Album art is an essential aspect of music culture, with iconic covers like The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and Nirvana's "Nevermind" becoming symbols of their eras. But here’s the thing, not all album covers can be iconic pieces of art. In fact not only are some not winners, but they are also downright bizarre, confusing, or just plain awful. In this listicle, we'll take a deep dive into the world of cringe-worthy album art and showcase 45 of the worst cover designs in music history. From questionable fashion choices to awkward poses and weird photoshopping, these covers will leave you scratching your head and wondering, "What were they thinking?" So buckle up and prepare for an Album Art Attack!
These Hairstyles Were Never Trendy
Have you ever heard of The Faith Tones? They're an American folk and gospel group of three women. In 1964, they released an album called "Jesus Use Me", and it's safe to say that it did pretty well. But why?
Just look at the album cover. Have you seen those hairdos? They're so attention-grabbing that you might not even notice the album title at first glance. Next time, they should opt for a more understated hairstyle for their album cover.
More Brainstorming Needed
Get ready to rock with Brainstorm! Look at the cover art for their album "Smile A While". If you're bewildered by the sight of the band members sporting women's undergarments, just imagine the reaction of a conservative 2001 rock audience.
Though the cover may be unconventional, the album was a huge success. Critics praised the album, solidifying Brainstorm's place in the power metal scene. One of the standout tracks, "Smile A While," boasts a memorable chorus and guitar riffs to get your head banging.
Action Pose
On the cover of Gary’s "Getting Down To Business", he sure looks ready to get down, right? We understand wanting to strike an action, attention-grabbing pose, but perhaps this was a bit too much. It just ended up looking comical.
The album was released in 1978, but sadly, it didn’t pack enough punch to succeed. GARY, now Dr. Gary Solomon, is no longer in the music scene as he currently practices Cinematherapy.
Metal What?
A quick search online about the DethKorpz band will yield little information. With song titles like "Metal Tit" and album art that looks like it was drawn by a fourth-grader, it's no wonder they've flown under the radar.
Metal bands are known for being innovative, especially with their song titles and album art, so we guess we shouldn’t be too surprised. "Metal Tit" was released in 1991, and needless to say, it wasn’t all that successful.
The Title is Full of Lies
Hold onto your hats, folks, because we've got an album cover that will make you laugh and cringe. The Handsome Beasts' album art is a cacophony of garish colors, questionable Photoshop skills, and, wait for it...a pig?
The Handsome Beasts were a beloved local band when this album was released in 1972. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when their lead singer passed away just a year later, leaving behind a legacy of great music and a questionable album cover.
Battle Stations and Positions
Next up we have the Manowar band, and judging from the album art, you know there’s a good story. While some music groups focus on taking sophisticated pictures, these guys don't mess around when it comes to visuals – they're all about ACTION.
But don't let the over-the-top album art fool you. Manowar is a force to be reckoned with in the metal world, with over 30 million albums sold and a legion of dedicated fans. This particular album was also quite successful.
The Swankiest Outfits on a Cover
When picking cover art for your album, it's important to consider every detail, especially your outfit. Sadly, the members of Los Wankas missed that memo for the cover of their album, "Dile Si". They look more like a wedding band than a recording one.
Los Wankas was a popular cumbia band from Peru in the 1980s and 1990s. Despite their swanky outfits, this band made serious music, with their songs becoming hits not only in Peru but also in other Latin American countries.
Baring it All for the Cover
Many musicians revere music and regard it as the purest form of art. Quim Barreiros appears to have been one such musician. Just take a look at his choice of cover art for his "Recebi Um Convite" (À Casa Da Jóquina) album.
This album was released in 1975 and was quite successful, although we’re not sure if it’s because people heard a naked man was posing on the cover. Quim Barreiros was known for doing this kind of stuff early in his career.
German Comedy Through and Through
Were you also confused when you first saw this album cover? This is the cover art of Gerhard Polt’s "Leberkäs' Hawaii", released in 1981. It is a comedy album, but all we see here is very bad photoshopping skills and poor graphics.
Despite the poor graphics, the album was well-received critically and has become a cult classic among German-speaking audiences. If you speak German and you’re up for a good laugh, you might want to check this one out.
Zip Zap Stop!
Cliche name, too much color, and a pose that reeks of too much effort, this "Zip Zap Rap" album from “Devastatin’ Dave The Turntable Slave” certainly ticks all the boxes for bad album art. It’s an anti-drugs-focused album released in 1986.
Unlike most other albums on this list, this one did not end up being successful. In fact, the primary thing it has been successful at is being featured in practically every post about awful album covers.
Doesn't Look Real
This is the album art of the Louvin Brothers’ "Satan Is Real" album, released in 1959. For an album based on telling people satan is real, the Louvin Brothers sure didn’t bother to put effort into realism.
