La Fin de La Semaine Essay Question: Special "A Picture May Be Worth 1000 Words, But That's Still No Excuse for Verbosity" Edition

And speaking as we were yesterday of Beatles-related frontispieces, it occurred to me -- and I must confess to being surprised -- that we've never tackled the subject of album covers in any of our weekend excursions over the years.

I know, I know, it seems unlikely, even given my widely celebrated lack of imagination, but it's true. Seriously -- I did the research.

So, of course, this leads us, inexorably, to today's business. To wit:

...and your favorite (or least favorite) album cover on a post-Elvis LP in any genre -- pop, rock, soul, country, jazz, comedy, original cast/soundtrack or classical(!) -- is...???

Discuss.

No arbitrary rules whatsoever, but for obvious reasons -- particularly that, post-Sgt. Pepper, the album cover had pretensions of being an art form -- I think we should restrict it to the pre-CD era. I mean, top of my head, I can't think of many small-scale covers that have made much of an impression on me in the last couple of decades. But your mileage may vary, of course, so I'm not gonna be a Hitler Jr. on the subject.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, my favorites are a four-way tie.

Beginning with this splendidly tacky example of 50s/60's classical cheesecake.

Yes, I said classical cheesecake. Trust me, it was a real genre, usually represented on stuff from the smaller, indie, classical labels. I should add that there were countless LP versions of this Rimsky-Korsakov warhorse that were similarly (and some a little more daringly) art-directed than the above. (Think: boobs.)

And then there's this one, which speaks for itself.

And this, which I think remains the most evocative and best art-directed album cover of all freaking time. I mean, really -- forgetting the layout and typography of the thing, I can hear the music and feel the Manhattan summer heat just looking at it.

And then, of course, there's this masterpiece.

What -- you seriously thought I wasn't gonna include something by a band I was in? It is to laugh. 😎

I should add that the above is currently hanging, framed, on the wall of my local Forest Hills watering hole the Keuka Kafe.

If you're in the neighborhood, drop by to ogle it and have the pierogies. Tell 'em PowerPop sent you.

Alrighty then -- what would YOUR choices be?

And have a great weekend, everybody!!!