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.
Terry Pastor shot & hand coloured the photo for the album artwork on David Bowie's iconic album.
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
Mick Rock cover artwork for the iconic Queen 2 album released in 1974
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 by Storm Thorgerson
'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 photograph taken by Mick Rock 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.
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
Psychedelic Jimi Hendrix portrait taken in London in June 1967. This image was a promotional photograph for the single 'Can You See Me'.
Iconic shot of Jimi Hendrix used on the right hand side of the gatefold double album cover for his classic 'Electric Ladyland'.
This portrait image was illustrated onto The Jimi Hendrix Experience's "Axis Bold As Love" album cover
The most famous Jimi Hendrix album cover shot created for 'Are You Experienced' - often regarded as the greatest debut album
Famed shot for The Jimi Hendrix Experience's 'Electric Ladyland' gatefold double album cover taken at Karl Ferris's London studio
Liam Gallagher owning the stage whilst headlining with Oasis at the Glastonbury Festival in 1995
Pharell Williams in 2015 on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival
Stormzy lights up the Pyramid stage at the 2019 Festival wearing a Banksy designed Union Jack vest
The White Stripes give an electric performance on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2002
Queen are a British rock band credited with making significant contributions to such genres as hard rock & heavy metal, among others.
The Faces were an English rock band formed in the wake of the Small Faces’ split in 1969, releasing four studio LPs and one live album.
Adam and the Ants were an English new wave band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The group existed from 1977 to 1982.
Blondie is a American rock band founded by Debbie Harry & Chris Stein that pioneered the New York new wave & punk scenes of the 1970s.
For eight years photographer Brian Duffy worked with David Bowie and shot his most iconic and enduring images. View his fantastic collection
This print collection by Jill Furmanovsky contains images of Oasis on-the-road, onstage and recording in the studio during their zenith.
Our contact sheet collection is a rare opportunity to look back at the hidden moments surrounding some of rocks most iconic images.
