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.
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
Debbie Harry from Blondie captured at photographer Sheila Rock's flat in Holland Park, London in 1977. Her dress matched with the curtains.
Alternative version cover art for Pink Floyd's fifth studio album Atom Heart Mother (known as Wire Cow - or Why A Cow?)
Inner sleeve artwork for Pink Floyd's album Wish You Were Here. The nude woman in the inner sleeve is absent from first viewing
'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'
Cover artwork for Raw Power, Iggy Pop's iconic third studio album that was released in February 1973
Photographed as a homage to the Pink Floyd album sleeve 'Animals' for the BBC series 'Britain In Pictures'.
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.
Bob Dylan rehearsing for the recording of his BBC In Concert show at BBC Studios, Shepherds Bush in London in June 1965
Marc Bolan playing with T.Rex in Copenhagen, Denmark in March 1973
Limited edition of Morgan Howell's original painting of the cover of The Ramones 'Baby, I Love You' vinyl single
Rare contact sheet by David Corio with a fantastic selection of images of Bob Marley performing in London in 1980.
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band who were in the vanguard of the British music Invasion that became popular in the US in 1964–65.
Madness are an English band from Camden Town, London & one of the most prominent bands of the late 70s & early 80s 2 Tone ska revival.
Oasis were an English rock music band formed in Manchester in 1991, to date the band have sold over 70 million records worldwide.
David Bowie was a leading figure in popular music for over five decades & regarded by critics & musicians as a true innovator.
A photographic celebration of Manchester's rock music history. Free exhibition at Manchester Central Library until 22 February 2019
Welcome to our Jazz & Blues Print Collection - over 50 years of iconic images of the world's greatest Jazz & Blues musicians
The USA has given us many of the world's greatest music artists - we celebrate the best of the best
Edition 100 was created to give fans & collectors a chance to own classic, historical pictures of their favorite bands.
