The cover to Relayer by English artist Roger Dean on Wikipedia.org

I was recently approached by a local band with the possibility of doing artwork for an upcoming music release. The prospect brought my mind back to the not so distant day when album art and liner notes were just as important a part of a band’s new release as the music itself.

HR Giger's cover for Emerson, Lake and Palmer's album Brain Salad Surgery on Hrgiger.com

While vinyl records are no longer as common as they used to be, current musical releases, whether they are on CD or via digital download, all come with an image unique to the musical work and the band itself. Even without those great unfolding packages of the past, full of text and artwork, and worthy of the shelves of a large audio library, we do still seem to crave some sort of visual association to go with our favorite tunes.

The cover for The Velvet Underground and Nico by Andy Warhol on Wikipedia.org

No matter what era, there are many fine examples of well considered and executed album artwork.  Some are complex, some more basic, some pulled together at the last moment and others meant to be provocative or ironic.  Among the most memorable are those done by well known artists, though many lesser known artists ended up in the spotlight as a result of their work.

The cover for Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon by English design firm Hipgnosis and George Hardie on Wikipedia.org

An album with iconic artwork transcends time and is easily recognized around the globe regardless of language or culture.  One look at the familiar images brings back memories not only of the musical contents, but of where you were and how you felt the first time you experienced them, and how, after that first listen, the music and the art became inseparable in your mind.

S. Neil Fujita's cover for Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet on Wikipedia.org

This post features a small selection of album cover art that stands out in my memory and remains forever entwined with my appreciation of the music within. What are some of your stand outs?

Brian Sylvester is a guest blogger on WallSpin, and an artist on Zatista.

Related articles

• See The Rolling Stones’ New Tongue Logo, Designed By Shepard Fairey (wcbsfm.cbslocal.com)
• The Art of the Album Cover (urchinmovement.com)