While the album art might be a joke, the quality itself isn’t. In fact, this album was so successful that several songs in it have been covered by famous musicians like Gram Parsons, Johnny Cash, and Emmylou Harris.
There's A Lot Going On Here
We've got another unexpected addition to the lineup, and once again, it's the artist –not the cover art– that's the surprise. The Rolling Stones' "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" album, released in 1970, is confusing to look at.
The band wanted a cover art that communicated joy and energy, but maybe they should have thought it over before including a donkey. This is an album art fail! However, this album was a huge success and even went platinum in the U.S.
It's a Family Thing
Prepare to travel back to the 70s. Even without the album title or additional information, it’s easy to tell that this next cover art belongs to a gospel band. It has all the characteristics – awkward poses, matching clothing, and a family.
This is the album art for "I’m God’s Child" by the Cooper Family, released in 1978. The album contained songs like "I’m God’s Child" and "It’s Called Love." But ultimately, it wasn’t really successful.
Prepare to be Blown Away
This next album is hilarious. The cringe-worthy album art for “My Lips Are For Blowing” is so bad that it’s actually good. With a title like that and a picture of a woman blowing a flute, the double entendre is impossible to ignore.
If you search for this album on your favorite music streaming platform, you won't find it. It's not real! If the cover is anything to go by, the music would be a complete disaster. Sometimes, it's better to stick to the classics!
A Gladiator with Serious Attitude
Let's wrap this album art attack series with a bang – or in this case, a guitar axe and a shield. Behold Rick James' 1982 "Throwin' Down". It's a classic example of how a terrible album cover can come with killer vocals.
Striking a pose like that with a shield and a guitar ax is almost like he was asking for criticism. At least the music was solid enough to carry this album to gold certification by the RIAA.
Beauty Standards Have Evolved
We’re not sure what is happening here, but we know that it doesn’t look good. You’re looking at the album art of Kevin Rowland’s "My Beauty". We’re all for body positivity, but to be honest, this picture just doesn’t cut it.
This is such a shame because Amazon ratings have this album at 4.5/5, meaning there’s some seriously good music to be found here. The album art is just the let-down in the whole setup. Surely there are better ways to portray beauty.
Don't Judge this Album for Its Cover
They say, “Don't judge a book by its cover," but sometimes the cover art can be a real turn-off. Case in point: Kjell Kraghe Och Ricke Löw's Orkester album cover for "Vind I Seglen" (1977). It's not great. In fact, it's pretty bad.
The font is all over the place, the editing is shoddy, and the photoshopping is confusing. Despite the lackluster cover art, this album has managed to carve out a devoted fanbase among lovers of Swedish folk music.
The Only Place You Want to Find a Rat
So far we’ve seen a lot of bad album art covers, but this takes the cake in terms of hilarity. Feast your eyes on Swamp Dogg's "Rat On!" The album cover is so hilariously bad, it might just make you do a double-take.
"Rat On!" is a classic soul album worth listening to. Released in 1971, the album features Swamp Dogg's signature blend of funky grooves, soulful vocals, and socially conscious lyrics. The cover is an eyesore, but it's what's on the inside that counts.
The Pig is Back
Remember the Handsome Beasts with the cringe-worthy album featuring a pig? Well, they're back - and so is the pig! The Handsome Beasts released the aptly titled "Beastiality" album in 1996, complete with another poorly designed album cover.
With the nudity, pig, and inappropriate name, this album cover isn't winning any design awards. But despite the questionable artwork, "Beastiality" managed to rack up some impressive numbers. The "Sweeties" track has become a fan favorite, with over 16,000 streams on Spotify.
It's Probably Racist
If there's one thing you should not mess up in your album art, it's avoiding any kind of racist undertones. Unfortunately, Anna Russell's 1954 album, "In Darkest Africa", missed the memo and ended up with some seriously cringe-worthy design choices.
Let's be real, this idea should never have seen the light of day, let alone ended up on an album cover. It's no wonder the album tanked – we can only imagine people were completely turned off by what they saw.
When Art Imitates Life
If you thought the previous album's art was bad, then this one will leave you repulsed. What you’re looking at is the album art for Millie Jackson’s "Back To The S**t". It seems she took the album name quite literally.
"Back To The S**t" is a live album released in 1989. Not unexpectedly, it quickly became popular thanks to its wild album art. However, this album also contains beautiful, soulful music. It seems to be a recurring theme– terrible album art, amazing songs.
Sausages on the Moon
Our first encounter with this cover confused us because we weren’t even sure what we were supposed to look at. We have small men climbing what looks to be “sausage trees” on what we suppose is the moon.
This is the cover art for the "Live It Up" album by Crosby, Stills & Nash, released in 1990. Again the album art might be terrible, but you should know this album peaked at No. 57 on the Billboard 200.
