Following on from our controversial and much contested top 10 Artist brands, here is our list of album covers that have the ‘X Factor’. Which are your top 10?

1) Beck – Information

Just when album covers where beginning to become obsolete in the world of dual packaging and downloads, this ‘do it yourself’ design refreshes the idea of an album cover altogether.

2) Velvet Underground & Nico – Velvet Underground & Nico

The marriage of music and art has never been more apparent then in the collaboration of Andy Warhol and Velvet Underground. This piece feels very much as if the Cover has overseen the music.

3) Grace Jones – Nightclubbing

Grace Jones’ persona always drifted between the worlds of music, art and fashion and it was continually reflected in her album covers which oozed dramatic, bold ’80s style. Outstandingly stylish.

4) Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon

This minimalist image has been much copied since and is instantly recognisable, even without the bands name on the cover. Some stoner, college-age fans think that the rainbow is a hint that the album is synced to the Wizard of Oz. You decide.

5) Nirvana – Nevermind

No one would expect the grungy tones of Kurt Cobain’s voice to be accompanied by such an innocent image of a swimming baby, however look closer and you can see it is a comment on capitalism. Spencer Elden, the actual naked baby (now a grown man) said he feels weird about his bizarre role in history. “It’s kind of creepy that many people have seen me naked,” but….. “I feel like the world’s biggest porn star.” There are worst ways to be famous….

6) The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers

The working zipper combined with the title of the album created hugely suggestive innuendo. Is this Mick??

7) Roxy Music – Country Life

The controversy that originally surrounded two barely dressed German models is probably what made this so iconic. Constantly imitated, and much collected by teenage boys, it has become a definitive symbol of the Glam Rock era.

Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks

The attitude of the punk era was not to conform and only rebel Jamie Reid brilliantly captured this state of mind with clashing colors, an uncomfortable layout and most of all offensive language.

9) The Beatles – Abbey Road

This cover was shot on August 8th, 1969 outside of Abbey Road studios. As a local to this area, I  can report that Tourists continue to flock to this very spot in droves, constantly blocking the road by taking ‘amusing shots’ of themselves walking back and forth the crossing and causing me to be late for many an urgent shopping expedition.

It’s been parodied countless times – sometimes by members of the Beatles themselves, as Paul did on the cover of his 1993 LP Paul Is Live, but my favourite is this one:

10) Cream – Disraeli Gears

This captures the psychedelic era of rock n roll perfectly.