WORST ALBUM COVERS OF ALL TIME

[@canadianstudmuffin]

*50 WORST ALBUM COVERS OF ALL TIME (PART 1):* kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGe5qqmIgZqkl8k *50 WORST ALBUM COVERS OF ALL TIME (PART 3):* kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2GZnmedbclshq8 *50 WORST ALBUM COVERS OF ALL TIME (PART 4):* kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGjMhamjbryppNU *50 WORST ALBUM COVERS OF ALL TIME (PART 5):* kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4jLn6qja6aAiLs *SUBSCRIBE TO CANADIAN STUDMUFFIN:* kzbin.info *SUBSCRIBE TO LARRY GRAVES ASMR:* kzbin.info *CANADIAN STUDMUFFIN MEMBERSHIP:* kzbin.info/door/ug-FoKfBmPBI-N3BD4_8rwjoin *LARRY GRAVES AKA CANADIAN STUDMUFFIN SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:* linktr.ee/larrygraves *All "likes" comments and sharing of my videos is very much appreciated. Thank you!*

[@SuperRoo_22]

Pantera's original artwork for their last studio album "Reinventing The Steel" was pretty bad. Compared to their other Phil Anselmo era albums. But they made up for it with the 20th Anniversary Edition. A much better cover. Also Exodus's "Tempo Of The Damned" & Anthrax's "Fistful Of Metal" are pretty woeful too.

[@ilikesparksilikesparks5929]

It's nice to see someone, somewhere agrees with me about Pet Sounds with that lame trip to the petting zoo cover. It has to be the biggest disparity between album quality and cover art quality in music history! I know it was the '60s but gimme a break.

[@FatherStack]

@14:36 I did an image search and it's apparently a black metal band from Spain called Blazemth and the album is called Fatherland. Great series of videos! They're sooooo entertaining!

[@traildoggy]

If you think about it a moment, Van Morrison telling a ventriloquist dummy to shut up is brilliant. Even more so if you know his history and attitude towards people in the music industry trying to tell him what to do. It's great satire.

[@rft2001]

I actually like the Born Again cover. I think it sums up the darkness of that album with a whole Rosemary's Baby vibe. I consider born again and sabotage to be their two darkest masterpieces so I'm biased but it's funny that you mentioned both of them. I love the albums so much that I associate the covers with the music.

[@elc1960]

That Chuck & the Woodchucks cover looks like a bowling team got lost on its way to the bowling lanes and ended up in a musical instruments shop. And Pet Sounds looks like Carl, Brian, Mike, Al and Dennis smoked a big bowl of hash and decided to go to a petting zoo.

[@RuthlessMetalYT]

Id put Black Sabbath's Born Again in my top 5 album covers of all time. It's so badass!

[@Orange_Affinity]

The Knob Lick album has an explanation printed at the bottom of the cover. Knob Lick is a town in Kentucky etc.

[@Wayner71]

I couldn't work out if the head from 'Riot' was supposed to be a seal pup or a barn owl. Adema's giant is wearing sandals. They should have aimed for his Achilles heel. Jamie Redfern was a child prodigy pop star from Australia in the Early 70's. Liberace "discovered" him and then toured with him. I think that Kjell Kraghe's yachting scene takes the cake for me in a comedy sense. All these years later and still no one has worked out what the miracle at the Miracle Sisters house was.

[@iluvj50]

Before they became King's X, Ty, Doug and Jerry were known as Sneak Preview. Their one album - eponymously titled - has a truly wretched cover. The guys would agree. It should have been called "Wretched Goes To Nebraska."

[@davehall8584]

Lolol! i love your low key understated Canadian humour!

[@geminielectro]

Coluche was a French humorist and comedian. This album is probably a recording of one of his shows. He was a very important figure. He was stronger than the politicians. He even stood in the presidential elections but withdrew. He created a very important association in France called ‘Les Restos Du Coeur’ which feeds people in difficulty free of charge.

[@strnglhld]

We need a 5-part, 10-hour, absurdly in-depth Netflix series: “Whatever Happened to Johnny Tan?”

