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What would an album be without its cover? The visual representation of the music contained within it plays a vital role in setting the tone for the project.

It's hard to determine what pictures are suitable for the task. Some might get chosen because they're visually captivating and evoke strong emotions, while others can seem intriguing for their artistic merit and storytelling.

There's definitely no one-size-fits-all formula. However, the Facebook page 'Images That Could Be Album Covers' is on a mission to collect a wide variety of examples that could be slapped onto your next favorite platinum record, and it's doing quite a good job if you ask me!

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The history of album cover art can be traced back to the early days of music recording when albums had simple and straightforward designs.

As the music industry grew and evolved, so did its look, and, in turn, the covers. The 1960s and '70s saw the emergence of album cover art as a separate field, with artists and designers pushing the boundaries of creativity and experimentation.

A prime example of this is The Dark Side of the Moon. March of 2023 marked 50 years since the release of Pink Floyd's eighth studio album. It beamed the band into super stardom with platinum-selling singles such as Money and The Great Gig in the Sky.

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Typifying Pink Floyd's mix of philosophical lyricism and spaced-out rock sound, the project sits comfortably in the top 50 best-selling albums of all time, and is frequently called one of the greatest albums of all time by popular music magazines such as Rolling Stone and NME.

#5

Album Cover For: Best Friend

Album Cover For: Best Friend

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Danny Boy
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bought a new house last year, and I'm only just now starting to get to know the raccoons who come around. They stop by every night for dry corn-on-the-cob feed and black oil sunflower seeds, and I sit on the Adirondack chair, rock some ganj and chitter to them. One of these days, I just know one of them is going to come up to me after the others leave and say, "Dude, you do realize that other than insulting my cousin's wife, you're pretty much just speaking gibberish when you chitter at us, right?"

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"The iconic album cover, produced by Storm Thorgerson’s legendary design agency Hipgnosis, is a seminal reference point in pop culture and modern art," Ph.D. Candidate in Text and Image Studies at the University of Glasgow Christopher Vezza wrote.

"Unsurprisingly, it makes for a popular band t-shirt design and figures consistently and prominently on 'best album cover' lists."

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#10

All Tracks Lead To Me

All Tracks Lead To Me

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TonyTee
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Something about this picture speaks to me, I really like it and I too could see this being an album cover, the album cover to the sequel to Eminem’s Recovery album

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"The image of the enigmatic prism reflecting beams of light into deep space parallels the band's complex sound world and their lyrical interplay between science and mysticism," Vezza explained.

"There are several interpretations of the cover art's meaning. Some fans have suggested that it works as a metaphor for personal and psychological darkness, while others maintain that the prism in particular represents intellectual thought and ambition."

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The image of a prism reflecting a rainbow of light delivered on Pink Floyd's request for a bold and dramatic design.

Additionally, Thorgerson claims that the artwork served as an homage to the impressive light show that had become an integral part of Pink Floyd's live performances.

#18

Flower Child

Flower Child

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Headless Horseman
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw a pair of hightop converse that have this weird green carpet-y cover that would be perfect for this

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In the 1980s and '90s, things became more commercialized, with artists and labels placing greater emphasis on the marketability of a cover.

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In the digital age, the front page has taken on a new significance as it is often the only visual representation of an album that consumers will see, so artists and designers are becoming increasingly innovative in their approaches, with many using digital tools to create unique and visually stunning designs.

#19

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Danny Boy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This fills me with more dread than I would have thought... I wonder if there's some sort of primal reason for that. Or maybe I just had a bad experience with dandelions when I was little.

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#22

High Class Moms

High Class Moms

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From a marketing perspective, the cover can be highly influential in creating an appetite for new music. With the right design approach, tracks and albums can, in a way, come to life before people even get to listen to them.

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And it's really evident scrolling through 'Images That Could Be Album Covers.' I bet you even thought of a music genre (or maybe even a certain name) that these would fit.

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#31

Barely

Barely

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Danny Boy
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember around 30 years ago, when there were some disgusting sociopaths hitting gravestones in cemeteries around the city. I think they ended up destroying 40+ before they finally caught them. Three boys who were 16 and 17. They got my Grandpa George. Yeah, good one, guys. Real funny. Almost as funny as when they tried you little boys as adults, even though your testicles had obviously never dropped...

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#35

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Danny Boy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When abuela starts throwing her sandals... take 'em and run, 'cause abuela can't run that fast barefoot. Ha!

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#38

Date Night

Date Night

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TonyTee
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Abe, if I’m the one being honest here… Run for your life

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#40

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David
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is so irresponsible to let toddlers drift without helmet / leathers.

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#47

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Danny Boy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Questions, questions... Do you think of the various possibilities, a sweatshop worker's cry of existential angst? **shudder**

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#52

Death Angel

Death Angel

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Tardigrade (water/bear)™
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again-looks like top gun on steroids. Idk if anyone remembers last time I said this?

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#55

By Cherishing Her

By Cherishing Her

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WindySwede
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Talk to a real estate agent to buy land, probably not to cheap. Maby land the plane, sell it and buy land... /s

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#56

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Danny Boy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it just me, or does everyone else have a compulsion to press something onto their heads until it snaps in place?

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#59

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Thom Serveaux
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not for me! Childhood sucked and adulthood is way better. If any kids are reading this, please know it won't always be this hard.

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#63

Casual Swag

Casual Swag

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Mint Sauce
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder how many people have been to ER because of these things.

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#70

Not All Superhero’s Wear Jeans

Not All Superhero’s Wear Jeans

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#75

Tailing This Guy

Tailing This Guy

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️ ️lefty libra️ (she/her)
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i- dont think youre supposed to do that- (btw to my hater, tysm for hating on all of my comments that do absolutely nothing to anyone.)

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#79

Amish Tech

Amish Tech

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Headless Horseman
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This whole thing has a very threatening aura 😂 and it starts with the car looking like an angry Shifu from kung fu panda

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#86

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Danny Boy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh please, he took a dive. They're splittin' it on the back end... Speaking of back ends, they're splittin' it on the back end.

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#101

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Danny Boy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wherever this kid is today, he needs to get this photo of himself put on a custom shirt with the caption: "Mike Tyson Bit Me on the A*s & All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt"

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#109

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#110

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sbj
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this the traffic signal for do whatever you want?

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#117

Ko

Ko

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PowellSkier
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Muhammad Ali returning to his corner after dealing knockout blow to Cleveland Williams in their 1966 fight.

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#119

Fisting Everyone

Fisting Everyone

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Looks like an Angel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uuuuuuum, you mean punching everyone. "Fisting" someone means something COMPLETELY different.

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#120

Thinking About Success

Thinking About Success

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#123

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#125

Legend

Legend

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#131

One Hand On The Wheel The Other Gripping Her Thigh

One Hand On The Wheel The Other Gripping Her Thigh

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your sarcastic bestie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

HE HAD ONE HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL THE OTHER ON MY HEAAAAART (continue the train swiftie pandas!)

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#137

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#144

Pull Up

Pull Up

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