This Cover is NSWF
There’s no pleasant way to say this, but what you’re looking at here is a perfect example of what album art should never look like. This is the "Funky Hunkey, Nasty N**ger" album by Richard & Willie released in 1975.
If we were to encounter this image in another place, we’d assume it’s something from an xxx website or something. You’d never guess it’s supposed to promote music. It is probably fitting that even a Google search doesn’t yield any results.
Creative Concept, Awful Execution
If you’re a fan of hard rock, then you’ll likely recognize the legendary guitarist on this album cover. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Ted Nugent, one of the finest hard rock musicians ever. However, this might not have been his best moment.
A design featuring guitar hands sounds pretty cool, but if it looks like this, then we don’t want it. The graphic designer could have done a lot better. However, the album peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200 after its release in 1980.
Pose Like A Man
You know what this album art reminds us of? If Stuart from Big Bang Theory were to suddenly develop an alpha male complex and pose with an instrument in his hands. It’s awkward and too much at the same time.
But this isn’t Stuart. This is Herbie Mann’s "Push Push", one of the most influential albums of the 1970s. It was so successful that it was deemed a “Star Performer.” At least he got the music right, even if the art is poor!
Bubbly Dolly
This next one is somewhat surprising –not because of the art, the art is terrible. It’s surprising because this artist is a legend who isn’t known for getting things wrong where music is concerned. This was a terrible choice, though.
This is the cover art for Dolly Parton’s 1973 "Bubbling Over" album. Have you listened to “Love with Me," "Pleasant as May," or “Bubbling Over” by Dolly Parton? If you have, then this is the album that houses those masterpieces!
More Millie With a Provocative Cover
Earlier, we looked at a terrible album cover from Millie Jackson, and now she’s back with another one. This time, it’s her 1983 "E.S.P" album; again, she took the title literally. E.S.P. here stands for Extra Sexual Persuasion.
Think about that for a minute, and then look at the cover again. Things should become clearer now. While this album wasn’t as successful as her others, it does contain the hit Funk dance song "This Girl Could Be Dangerous."
The Infamous American Idol Contestant
We’ve seen very successful albums with really terrible album cover art. However, there are just some album artworks you’ll see and immediately know the songs will be just as bad. Case in point, William Hung’s 2004 "Hung For The Holidays" album.
This art looks like something a child whipped up; it gives off a low-budget production vibe. Not surprisingly, the album was a huge flop, and one site even rated its "Little Drummer Boy" cover as one of the worst Christmas songs ever.
Confusing and Disturbing
This next album cover borders on the disgusting side. Seriously, what exactly is this supposed to be? Sticky breasts? We have no idea. All we know is that The Scorpions didn’t get this album art right.
On the other hand, the 1979 release of "Lovedrive" is widely regarded as the pinnacle of The Scorpions' discography. The album's success is evidenced by its charting at No. 55 on the Billboard Top 200 and earning a Gold certification from the RIAA.
That’s Gotta Be Uncomfortable
Next up we have the 2004 "Up At The Crack" album release by Boned. Just a glance at the cover art was all it took to have you groaning in “pain.” To rock lovers looking to make music, a guitar in this position is never a good idea.
Rock bands are known for being “inventive” with their album names and designs but sometimes they manage to make it work. Boned didn’t. This album's art is cringe and overcompensating.
Headache Dreams
From the album art we’ve seen, the issues have either been font-related or image-related. This time the problem is color. This is the 1986 "Dream Come True" album cover art by A Flock Of Seagulls, and we’re pretty sure this “dream” didn’t!
Honestly, what designer combines yellow and vibrant red in the same design like this? If you were dreaming of a splitting headache, then staring at this album's art will certainly make that come true.
Chocolate Horror
No, that’s not the actual name of this album, but it would be a perfectly fitting one. This is the “Chocolate Starfish and The Hot Dog Flavored Water” album by Limp Bizkit. It was released in October 2000.
There’s no question that the album art sucks badly, and the music itself isn’t much better. Many critics have given it poor ratings, and the band was even voted as the worst act of the year when this album came out.
Just Inappropriate
The Scorpions are back with more questionable album cover art, this time for their 1980 release "Animal Magnetism". Unfortunately, the cover art is not only distasteful but also demeaning to women.
The cover seems to equate a woman to an animal, implying that women are helpless. Storm Thorgerson designed it and, recalling the album later, said, "That one was funny. I don't think we figured it out. We just knew there was something rude somewhere."
Reaching for the Stars
Who doesn't love an album cover with an action-packed theme? Unfortunately, David Cassidy's 1975 album "The Higher They Climb" missed the mark with its lackluster design. It seems the designer missed the memo on good execution.
