10) THE VELVET UNDERGROUND - "THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO" 1967

There's no way that you don't recognize this image, even if you never knew what it was. The sketch of the banana was done by artist Andy Warhol, who had more or less enlisted The Velvet Underground as his house band, so to speak, for all of his bizarre art/social events and spectacles.
In a time when The Rolling Stones were releasing "Ruby Tuesday", The Beach Boys had a hit with "Good Vibrations", and The Monkees had a top 5 smash with "I'm A Believer", here was a group doing things with instruments that no one had ever heard before. For the first time, the seedy reality of New York's underground art scene was being sung about and put on display, with Warhol pretty much the kingpin. For the first time rock and art were merging, and this cover depicts that.

9) JANE'S ADDICTION - "RITUAL DE LO HABITUAL" 1990

I struggled with myself for a bit deciding whether or not to include this one. I mean, sure, the original is a cool cover and all...but one of the best ever? Finally I decided that the story behind it is what puts it on this list. Jane's Addiction released this record in the middle of Tipper Gore's reign with the Parents Music Resource Center, the folks behind getting the warning labels put on album covers. When the band put forth the original cover, the artwork for which featured three paper mache naked figures created by Perry Farrell himself, some people freaked out. It was deemed obscene, and the record label suggested that the band choose an alternate cover, allowing retailers to choose which one they'd rather display in their store. Instead of simply airbrushing out the naughty bits on the figures, Perry went with what you see above: the band's name, the record's title, and the First Amendment in its entirety. Yet another great chapter in the history of music vs. the establishment.

8) LL COOL J - "RADIO" 1985

Here's one that I've never actually ever owned a copy of, but a shining example of a cover that says it all with one look. Here, a single image captures an entire album's worth of music, not to mention a specific moment in time and American culture. The boom box was obviously a sign of the times, but even if you've never heard the record before and picked it up today, you'd likely have a pretty good idea of what it's going to sound like. A perfect representation of the emergence of rap in the mid-80's, where the music came from the streets, being pumped out of 'ghetto blasters'. Gotta admit, I miss seeing dudes walk or skateboard down the street with one of these things on their shoulder.

7) HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS - "WHIPPED CREAM & OTHER DELIGHTS" 1965

Hands down, this cover is a classic. Not simply because of its raciness and innuendo, but also because a very "safe" and "wholesome" act like Herb Alpert, with his jazz/pop/standards would pull something like this off in 1965. I'd be lying if I were to say that as an adolescent I didn't spend several minutes (on several occasions) staring at this cover, afraid to actually buy the thing and bring it home in fear that my mom might throw a fit. Too bad, too...because the record is a classic in American jazz/pop, and easily Alpert's biggest commercial success. By the way, the model in the photo is Dolores Erickson, who was 3 months pregnant at the time of the shoot. She is actually wearing a white blanket, on which strategically placed globs of shaving cream were applied (because real whipped cream wouldn't have stood up under the lighting). The big blob on her head is real whipped cream, though. As well, the cover has inspired future spinoffs, including the album 'Clam Dip & Other Delights' by Soul Asylum.

6) JOY DIVISION - "UNKNOWN PLEASURES" 1979

Joy Division is practically the first group in the post-punk era to mesh both sound and imagery together, and it was never clearer than on the cover of their classic debut record. Stark, minimalist and brooding rock, coupled with the hollow, haunting voice of Ian Curtis is all found on the record. Meanwhile, on its cover, you simply have this wavy image, which sort of looks like a drawing of a mountain range, doesn't it? In fact, it's a graphical representation of 100 consecutive electromagnetic pulses from the first pulsar ever discovered, scientifically known as CP 1919. Beyond that, there was no other information to be found whatsoever. No album title, no band name, no mention of the record label, not even track titles (though apparently, the N. American release at least had "Joy Division" and "Factory Records" displayed in small white print somewhere on the back, but nothing else). On the vinyl itself, the label didn't even indicate which was Side 1 and which was Side 2. All it had was the pulsar wave again, and one side simply read "Outside", and the other "Inside".
This perplexing album cover left much to the imagination as to what is found inside, and goes hand-in-hand with the mysterious nature of Joy Division themselves. Can you imagine listening to an album and telling your friends, "aw man, I totally love #4 on the 'Inside' side", and have no idea what the song is called?!? Brilliant.

Again, the Top 5 were done on the show, and just click in the video section on the right to see it.
So, such a topic as this does nothing if not spark plenty of debate. Surely no two people would have the same list, so let us know what YOU think! Any of the covers listed here in your Top 10, or not a chance? Let everybody know what cover art would make your list.
Cheers,
pogo