Here's the List compiled by the morons at VH1.
This has to be the biggest load of horseshit I have ever seen. Most of these album covers are total trash, or just mind-numbingly boring.
I have no idea how they compiled this list but I'd say Stevie Wonder was on the judging panel.
Let's take a case in point: Tupac's All Eyez On Me
Now come on. It's just a freaking photo of Tupac. Where's the genius in that? And it's spelt “eyes” you semi-literate dead hack.
As for that retarded cartoon cover for Snoop's Doggystyle being in the top ten… well, let's just say “great album, shit cover.”
B-Diddy DubSac says:
C'mon KzzL, as dat nucka is ded, its up to me to point out that not only is he one of the first solo rap artists to just feature himself on the cover - he's throwing up a bigass WWWESSSSIIIDE!!
Kzzl, please try to remember that we are talking aboot VH1 here - the same channel that does those marvellous episodes of "Whatever happened to [insert 80s artist]", and really struggles to accept that any music existed before MTV and the music video…
Methinks they have equated "Greatest Cover" with "Influential/ Historical Impact" - so the fact that 2Pac was the first rapper to release a double-LP which sold over 1million is significant…
Doggystyle *is* a landmark record, but I can recall buying it in 93 in the States (yes, extra cool points for me) ON TAPE, and thinking "Damn, shitty artwork" - but he's *still* pumping that same shit out today, and its become somewhat iconographic of Snoop..
Personally, Straight Outa Compton shits allover all of 'em…
But my most influential covers from a band, of which I have *never* even been tempted to buy a single copy, is the awesome artworks of Iron Maiden!!! That, and Bad Ass Ass Assassins!
killer says:
There are some questionable mentions, but I do like Supertramp's Breakfast In America cover.
<center><img src="http://www.kilbot.net/news/uploads/Supertramp_-_Breakfast_In_America_%28Front%29.jpg" alt="breakfast in america" /></center>
Me and Fancy had several copies of this on vinyl at Archi… the picture was slightly different though; there wasn't the plane window in the foreground, and the city was bigger and clearer… and one copy had a drawn-on plane crashing into the sugar bowl WTC buildings.
KL says:
Good points, BDW and Killer. Let the debate rage on.
And yeah, I've never seen the "plane window" version either. Weird.
badger says:
Now this is something we're agreed on KL - but mori and lori and probably bigg daddi too all wuv tupac. They wuv him vewy vewy much! :love:
KL says:
I knew we'd find common ground, badger.
But will you get the fuck back to your fucking thesis! :@
fancy dave says:
Tupac shits me to tears, to be honest. One-dimensional. He's good at it, but a well-laid turd is still just a turd.
However, the album cover is clearly a work of art. No expense was spared in planning and executing this imaginitive and aesthetic triumph. Who amongst us can really say we'd be capable of such incisive genius; "…then we'll take a photograph of Tupac looking whimsically bored and brandishing a PAROCHIAL GANGSTER SALUTE and an INCONSEQUENTIAL ITEM OF SHINY MATERIAL"!!!
fancy dave says:
In case you're wondering, I was being sarcastic.
However, Iron Maiden would be entitled to feel sore about not making the list - some of the funniest, most overblown shit ever.
B-Diddy DubSac says:
Sorry, you lost me at "hello"…
How can a guy be one-dimensional when half his "tributes to women" involve praising their positive influence on society ("Dear Mama", "Keep Ya Head Up") and the other half is praising them for being regular-ass standard bitches and ho's….
I think you're claiming he's one-dimensional coz you'd prolly state that all rappers are one-dimensional coz they only "rap"….
2Pac was a mf'n actor/ poet/ rapper/ philosopher/ gangster! Multi-tasked, idolised and a multi-millionaire all before the age of 26!! And even tho' we joke aboot the fact he's releasing more albums than Elvis post-humos, the fact is that he obviously worked like a freak in the studios and had all that material just laying around!
Back to the topic at hand - his deliberate misspelling of the word "Eyez" actually precipitated the modern day written slanguage contained in many forums, and, dare I say it, precipitated the monstrosity that is AOL-speak LOL20042PACLIVESMUFUCKAS!!!