[@nmkosak]

Reinhard Mey is one of the most sophisticated german singer/songwriters. The album cover visualizes one of the songs on the album about Friday the 13th, where everything goes wrong for him until he looks at the calendar and realizes it`s only Thursday the 12th.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

"Über den Wolken" was his big hit in 1974.

[@shedjammer87]

Chuck and the Woodchucks look like they're ready to go bowling.

[@ExtremeBeatlesArchive]

Liberace was Jamie Redfern's mentor and he took him on tour with him in the early 70s

[@nickydee569]

That Born Again cover was shown to Tony Iommi as a joke but he ended up really liking it. When Ian Gillan was given a shipment of the albums to look at, he took one look at that cover and threw the box out his bedroom window

[@nannettefreeman7331]

True story. I was Krusher's assistant in those days 🤘🏼

[@bookerdewitt2274]

Coluche was a renowned French comedian who tragically died in 1986. People still praised him today because he ran for president in the 1980's and founded "Les Restos du Coeur" an association which provide food for the poors. Vol 3 might be recordings of his stand-ups. (I'm not offended or anything, I'm just giving some context)

[@andrewbowman4611]

Russ Hamilton suggesting that we will make love? Not in that jumper we won't!

[@gileslesmith]

Great show! Had some of them on vynil back in my vynil days but never replaced them on cd.

[@TheAlbumReviewchannel]

Stunner man. We need part 3

[@georgeprice4212]

Run With The Pack was Bad Company’s third (?) album in as many years, and probably didn’t have a better idea.

[@canadianstudmuffin]

Yes. My least favorite of their first four albums... a bit bland overall.

[@lansesteiner3563]

I was hysterically laughing at “I Farta”. Tears were falling from my face

[@rickhenry8760]

Part 1 didn't disappoint ! I agree with a few alvum covers that no words can express what you see. I love your expressions when you can't hold back the laughter ! I had to pause the vid a few time time catch my breath laughing. Great Job ! Now on to Part 3 !

[@LarryGravesCanadianStudmuffin]

Thank you! 🙂

[@shawnw8717]

Background on the cover for Remain in Light. Tina Weymouth said it took her a very long time, like over a month, to use the computer software available at the time to "red out" their faces on a photo. She had to save after each pixel was painted red. Today it could be done in a matter of seconds.

[@iluvj50]

Millie Jackson's album could have been called "Backside Of The Moon."

[@someguy7424]

👏

[@wujekalice2570]

Hey Man - Coluche was a very good French actor and comedian. He REALLY looked as on this cover. Try to find film The Wing or the Thigh, from the French L'aile ou la cuisse -

[@elc1960]

Reinhard Mey: "Guten tag, I am Reinhard Mey, and ziss is mein dachshund Fritzie...you like?" His name should be Reinhard Meh...

[@triplejazzmusicisall1883]

Ever noticed how the very worst covers tend to fit into one of two criteria Glam/Heavy rock/metal or Christian music. I can ee this series going right up to Part 40!

[@wendythomson2542]

Chuck and the Woodchucks look like a darts team.

[@iluvj50]

That Three Dog Night cover is clearly trying to give birth to a cover trying to stirrup some controversy.

[@MichaelGarbutt-r8]

I have one of those albums. The Born Again album by Black Sabbath wasn't very playable either. Ian Gillian just didn't fit in as lead singer in my opinion

[@georgeprice4212]

Tony Iommi is planning on doing a full remix for Born Again. The album was rushed out and never given a proper mix.

[@davehall8584]

I went to the Gig!!!..Gillan was so badly heckled the crowd were screaming dead loud "F**K OFF...Bring back Ozzy! / where is Ozzy?!...like all through the night NON-STOP!!!!.....it was freaking AWFUL a concert...Gillan was TOTAL shit!...I left the gig crying with laughter!

[@lansesteiner3563]

Lovesexy from Prince always makes me laugh. The cover of Tripping Daisy - I Am An Elastic Firecracker

[@barbarakirk3064]

Van Morrison's 'The Prophet Speaks' reminds me of when Martin found his ventriloquist's doll Lord Lucky, on Friday Night Dinner!

[@sergefrancoeur9072]

Hi Larry, Coluche is a french comedian from France, and i think he is dressed as one of his character on this album cover.

