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CURIOSITIES

10 iconic album covers in music history

Although today music is listened to almost exclusively digitally, there was a time when, in order to sell physical records, it was also important to make iconic covers.

Music in fact is art in all respects and it is not only the tracks that count, but also the images: throughout history, unique covers have been made, full of stories and legends about their creation.

Here are ten historical covers, represented by photographs or realised through graphics, and the stories behind their creation.

Artwork

Some covers are true works of art

Although today music is listened to almost exclusively digitally, there was a time when, in order to sell physical records, it was also important to make iconic covers. Music in fact is art in all respects and it is not only the tracks that count, but also the images: throughout history, unique covers have been made, full of stories and legends about their creation. Here are ten historical covers, represented by photographs or realised through graphics, and the stories behind their creation.

Artwork

Abbey Road - The Beatles

This is the only cover of the Liverpool band on which neither the album title nor the band's name appears. The shot was taken by Iain Macmillan, who on 8 August 1969, standing on a ladder in the middle of the street, captured the scene: of the six shots, the fifth was chosen, where the Fab Four were well lined up. This cover contributed more than any other to the legend of Paul McCartney's death. Here are some of the alleged clues: Paul is the only one barefoot and out of step with the others, the number plate of the Beetle parked on the left would indicate Paul's age if he had been alive at the time of the record's release, and on the opposite side a large black van is reminiscent of those used by the mortuary police in road accidents. The pedestrian crossing in this famous photo is now a tourist attraction: hundreds of visitors every day pose to have their picture taken at the famous 'Abbey Road' pedestrian crossing.

Artwork

The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground

It is impossible not to recognise the iconic and provocative cover of the New York formed band's debut album. The banana depicted was conceived and designed by Andy Warhol and in early copies of the album, by 'peeling' the banana, i.e. removing a sticker, one could see a shocking pink banana, a clear reference. The early copies are very rare, as the cost of producing the print, made with a special machine, was very high.

Artwork

The Dark Side of The Moon - Pink Floyd

Light passing through a prism to realise the colour spectrum: a simple idea, but not trivial and in perfect harmony with the theme of Pink Floyd's concept album. The design was created by Aubrey Powell and Storm Thorgerson of the famous Hipgnosis studio, which has done many historic covers, including those of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. It is said that the inspiration for the cover came from an image of a prism found in a photography book.

Artwork

Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen

The photo of 'Born in the U.S.A.' was taken by Annie Leibovitz (professional photographer who also took the last photo of John Lennon, five hours before his death). Bruce Springsteen has said that the idea for this cover was unintentional: so many different shots were taken, and in the end everyone agreed (including The Boss) that the image depicting only Bruce's backside was the most iconic.

Artwork

Aladdin Sane - David Bowie

The cover of 'Aladdin Sane' features one of the most famous and iconic images of Bowie's career. Photographer Brian Duffy believed that the lightning bolt design was inspired to the singer by a ring that belonged to Elvis Presley: in fact, the image aspired to represent all the nuances of the singer-songwriter's personality. From the various shots, the photographer chose a frontal, downcast-eyed image in which the expression would be contemplative, in full contrast to the harsh lightning bolt dividing the face. The tear on the collarbone, on the other hand, was Duffy's idea.

Artwork

Nevermind - Nirvana

The baby on the cover is Spencer Elden, photographed at the age of 4 months in a swimming pool in Pasadena, California, by photographer Kirk Weddle: obviously the dollar note hanging from a hook was added in post-production. The idea for the image had come to Kurt Cobain after watching a documentary about giving birth in water. In 2008, Elden offered again to redo the same photograph and was portrayed in Bermuda shorts, in the same pool as then: he also tattooed the words 'Nevermind' on his chest. However, on the 30th anniversary of the record's release, Elden filed a $150,000 lawsuit against the people involved in making the cover, claiming that his image was exploited.

Artwork

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles

Created at Paul McCartney's suggestion by Jann Haworth and Peter Blake, this cover is a collage in which the Fab Four inserted some symbolic characters, with the idea of gathering an audience in front of whom they would have liked to perform. Among the figures are: Albert Einstein, Marlon Brando, Karl Marx, Edgar Allan Poe, Sonny Liston, Lenny Bruce, Aleister Crowley, Laurel and Hardy, Lewis Carroll. Even on this cover there would be clues to McCartney's alleged death: for example, on the back cover Paul is the only one photographed from behind.

Artwork

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin

The album cover recasts a still from the video of the 'Zeppelin LZ 129 Hindenburg' disaster, a German airship that caught fire at the Lakehurst Air Station, New Jersey. In the disaster, which occurred on 6 May 1937, 35 of the 97 people on board died. After seeing the cover that juxtaposed the name 'Zeppelin' with the Hindenburg tragedy, Countess Eva von Zeppelin, granddaughter of Count von Zeppelin (famous designer of the eponymous airships), threatened to sue Led Zeppelin for illegal use of the family name: during a live performance in Copenhagen in 1970, the band had to call themselves 'The Nobs'.

Artwork

Horses - Patti Smith

The cover of Patti Smith's debut album was taken by the famous photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, her partner at the time and later a great friend. The photo is iconic because it shows the singer-songwriter dressed in men's clothing (a provocative choice at the time), recreating an equally famous posed photo of Frida Kahlo.

