesday, 27 September 2005 02:06 (twenty years ago)

Don't forget this awesome cover:

http://gbvbb.homestead.com/files/gygax2.jpg

― gygaxx!, Tuesday, 27 September 2005 02:07 (twenty years ago)

The packaging of Mellon Collie is beautiful, especially the vinyl version (which, I might add, I would step over my own grandmother to get).

Tortoise's "It's All Around You," too, by--if anybody cares--Oliver Wasow.

― owen moorhead (i heart daniel miller), Tuesday, 27 September 2005 03:48 (twenty years ago)

http://www.cultzone.net/music/1999/yemcultcd990718.jpg

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 27 September 2005 08:33 (twenty years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000009B5.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 27 September 2005 15:53 (twenty years ago)

http://www.marchellner.com/images/music/covers/tulsa.jpg
pulseprogramming. my fave.

― wolves (wolves), Tuesday, 27 September 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

do the cd's come housed in the....house?

― Christopher Costello (CGC), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 03:13 (twenty years ago)

this is one of my very first threads!

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 05:09 (twenty years ago)

Best Album Cover/Artwork/Packaging of 2004:

1. Antestor - The Forsaken/Det Tapte Liv (Digipak/Black Box Combo)

2. Vaakevandring - s/t

3. Sympathy - Arcane Path

4. Demon Hunter - Summer of Darkness

5. Eluveitie - Ven

6. Sanctum - Let's Eat (Digipak)

7. Frosthardr - Makteslos

8. Dead to Fall - Villiany & Virtue

9. Dark Endless - Dark End Times

10. Shadows of Paragon - s/t

― retroman, Wednesday, 28 September 2005 05:12 (twenty years ago)

http://www.doktorfrank.com/archives/002699.html

― retroman, Wednesday, 28 September 2005 05:14 (twenty years ago)

I've never heard any of those band names.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 28 September 2005 05:14 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

http://bowlingtrophy.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/gentry_fancy.jpg

^^^someone turn this into a t-shirt

― Ringtone bisexual bible shower (The stickman from the hilarious xkcd comics), Sunday, 15 February 2009 13:36 (seventeen years ago)

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