[@canadianstudmuffin]

Yes, I mentioned that in a reply to another comment, as I checked him out on KZbin after doing this video. Thanks.

[@moshihus]

Brilliant again!!! Look at traditional Scottish and Irish music albums.....some humdingers to be found there!!!

[@barbarakirk3064]

I think the sleeve of Run With The Pack was inspired by an illustration in the original Jungle Book - Mowgli as a child was suckled by the she wolf among her cubs. Akela helped bring him up as he was abandoned.

[@rickknutson6540]

The miracle at my house was that Dad didn't stink up the bathroom and that Millie Jackson if she would have turned around you would have gotten the Dark side of the Moon Do a part 3

[@downumop]

The Miracle At My House, the girl is holding a guiro, a percussion instrument. Still don't know what the miracle was. Do a Part 4, please.

[@elc1960]

Knorkator's cover looks like KISS meet The Hudson Brothers after visiting Chernobyl...

[@DCToonTime]

Yeah, that Born Again cover looks like it was cobbled together by a first year graphic design student. Just look at the type placement jammed up against the very edges on the left and right. You need to give the type air around it. The basic imagery is not bad but could be better with a little more photo contrast and of course better placement with the type.

[@elc1960]

Charlie & Ira Louvin were indeed a great country and bluegrass act, and they're members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Their last name is pronounced "LOOVIN."

[@ΝίκοςΠαπαγεωργίου-κ7η]

We want to see part three!!!

[@michaelfrei3044]

Coluche was actually the most famous French comic of the eighties, so this is basically stand-up and his stage appearance was actually like this and this was all on purpose. He was very critical of the french government and, at one point, even ran for president, which pissed off the whole political scene. And then he died tragically in a freak motor-cycle accident. some in France still believe he was murdered.

[@pleasantvalleypickerca7681]

Hi Larry. Well you did it again! I'd seen some of these, but once again most I had not. I think you should let Glen Kellaway know about "Bare-naked Banjos"! I have a feeling he might really enjoy it.

[@geraldbacher3960]

Born Again from Black Sabbath ......Great Album & good Cover for me!!!

[@briankessler3501]

Two album covers that come to mind: 1.) Swamp Dogg-Rat On! 2.) Johnny "Guitar" Watson-What the Hell Is This? Great series, my friend. Edit #1- Grest shirt Larry. Motorhead rocks. Edit #2- The Louvin Brothers literally almost burnt the set to the ground when taking cover picture for Satan Is Real. Great cd, btw.

[@kenlee1416]

Initially disliked the Born Again cover but now indifferent to it. The music is great though, in my top 5 Sabbath albums. That Riot 'Fire Down Below' is an essential early 1980s metal album - and the hybrid seal mascot on the cover looks kind of cute the more you look at it 😁

[@stephenrostkoski837]

That was fun, Larry.

[@elc1960]

Comic Pat Cooper also did a parody of the Whipped Cream album cover, entitled Marinara Sauce and Other Delights. He's on the cover with tomato sauce all over him.

[@happyhippythevinylguy]

The Crosby stills and Nash album Wednesday award for worst album by a top-notch band.. what in the heck were they thinking

[@georgeprice4212]

CSN: We got the album done Atlantic: What about the cover? Crosby: Hot Dogs on metal hangers Atlantic: …..go with it.

[@bobbyvox2352]

All the covers including Frank’s were somebody’s “Cocaine decision”!🥳👍

[@tomfabozzi6309]

What you have to remember about Van Morrisson is, legendary status aside, he's a very odd guy (look up his recent personal life), with a bit of a God complex. He's also been trading on his reputation for most of the last 40 years, with only a handful of decent albums in that time, after a sublime run of albums from about 1969-1983

[@pardyhardly]

11:51 That has also happened to me after eating at IHOP.

[@stevesstuff1450]

I've been an Alice Cooper fan for the past 50-odd years, but I agree wholeheartedly that the "Raise Your Fist and Yell" cover picture is terrible! So contrived, and lacking any creativity! That last one:- "The miracle in my house" is just downright creepy! Looks like an old, nasty, worn, porcelain doll came to life and is threatening 'something' with that odd 'skittle/missile', and a terrible stare from the depths of Hell by those cold dead eyes.....!!