Artwork

Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division

The cover of Joy Division's debut album was created by Factory Records graphic designer Peter Saville. The image is famous because it depicts, in inverted colours, a series of electromagnetic waves produced by the pulsar PSR B1919+21, the first neutron star ever discovered: to look at them, these waves seem almost hypnotic and may remind one of mountain peaks or real sea waves. Today, this image is printed on t-shirts worn by many people around the world.

Rankings

26/04/2024

The 10 most expensive pianos in the world

The password in the luxury industry is "customization" to the customer's wishes. In the case of pianos, this trend has created amazing musical instruments.

A grand piano is a major investment, and it is natural that it involves not only the financial aspect, but also the emotional aspect, since it is about the passion of playing and listening to music.

To understand what it means when it comes to a high-end piano, here are what are the 10 most expensive pianos in the world according to the portal Luxury Pianos.

Rankings

25/04/2024

The most beautiful songs of all time according to Rolling Stone: the top 20 positions

The well-known US magazine Rolling Stone in 2021 has updated the list of the 500 most beautiful songs of all time.

The ranking was first published on December 11, 2003 and was compiled by a jury chosen by the editorial staff, composed of 172 musicians, music critics and experts in the recording industry. Subsequently, the ranking was changed twice: the first in 2010, the second in 2021, when 254 songs that were previously not present were added.

Obviously, there is nothing more subjective than music: these songs are considered the best according to the criteria defined by Rolling Stonemagazine, but each of us has his own personal ranking of the best songs ever. Here, however, is the Top 20 of Rolling Stone.

Curiosities

24/04/2024

Songs that became hit long after their release

Sleeper Hit: this term refers to songs that achieved international fame long after their release as singles, months, years or even decades later.

There are many reasons why a song that initially went unnoticed can later become a hit: for example, the inclusion of the song on the soundtrack of a film or TV series, or the release of a remix of that single.

Here are some of the most famous cases of sleeper hits, songs that reached success late.

Rankings

23/04/2024

The best singers of all time: the updated 2023 rankings

In 2008, 'Rolling Stone' compiled a list of the 100 best singers of all time.

This ranking was compiled 15 years ago by 180 people, including several musicians (e.g. Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Justin Timberlake, George Michael, Keith Richards), journalists and music experts.

On 1 January 2023, however, 'Rolling Stone' published an update of the ranking that revolutionised the list, especially with regard to the Top Ten. As the well-known US magazine was keen to point out, this ranking does not only take into account technical and vocal abilities (it is not a list of the best voices of all time), but also the originality of the vocal timbre, the record catalogue, the writing ability and the musical legacy of the singers in question. Here are the top 20 positions.

Rankings

22/04/2024

Here are the most played songs at weddings: the ranking

What are the most listened to songs on the unforgettable wedding day? Spotify reveals the complete ranking of the most listened to songs in 2022.

There are almost 15 million playlists on the music streaming platform and many of them are dedicated to the wedding day itself: from the most romantic songs to those for going wild and dance.

To come up with this ranking, Spotify checked which songs are the most added on wedding-related thematic playlists: browse the photo gallery to find out which songs are the most played in the world

Curiosities

21/04/2024

Urban legends: singers supposedly dead and replaced by a lookalike

The world of music is full of legends, alleged secrets, anecdotes and little-known stories: some tales are true, others totally invented, the product of fantasy or some hypothesis that has never been verified.

These are urban legends, for which there is no certain source. Among the most interesting legends is the one about musicians and singers who may have died in the past and then been replaced by a double.

Proponents of this theory also cite evidence of, according to them, aesthetic differences or subliminal traces left behind in albums and songs: here are five of the most famous cases of singers who supposedly died and were replaced.

Rankings

20/04/2024

Musicians who have won the most Grammy Awards: the ranking

The Grammy Award is the most prestigious music award, as well as being one of the most important awards in the entertainment industry and is therefore generally regarded as the equivalent of the Oscars in the film world.

As with the Oscars, the choice of the winner is made by a vote of experts, namely the members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, an association of US artists and technicians involved in the music industry.

Find out who the most awarded musicians are: there are not only singers, but also record producers and conductors!

Curiosities

19/04/2024

Singers who won Oscars for best actor

In the history of music, there are many singers who have also tried their hand at acting, including in Hollywood major productions.

Many musicians have also been nominated for best actor (lead and supporting), such as Lady Gaga or Mary J. Blige, but few have then managed to win the coveted statuette for their acting skills by entering this special ranking.

Here are some singers who have won the Oscar for best actor, lead and supporting.

Curiosities

18/04/2024

Worth a fortune: the world's most valuable vinyls

LoveAntiques.com, the leading online antiques resale web platform, has created a ranking of the world's most valuable vinyls.

To make this list, LoveAntiques.com turned to the invaluable help of Phil Barton, one of the world's leading experts on rare vinyls and records.

What determines the value of the record is not the high number of copies sold, but the factor that drives up the price is errors, such as a misprint or a censored cover. Here are what vinyls are worth a fortune, according to Phil Barton and LoveAntiques.com.

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