In the world of music, album covers are a vital part of the overall artistic experience. They can provide a visual representation of the music and give a glimpse into the artist’s world. While most album covers feature text, some have become iconic without it. Here are some of the most famous album covers without text:
Album Cover Art – The most iconic album covers ranked
Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
The cover art, designed by Hipgnosis and Storm Thorgerson, features a prism refracting light into a rainbow spectrum. The design is simple but effective, and it has become one of the most recognizable album covers of all time.
Iconic Rating: 10/10.
The Beatles, The White Album (1968)
The cover art for The Beatles’ self-titled album is as minimalistic as it gets: a plain white background with the band’s name embossed in the lower right corner. The simplicity of the design is part of what makes it so memorable.
Iconic Rating: 9/10.
Nirvana, Nevermind (1991)
The cover art, photographed by Kirk Weddle, features a baby swimming towards a dollar bill on a fishhook. The image has become synonymous with the grunge movement and the 1990s alternative rock scene.
Iconic Rating: 9/10.
Led Zeppelin, Houses of the Holy (1973)
The cover art, designed by Hipgnosis and Storm Thorgerson, features a group of naked children climbing the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. The surreal and slightly unsettling image perfectly captures the psychedelic nature of the album.
Iconic Rating: 8/10.
Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures (1979)
The cover art, designed by Peter Saville, features a white-on-black image of radio waves from pulsar CP 1919. The design is simple but haunting, and it has become one of the most iconic album covers in the post-punk genre.
Iconic Rating: 8/10.
The Velvet Underground and Nico, The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967)
The cover art, designed by Andy Warhol, features a banana sticker that can be peeled off to reveal a pink fruit underneath. The design is both playful and subversive, much like the music it represents.
Iconic Rating: 8/10.
David Bowie, Heroes (1977)
The cover art, photographed by Masayoshi Sukita, features a black-and-white image of Bowie standing in front of a blurred background. The simplicity of the design allows Bowie’s iconic image to shine through.
Iconic Rating: 7/10.
Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (1977)
The cover art, photographed by Herbert Worthington, features a simple photograph of the band on a neutral background. The image is striking in its simplicity and perfectly captures the raw emotion of the album.
Iconic Rating: 7/10.
Beastie Boys, Licensed to Ill (1986)
The cover art, designed by World B. Omes, features the tail fin of a private jet with the Beastie Boys’ logo on it. The design is simple but memorable, and it perfectly captures the brash attitude of the group.
Iconic Rating: 6/10.
The Clash, London Calling (1979)
The cover art, photographed by Pennie Smith, features a black-and-white image of bassist Paul Simonon smashing his guitar on stage. The image is raw and explosive, much like the music it represents.
Iconic Rating: 6/10.
These iconic album covers prove that sometimes less is more. A simple image canbe just as powerful as a complex design. These album covers have stood the test of time and continue to inspire new generations of music lovers.
The stories behind these album covers are just as interesting as the designs themselves. For example, the baby on the cover of Nirvana’s “Nevermind” was actually a friend of the photographer’s, and the dollar bill was added in later as a commentary on the commercialization of the music industry.
Similarly, the image on the cover of Joy Division’s “Unknown Pleasures” was actually a visual representation of radio waves from a pulsar, and was chosen by Peter Saville because of its mysterious and haunting appearance.
Most of the albums listed above are iconic becuase of what the band / artist has become over time. Below we’ve looked at the last 20 years at which albums are set to become iconic:
Top 10 album covers of the last 10 years:
“To Pimp a Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar (2015)
The cover features a group of young African American men in front of the White House. The image reflects the album’s themes of political and social commentary and the struggles of being black in America.
“Blonde” by Frank Ocean (2016)
The cover features a blonded-out portrait of Frank Ocean himself. The cover is minimalistic, yet striking, and serves as a reflection of the deeply personal and introspective music found on the album.
“Melodrama” by Lorde (2017)
The cover features a portrait of Lorde herself, holding a wine glass and surrounded by a pastel pink and blue landscape. The cover captures the album’s themes of youth, love, and heartbreak.
“A Seat at the Table” by Solange (2016)
The cover features Solange in a regal, almost goddess-like pose, with a white garment draped over her head and shoulders. The cover reflects the album’s themes of black empowerment and pride.
“The Life of Pablo” by Kanye West (2016)
The cover features a simple, almost childlike rendering of the album’s title in bright colors. The cover reflects the chaotic and frenetic energy of the album itself.
“IGOR” by Tyler, The Creator (2019)
The cover features a graphic, hand-drawn portrait of Tyler, with the album’s title in bold letters in the background. The cover reflects the album’s themes of love, loss, and personal growth.
“22, A Million” by Bon Iver (2016)
The cover features a series of abstract shapes and symbols in bright, bold colors. The cover reflects the experimental, genre-bending nature of the album.
“My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” by Kanye West (2010)
The cover features a surreal painting by artist George Condo, depicting a decapitated Kanye being straddled by a winged woman. The cover reflects the album’s themes of fame, excess, and the dark side of the American dream.
“Good Kid, M.A.A.D City” by Kendrick Lamar (2012)
The cover features a snapshot of a group of young black men posing in front of a dilapidated house. The cover reflects the album’s themes of growing up in Compton and the struggles of inner-city life.
“Lemonade” by Beyonce (2016)
The cover features a striking, black and white portrait of Beyonce herself, adorned in a fur coat and holding a baseball bat. The cover reflects the album’s themes of infidelity, betrayal, and ultimately, forgiveness.
Each of these album covers has an iconic rating that reflects their lasting impact on the world of music. While some may have lower ratings than others, all of these designs have left an indelible mark on the industry and will continue to be celebrated for years to come.
In conclusion, these famous album covers without text are a testament to the power of simple, striking designs. They prove that sometimes the most effective way to capture the essence of an album is through a single image, and that image can become just as iconic as the music itself.