[@LaStarza61]

That is obviously a child suffering from Down Syndrome... which probably has something to do with the title of the album.

[@marclahn7072]

Very entertaining! Enjoyed the hell out of this. Many moments of genuine laughter throughout. All you have to do is just see them pop up... the reaction of laughter is organic! And hey, I've seen alot of other hilariously bad ones. These things just never fail to amuse. Gotta peel back now and watch Part 1! *Two things about this one though... 1. I've never had an issue with Black Sabbath's "Born Again" Could it have been "better," yes. But I just don't get the overt backlash on this one. It's called "Born Again"....it is Black Sabbath. Add on that it came out in "1983" The 80s were notorious for more generic, not nearly as imaginative cool covers as from the fantastic 1970s. So okay, if Black Sabbath released this album in say 1974, then yeah, I might have more of a problem with it. At least from an aspect of quality comparison to the others (eg "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath," "Black Sabbath," "Never Say Die," etc.) -- I saw where someone else below said that "Born Again" is a play on the 1973 horror flick, "It's Alive!" and I think that's just about right. There's just nothing wrong with it, imo. *I think the only (minor) issue I ever had with it at all, was the harsh, off-putting clash of color (i.e. bold red on that particular blue) But maybe there was a good reason for that as well. You know, to make it more unpleasant in that way. But either way, I remember seeing it the week it came out at Listening Booth (mall record store) and my initial reaction was simply, "oh cool, new Sabbath" I didn't think it was a "great" cover, but I didn't have a problem with it either. #2 .... What in the world is wrong with Bad Company's "Run With The Pack" ? I have no idea why that... basically pretty cool rock album cover is part of this list. ?? Wolves and their pack. What's the problem? The original LP was a cool shiny silver too. Groovy.....baby. Seriously though, grab a Rudy Ray Moore instead! Or maybe Yes's pathetic (and totally 80s lame) "Big Generator" jacket. Marc *Almost forgot.... I have to admit, the same "Dark Side of The Moon" joke popped into my head concerning that oh-so-classy Millie Jackson LP. 💩 🌒 You should've gone with "Animals" or "Wish You Were Here" Larry, you inadvertently set up a "perfect joke" by thinking of Dark Side of The Moon first. Haha

[@briankessler3501]

Sabbath cribbed the image on Born Again from Depeche Mode record, fyi. Not sure which one but my long ago girlfriend pointed it out to me back then.

[@robertharvey2604]

Those were some definitely bad covers by great artists. As for some of the others, there's something for everyone, but I still can't believe they were released albums.

[@xx7secondsxx]

Saw the 1st a few hours ago!.... only had to wait a few hours for part 2! 🤘🎸🤘🎸🤘🍻🍻 Here come some golden laughs!

[@davidsalyers234]

Dark side of the Moon. 23:57 Lmfao Lmfao nice Freudian slip...🙃

[@billsantospianomore678]

I have a more recent CD by the German singer/guitarist Reinhard Mey. I like it.

[@p.d.l7023]

There was a video for TN's "Scream Dream" on very early MTV, like the first year.

[@motnosniv]

Knob Lick Upper 10,000 has to be the strangest band name ever.

[@mitchelltheawesome1]

Wolf, Hanging in the Balance, and Fire Down Under are actually really good albums.

[@jeff901]

That wolf looks like Jake Gyllenhaal.

[@bramblebop1904]

Good series, I like. Gives the sense of the moving of time. Something like that.

[@atlasking6110]

I love the BORN AGAIN cover. It fits the music on that album - hard, raw and nasty

[@happyhippythevinylguy]

That Kevin Rollin album wow...lol

[@bobgordon236]

"Knob Lick"....hmmm. Right up there with "My Lips...." Wow.

[@MostlyLoveOfMusic]

There were a handful of good ones in there - ones with a lot of artistic merit

[@janetsampson1779]

I love Coluche Vol 3 Larry,one of the all time great album covers. Bob.