Oh, and Fancy, you should see the inside cover - he gets way more gangsta ;)
badger says:
Oh I stand corrected Jerry, what a fabulous not-totally-medicore actor he was. And his poetry? tres magnifique! Don't get me started on his wonderful philosophy. It makes me weep with its stark beauty, it really does.
And never fear KL, everythings on track thesis wise - I'm on my final down south sojurn as we speak, back up to Perth on the morrow, writing like an fnc tomorrow/sat'dee/sunday morning, figuring out how to use the binding machine in the Physics photocopy room lunchtime sunday, then on the plane to Lyon sunday arvo, thankfully I'm talking on the last day of the conference so I can spend the first two days writing the talk I'm giving, it's all sweet
the conference in question:
[url=http://www.magneticmicrosphere.com/meet2004.htm]scientific and clinical applications of magnetic carriers[/url]
Milner says:
Those Phil Collins ones with his face on the front are pretty good.
killer says:
My vote for greatest album cover:
<center><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDSUB040405120046000120&sql=A199yxdjbjol0" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.kilbot.net/news/uploads/FZ-Money.jpg" border="0" alt="zappa" /></a></center>
A perfect satire of the most recognisable album cover of all time. And the title (which is part of the cover art package), "We're Only In It For The Money", is a harsh but fair assessment of psychedelic rock, punk, grunge, and any other counter-culture musical bandwagon you care to mention.
The cover is as sharp and clever and funny as the music within.
KL says:
Bigg Dadddy, I can't believe you even bother trying to defend him.
You lawyers have no shame.
B-Diddy DubSac says:
Motherfuck all you punks!
What am I meant to sit here whilst the good names of KISS and 2Pac is dragged thru the proverbial Badger Poo-Mo?
All I was saying is that he ain't one-dimensional, and thank you for conceding this point, dumbasses!
Kzzl, I know you're trying to get a rise, but there's a reason why when people talk about Greatest Rapper Ever, 2Pac, Biggie, Rakim, Nas, Pound4Pound and JayZ are constantly on top….my posthumous release will come out just after I smoke The Dodger!
Badge, I believe it would be perfect irony if someone were to "accidently" swap your thesis paper for the entire lyrical catalogue of 2Pac's Greatest BitchSlaps…coz I mean, I know you're an awesome speed-writer and all (writing your thesis on a plane - pissy!) but I predict you will need to call upon something a bit out of leftfield to arouse your slumbering audience (its mfn magnetics WTF?!?)…
I say, entitle your presntation "My Piece Is A Playa-Hata Magnet" - bust a cap in the first Average Joe you see in the seminar - bam, you've got their attention! Then, when you call me with your only phonecall from the Foreign Legion, I'll lend support by way of reciting the lyrics to "Yo Mama iz Cleaning Out MY Closet!" Then I'll move down to Busso, drink some Strongbows with yer old man, and smoke some chongers whilst laughing over your ridiculous shorts…
I think i got side-tracked for a minute…
…oh yeah, and shaddup "Milner" - god, of all the gay usernames in the world…
KL says:
Well, what can I say. I a rise was sought and a rise was got.
Those kind of rants aren't born, they are made. You have to find the right button to press, and I think I found it.
Goal achieved. :D
Barney says:
Well done, KL. We all need to achieve our goals now and then…
KL says:
I was trying to work out what my favourite album cover of all time is…
Possibly "Paul's Boutique", but only in the vinyl 4-gatefold edition which gives a full 360 degree panorama of a New York Street Corner.
A lot of vinyl covers just don't make the transition to CD very well, but Stereolab have some great artwork in both formats.
B-Diddy DubSac says:
In honour of Fancy's newfound status as A Dirty-Thirty Old Man, I thought this blend of smooth clarinet over the soulful sounds of 50 Cent would be the most appropriate selection for those entering OldManHood…
<center>[img]http://www.kilbot.net/news/uploads/kennyg.JPG[/img]</center>
B-Diddy DubSac says:
And yes, I have been saving this - my favourite Photoshop, I mean, underground cult classic - for just such an occassion….
Freaqs and 3l33t 933kZ, I present, the Man , the Myth, THE BOLT!!!
<center>[img]http://www.kilbot.net/news/uploads/bolton.JPG[/img]</center>
KL says:
I so want that album.