Great Album Covers

Here is a collection of what I consider the greatest album art. The rules in determining a great album cover

1. No nudity or subtle profanity. I'm not against nudity and profanity. To deserve being on this list the album's appeal must exceed a higher standard than being sexually attractive
2. Generally I'm against portraits of the artist. I love sultry images of Allison Moorer or Shania Twain. But, again, to be great you have to achieve a higher beauty.
3. Disturbing and great are two different things. When I first saw Van Halen's 1984 it disturbed me. That does not make it great. Just attention grabbing. Likewise with Blind Faith

Without further ado, in no particular order:

Pearl Jam
by Pearl Jam
I love avocados. I grew up next to an avocado grove. There's just something magical about them for me. And then impose it on a simple, deep sky blue background

Complicated Game

James McMurtry

Well balanced. Great continuum and contrast of white to black. Captures loneliness and music. Inspires imagination

Dare You To Do It Again

Jessie Mae Hemphill and Friends

A cowboy hat, a cigarette and a gun. I don't like cowboy hats, guns or cigarettes. But, on Jessie Mae, in a dress, they look fantastic

Back To Oakland

Tower of Power

For so many Oakland is nothing more than the city with a lower cost of living and a higher rate of crime on the other side of the Bay Bridge across from San Francisco. What New Jersey is to New York City. When I see this cover it makes me smile. To me it shows Oakland as the home and San Francisco as the place to escape to get back home to Oakland

Born Not to Run

Car Talk

Rest in peace Tom Magliozzi. A great homage and pun on another great album

London Calling

The Clash

So many things have been said about this cover. The unleashed angst. The loss of control. And the homage to Elvis's eponymous album. This is greatest cover of all time

The Bittersweets

I went and saw The Bittersweets last night and I was blow away by their performance. They played in the intimate Swedish American Hall above Cafe du Nord in the Castro district in San Francisco. In addition to an incredible, energetic performance of their hit, Long Day, they also blew me me away with their covers of Gillian Welch's Orhpan Girl and Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers. I've heard Gillian Welch sing Orphan Girl herself live and heard Emmylou sing it live as well at least once. Neither compared to the Bittersweet's performance. They also sang one song both a capella and without amplification. Impressive. Plus the venue was just perfect for them. So intimate. Catch a show there if you can.

Photos of the show from my colleague: http://darryl.smugmug.com/gallery/6359695_FLxh8

Goodnight, San Francisco by The Bittersweets
(purchased and autographed last night in San Francisco)

Long Way From Home: The Bittersweets Live

Van Morrison

I'm currently having a musical orgasm. I just bought Van Morrison's 1994 'A Night In San Francisco' with John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells, Jimmy Witherspoon, his daughter Shana Morrison, James Hunter, Brian Kennedy, and Georgie Fame. Just an incredible album. First I just bought his duet with John Lee Hooker on Gloria. Then I had to have the whole album. I'll be listening to this one over and over until I wear out the bits. Van Morrison really is the greatest white singer ever.