[@vladdrakul7851]

I LOVE the 'Born Again' Cover. I think it is one of the best Metal LP covers even if the production values are not high. It has a punk 'cheap amateur' style but is a great example of 'Rosemarie's Baby' imagery. 'Pet Sounds' is far worse being boring. My biggest disagreement with Larry I think that the Talking Head's 'Remain in Light' is both a great album AND a great cover! IMHO! Also Larry you say you did not like the 'Studio Tan' Frank Zappa LP cover because it was not approved by him. Why should that matter? I bought that LP and think it is one of his best LP covers TBH!

[@alainsuero65]

This is addictive, more please!

[@musiclistsareus1029]

In the last one the smaller person is holding a guiro, it is a percussion instrument with a distinctive scraping sound. They're quite common

[@canadianstudmuffin]

Thanks!

[@VinylCollektor23]

Yay part two!!

[@johnross2924]

To be honest I dnt get why the beatles white album or acdc back in black don't feature on worst album covers, after all not a great deal of imagination has gone into them 😆🇬🇧

[@georgeprice4212]

Back In Black was meant to be a tribute to Bon Scott, hence the simple black cover.

[@xx7secondsxx]

They're iconic. Exactly has to do with the title of the LP

[@johnross2924]

@@xx7secondsxx both great albums, but what came first the title or the album cover?

[@BigSky1]

@@johnross2924 The White Album was originally going to be called ‘A Dolls House’ until Family released ‘Music In A Dolls House’. The original cover was used for ‘The Beatles Ballads’ in the ‘80s

[@someguy7424]

Yes, but I think they were minimalistic in an effective way. The white album cover served as a stark contrast to Sgt. Pepper’s and Magical Mystery Tour (which many people considered tacky looking).

[@someguy7424]

Call me crazy, but I really like the Blue Oyster Cult, Deep Purple, and Asia album covers.

[@terrydintelman2491]

Great show, just a heads up riot is from New York. And that is an unbelievably excellent album terrible album cover but great music

[@gogoyubari366]

Love the Sabbath and Cooper album covers and Talking Heads!

[@cherrycarter8442]

Larry, Jamie Redfern was an Australian sort of young talent team winner, bit of a David Cassidy for pre pubescent teen girls here in OZ, he went to the States to get noticed, and he did, by Liberace. I think Jamie is still around, probably playing old folks homes and returned service mens clubs, I think his connection to Liberace probably sunk his career.

[@elc1960]

The thing that girl is holding in the cover for The Miracle At My House is a Latin rhythm instrument with high grooves on it, and it's played by scraping up and down on it with the stick she holds in her left hand.

[@davidl570]

Isn't that the instrument you hear in Santana's Evil Ways? If not, it's something very similar!

[@elc1960]

@@davidl570 Correct!

[@davidl570]

@@elc1960 Okay, thought that was the case!

[@MrNintaus]

Asia Astra cover is a Roger Dean work as far as i know. The miracle at my house - Ghost like child holds a Guiro, a percusion instrument.

[@marcbergeron8690]

Roger Dean is somewhat overrated. I like some of his drawings like Tales From Topographic Ocean, nice colors but honestly it makes no sense.

[@kenives6548]

That Frank Zappa album art was done by Gary Panter the designer of Pee Wee’s Playhouse

[@elc1960]

As Ive said many times over the years, Christian and religious music give us many album covers that are sheer comedy gold. Country Church is an excellent example. Another one would be the album by The Gospelites, Chet & Dave. What an unfortunate cover that one is...

[@sturmraist50]

Some bizarre covers here! Thanks for the video.

[@iainhead9898]

I own the Handsome Beasts album!!! The back cover is worse as it has about a dozen other shots from the same photoshoot...If you do part 3, you need to do another of theirs, The Beast Within... Actually, the NWOBHM is a treasure trove if you're looking for dreadful covers : I give you Splitbeaver, Rogue Male, Rankelson, A Ii Z.... Fill yer boots!!!

[@billsantospianomore678]

Wow !!! I had that Rick Wakeman double album on vinyl long ago. It's quite good.

