Secrets of Famous Album Covers

5The Rolling Stones – Their Satanic Majesties Request

Although many critics at the time thought they were rivals in the music industry, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles influenced each other throughout the sixties and they complimented each others accomplishments within their artwork. The Beatles’ “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” album came out in mid-1967 and it displays a Shirley Temple doll that says “Welcome To The Rolling Stones Good Guys” on her sweater.

The Rolling Stones countered the compliment and displayed the Sgt. Pepper Beatle-heads on “Their Satanic Majesties Request” album which was released later in December of 1967. Ironically, photographer Michael Cooper shot both album covers.

4Santana – Santana

You can supposedly see nine faces on Santana’s 1969 début album “Santana.” I can only spot seven including the Lion head. Can you spot all nine faces? Nonetheless, its conceptual art at its finest.

3Supertramp – Breakfast in America

Making your arrival into New York City while viewing the skyline by plane can be an exhilarating experience. Did you ever depict or mistake New York for condiments? You might’ve if you have Supertramp’s “Breakfast in America” album cover permanently stuck in your head.

Featuring the World Trade Centre twin towers made up of cornflake boxes, “Breakfast In America” also features an ashtray, cutlery, egg cartons, ketchup, vinegar and mustard bottles that brilliantly displays the New York City skyline. “Breakfast In America” beat out contender albums by Talking Heads and Led Zeppelin at the 1980 Grammy Awards for Best Recording Package.

2Harry Nilsson – Pussy Cats

Musicians Harry Nilsson and John Lennon worked together in 1974 and came out with the album “Pussy Cats.” The album artwork features Nilsson and Lennon at a table with a rug under it with two block letters, “D” and “S”, which means “Drugs under the table.” It’s supposed to symbolize Lennon’s “Lost Weekend” from Yoko Ono where Lennon went on a 18-month drunken and drug-driven period.

1The Beatles – Abbey Road

Speaking of Lennon, he was the one that led The Beatles procession for Paul McCartney’s death on The Beatles “Abbey Road” cover. Rumour has it that there was a “Paul is Dead” hysteria in the late 60s and the “Abbey Road” cover gave new clues to the story, like how The Beatles were dressed at that day. Lennon wears white, which symbolizes the clergy, Ringo Starr wears black, and is considered the pallbearer or the undertaker, and George Harrison, dressed in blue work clothes, is the gravedigger.

McCartney, the supposed corpse, uses his right leg to lead while the other three Beatles use their left to lead which means McCartney’s out of step with the rest of them. Also, McCartney’s eyes seem to be closed and is barefoot. In most areas of the world, people are buried barefoot. McCartney is also left-handed but is holding the cigarette (which could symbolize a coffin nail) in his right.

Here’s McCartney in 2009 being interviewed on The Late Show with David Letterman and debunking the theory that he actually died:

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