Album covers can define a band or artist almost as much as the music itself. Sure, the sounds are certainly the most essential element, but you can't ignore the role of cover art in making a brilliant album
Originally a protective cover for the fragile goods below, the album sleeve soon evolved into an area of artistic expression in its own right. Strong album covers make a statement, entice the listener, create a first impression but with the rise of digital music, the great art of the record sleeve is under threat.
We want to celebrate the best in album design so you can put this great art on your wall as well as in your record collection. Our collection includes some of the most iconic and memorable covers ever made including a fantastic selection of Storm Thorgerson classics and alternative versions.
Aladdin Sane is the one image that has defined David Bowie and is nicknamed the 'Mona Lisa of Pop' - Shot by Duffy in his London studio.
Cover art for The Cure's debut studio album 'Three Imaginary Boys' released in May 1979
Inner sleeve artwork for Pink Floyd's album Wish You Were Here by Storm Thorgerson
Mick Rock cover artwork for the iconic Queen 2 album released in 1974
Cover artwork for The Jam's debut album 'In The City' released in 1977
Terry Pastor shot & hand coloured the photo for the album artwork on David Bowie's iconic album.
The most famous Jimi Hendrix album cover shot created for 'Are You Experienced' - often regarded as the greatest debut album
Alternative version cover art for Pink Floyd's fifth studio album Atom Heart Mother (known as Wire Cow - or Why A Cow?)
Debbie Harry from Blondie captured at photographer Sheila Rock's flat in Holland Park, London in 1977. Her dress matched with the curtains.
Album cover for Mars Volta's 'Frances the Mute' created in Bedfordshire, UK in 2004 by Storm Thorgerson
Alternative version of the cover artwork for Pink Floyd's 1994 album 'Division Bell' designed by Storm Thorgerson
Cover artwork for O.A.R's 2005 album 'Stories of a Stranger' designed by Storm Thorgerson
Alternative version of the album cover for Division Bell, subtly different from the iconic original
Cover artwork for Muse's 'Butterflies and Hurricanes' released in 2004 and designed by Storm Thorgerson
Alternative version of cover artwork for Muse's 2006 album 'Black Holes & Revelations' designed by Storm Thorgerson
Intended album cover for Nigel Kennedy's 'Kreisler' released in 1998 and designed by Storm Thorgerson
The cover art for The Cranberries single 'Promises' designed by Storm Thorgerson in 1999.
Album cover for Deepest Blue's 1994 release 'Is it a Sin' designed by Storm Thorgerson
Artwork for Ian Dury's 'Reasons to be Cheerful' designed in 2001 by Storm Thorgerson
Album artwork for Mars Volta's 'De-loused in the Comatorium' from 2003 designed by Storm Thorgerson and set in West London
Cover art for Thornley's 2004 debut album 'Come Again' designed by Storm Thorgerson and shot in Weston Super Mare, UK
Cover artwork photograph taken by Mick Rock for Raw Power, Iggy Pop's iconic third studio album that was released in February 1973
Psychedelic Jimi Hendrix portrait taken in London in June 1967. This image was a promotional photograph for the single 'Can You See Me'.
The Eurythmics captured during a photo shoot in Paris, 1986 for the cover art for their album 'Revenge'
'I thought of improvisation as a large ball of string (a melody as yet unravelled)'. Cover art for Phish's 1997 album Slip Stitch and Pass
'Identical shapes, one mirror, one picture, one window. How would you know which was which? 'Cover art for Catherine Wheel's album Wishville
Cover art for Catherine Wheel's 2000 single Gasoline created using 300 8x6" colour prints temporarily attached to silver birch trees.
'I took the notion of an idea, that of a light bulb above a head'. Cover artwork for Alan Parson's second album On Air
Cover artwork for Alan Parson's 1993 album Try Anything Once - 'I imagined the great bungee jumpers of the sky dropping in '.
Cover art for the live single of Wish You Were Here. 'What you see is what you get - two lost souls, swimming in a fish bowl'
Cover artwork for Yumi Matsutoya's 2003 single Setsugekka. 'A girl sinking under the weight of her memories'
Photographed as a homage to the Pink Floyd album sleeve 'Animals' for the BBC series 'Britain In Pictures'.
Cover artwork for Blinker The Star's third album, August Everywhere, shot by Storm Thorgerson
Variant of the album cover for Division Bell using alternative Stone Heads
The Pyramid Stage and Glastonbury Tor captured beautifully by Jill Furmanovsky at the 2000 Glastonbury Festival
Kate Bush captured in 1993 during the filming for short film 'The Line, The Cross & The Curve'.
Iconic photo of John Lennon with a flower in his eye, fondly known as 'Adoration'.
Freddie Mercury in the spotlight whilst playing the grand piano in Southampton in May, 1977.
A unique collection of images of Pink Floyd, one of the worlds most successful and influential rock bands.
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in 1975. Without them popular culture in the last 30+ years would be very different.
Referred to as rock music's 'Prince of Darkness', Nick Cave's music is characterised by emotional intensity & a wide variety of influences.
Queen are a British rock band credited with making significant contributions to such genres as hard rock & heavy metal, among others.
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
When it comes to rock photography Michael Putland has done it all, having shot the biggest name in rock & pop from Abba to Zappa.
Jorgen Angel was a leading music photographer for over 15 years working with greats like Queen & Led Zeppelin. Here is our unique collection
Our contact sheet collection is a rare opportunity to look back at the hidden moments surrounding some of rocks most iconic images.