[@TonVenhuizen]

Alice Cooper has some album covers I don't like (and if you look at Killer, Schools Out, Billion Dollar Babies, or From the Inside, you know he also has fantastic ones. Jack Starr is indeed bad. I also don't like Riot's cover and that Black Sabbath one (but it is drawing attention). Adema is indeed bad photoshopping.I can see the humour in that Matal Church one. Knorkator's cover is the baddest (couldn't even read the name well). Blue Oyster Cult's also indeed tasteless. That Beatles cover too (they could do much better). Jim Post (ooh nooo). Kevin Rowland (again ooh noooo), ManOwar (ooh nooo) etc... I wonder if Millie Jackson ever regretted a cover like that (did she approve)? Overall some great worse covers this time !!! Curious for part 3

[@elc1960]

Millie Jackson approved that album cover. It's indicative of her stage persona from the black nightclub circuit. The woman could be really, REALLY raunchy.

[@jjrusy7438]

the born again LP cover is awesome. but ya this is subjective

[@davidspinney2664]

Hi Studmuffin there are two that I have in my collection that I like the music a lot but the covers not so much Edgar Winter they only come out at night it is just creepy looking probably meant to creep out teenagers parents. and Blind faith that one the story is even creepier than the picture apparently the girl on the cover was 11 they promised her they would give her a horse but she only got $80. maybe that's what a horse cost in 1969.

[@grooveyerbouti]

Ah! Raise your fist and yell I agree is tacky,what's worse is inside sheet has the half Alice half skull that later was on Trash cover a far better illustration. One of covers that comes to mind is 1975 UK Decca Stones compilation Rolled gold truly awful.

[@p.d.l7023]

I remember seeing that Millie Jackson album in Sears, before my mom rushed me out of the record section.

[@creativestudio101]

NO NO NO NOOOOO... The black Sabbath devil baby is one of the best covers ever!

[@powbarabajagal2435]

I agree that Alice Cooper cover is awful, and a low point musically too for me. I did not know they made an alternate cover for Heaven Forbid, which I agree is a very good album. That last one that is titled the Miracle in My House...the girl is holding a percussion instrument we used to have in my elementary school...it is ridged and you use a small stick (which she has in her other hand) to scrape across the ridges of the hollow wooden 'missle' to get a rhythmic noise. But what they are doing...I guess summoning a miracle? er.... Lots of fun covers. Oh and with the Three Dog Night one, I think the second version of Hard Labor you could peel off, and the later versions (like a second one I found recently) it was simply part of the cover; slightly raised, but unpeelable.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

Yes, Alice's album cover is pretty bad and the songs are as well, just not a good era for him musically although it did bring him back into the limelight again now as a metal artist.

[@powbarabajagal2435]

@@LarryFleetwood8675 The thing about his metal era to me is I'd rather have Alice healthy and alive and making lousy albums than killing himself making good albums, like he was doing in the late 70's/early 80's. It's a miracle he survived and he has put out good records once he got past the 'Kane Roberts' era. But Kane is back in the band, so a little worried how the next record is going to turn out.

[@RoyPage1970]

Alice Cooper did make some very crappy albums after 75

[@robertsaul234]

That Charles John Quarto cover is just unfortunate.

[@elc1960]

Re Riot's Fire Down Under: Very good album. They're from New York, not Australia. I don't get the reference of the harp seal's head on the sumo wrestler's body that is their mascot. But they do have some really great metal music.

[@stevewingate3023]

I saw Kevin Roland play at the Reading festival (England) while promoting this album - the man has a lot of balls.

[@SavageGrace]

Riot was/is from New York City.

[@mike196212]

I've seen that woodchucks lp. I have a neighbor who looks a LOT like that naked guy with the banjos. Funny. Keep it coming. Thanks.

[@antennical]

I love that Alice Cooper cover. My friend in middle school drew it on his notebook and that was my introduction to Alice. I also watched an interview with the Kurt Vanderhoof from Metal Church and it was definitely not his idea to have that album cover. Lastly....Is it just me Larry, or does Charles John Quarto look like he could be a long lost Sparks Brother? LOL - Just sayin.

[@ianbeale2527]

Dexys Midnight Runners (a local band to me) were far from a "One Hit Wonder". Maybe in the States, but not here in the UK. Their album Too-Rye-Aye is great listening.

[@grantross2609]

picked up on that too .... that album cover tho !