The concept may have been there, but the result is lackluster. The star appears lopsided, and the pose looks awkward, leaving us wondering where the other hand is. Despite the success of "Darlin" in South Africa, the album failed to make a lasting impact.
Album Art or Twilight Cover?
It’s not so often you get to see cover art looking like an advertisement for a bad opera show. But somehow, Ozzy Osbourne managed just that with his "Speak Of The Devil" album.
Ozzy missed the mark with this one, as it looks more like an advertisement for a bad opera show than a rock album. But don't let the questionable art fool you – this album's songs are pretty good.
Provocative Christmas Album
This is one of the most cringe-worthy album covers. We'll spare you the pain of describing it in detail, but let's just say that it involves men dressed like "ladies of the night" and the words "Ho Ho Ho" emblazoned on each of them.
Suffice it to say, this cover for RuPaul's October 1997 album missed the mark regarding what you might expect from a Christmas album. Unsurprisingly, the release of this album didn't sit well with many people.
Tribute to Mom And Dad
Next up we have the cover art for the 1974 “Songs That Mom and Dad Taught Us” album by The Friends. This time, we’ll let you take a guess. Go on, what do you think is wrong with this one?
If you guessed “everything,” then you’re correct! The font’s too big, the color combination is terrible, and the picture quality is bad. We understand that this album was a tribute to their parents, but surely they could have made it look better.
Everything About this Makes Us Squirm
You rarely hear about album art that was so terrible it made even the record company balk. We're talking about the infamous 1984 release of W.A.S.P.'s "Animal (F**k Like a Beast)" album, and trust us, it's even worse than it sounds.
What is it about heavy metal bands and their penchant for poor choices in titles and graphics? The recording company was so terrified of the album being banned that they refused to release it.
Not Your Typical Christian Album
The “Do You Know Jesus?” album by Uncle Les and Aunt Nancy Wheely was released in 1969. From the album art, you can immediately tell that this album probably isn’t going to be much good.
The font looks like it was picked at random, and the colors are clashing like a bad outfit. And what's with the ventriloquist doll? This album cover is a one-way ticket to confusion and chaos.
Unintended Entendre
The moment our eyes landed on this picture, we couldn't help but burst into uncontrollable laughter. Can you blame us? The album art for The Ministers Quartet's 2007 "Let Me Touch Him" is an epic fail of epic proportions.
Four guys facing each other with the big caption "Let Me Touch Him" is a recipe for disaster when sending the wrong message. Especially considering that this is supposed to be a Christian album. Let's just say that this entendre was definitely not intended.
Giving Me the Blues
Get ready to laugh out loud because we've got another epic album art fail to add to the list. This time it's Orion's 1979 "Reborn" album, and boy, does it disappoint in every possible way.
Is it just us, or does it look like Orion is trying to awkwardly balance himself on rocks? And don't even get us started on the color choice. We're drowning in blue here! It's like the designers forgot that other colors existed.
A Giant Failure
We're about to tackle an album that screams "amateur hour" louder than a rock concert. We're talking about the cringe-worthy cover for ADEMA's 2013 album "Topple The Giants". But let's be real –it's this album art that needs toppling first!
For starters, what's up with the terrible Photoshop job? It looks like they tried to make some of the guys look smaller; one guy looks like he’s flying up like Superman! If ADEMA hoped to make a splash, they missed the mark.
Putting their Best Chest Forward
Behold album art that makes you wonder, why do male musicians feel like showing off their bare chests will make their photoshoots look hotter? We present to you the cringe-worthy cover of Orleans' 1976 album, "Walking and Dreaming."
Haven't heard of it? You might recognize their smash hits "Still the One" and "Reach". Let's give it up for the musical prowess of Orleans, but let's also admit that their album art game was way off the mark on this one.
He Loves His Life
Ah, the soothing sight of waterfalls makes everything instantly cooler, right? Well, that's what we thought too, until we stumbled upon this album cover featuring a waterfall that's... well, let's just say, less than impressive.
Feast your eyes on Jim Post's 1978 album art for "I Love My Life", and tell us if it doesn't make you feel a bit blue. How can you title your album with such positivity and then slap a sad-looking picture on it?
Phrasing Problems
Let's give credit where it's due –the album art for Dick Black and his Band's "A Taste of Dick Black" isn't that terrible. And the music is pretty okay too. But here's the thing that's terribly wrong with it –the choice of words.
This title pushes the boundaries of appropriateness. We can't help but wonder if Dick Black should have taken a moment to reconsider before giving his album such a questionable name. It shows how one wrong decision can ruin an otherwise beautiful work of art.
Which one made you want to scream "NO!" at the top of your lungs, and which one had you laughing so hard you almost fell out of your chair? We want to hear from you! Comment below and tell us which album art disasters left a lasting impression on you.