DLT’s “Favoritest” Album Covers
Written by DLT; edited by TG
First, a friendly disclaimer…
As a decidedly more expressive artist than my somewhat over-analytical friend, TG, I love reading (and writing) more into things than is necessary. It’s just more fun that way! (I know…insert “eye-roll” emoji here.) But I’ve been assured that a level of blind(ing) effusiveness is totally okay here. Because after all, this is my “top album covers” list…no one else’s. (Plus, I was kinda begged to do this!)
TG is an editor of first-rate skill and talent…and I typically have no problem allowing him to temper my enthusiastic expressions of excitement with the concise precision of a legal document. But umm…it ain’t happenin’ here, folks! So expect these words to get infused with typical “me” flair & fashion!
Oh, also…this is not a “top 7” list! It’s a celebration of the four most special album covers in my life…and four less-special ones. So get over it.
Now, with all that out of the way…let’s do this!
#4
“André 3000” Benjamin
The Love Below
The Love Below is actually half of a double-album released with Big Boi, André’s partner in the world-renowned hip-hop duo OutKast. The official title is Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. (Big Boi's contribution is Speakerboxxx; André is The Love Below.) Per Wikipedia.com, this is a “concept” album with the intention of each disc showcasing each member's individual perspective and musical style.” Big Boi’s half features more of his expected style of rap, exercising the style & flow that he’s known for. No surprises there…other than some new, fresh, sweet OutKast-Big Boi-style lyrics, music, and beats.
But André’s half! He switched up some things on us, quite unexpectedly…and I LOVE IT!
This album cover! This album’s songs! This album’s lyrics, music, tracks, beats, delivery, originality, “artisticism,” and “authenticism”! It all speaks volumes, starting with the visual presentation of Mr. “André 3000” Benjamin himself! The cover is followed by the delivery of the most creative musical experience one can give/receive. It’s revolutionary! (“It” being him.) His natural, authentic style, and his choice to just be André…like it (him) or not!
The idea of a world-renowned rapper daring to release such atypical music—after having wowed the hip-hop world with his unique vocal delivery—sits so beautifully within my soul. I concur…I understand…I get it! And I can only wish to be as daring as André, in my attempts to share my own “weird” creations. André is a beautiful spirit…even sharing himself in casual interviews.
And he comes to us with this album, almost like a rebirth, or a metamorphosis of some kind. (“Us” being the artistic fans who “stumbled upon” this masterpiece…not knowing we were getting a new, evolved, next-phase André. And boy was that discovery gratifying, sensational, amazing, and just plain sweet!) He’s wearing no shirt on this album cover, holding a shiny, metallic pink gun with pink smoke swirling from the barrel…as if he’s just “shot” us with his lyrical and musical genius. (Which he did indeed!) Along with it, wearing a matching pink finger ring, while sporting a snow-white banner that seems to have his name written across it…and a snow white cap. What rapper does this?! His mouth is parted as if saying, “ahhhhhhh,” or “awww yeah!” And sporting his naturally toned, bare, masculinely fine muscles, with some cool-ass dark sunshades. Umm umm umm. This taunting visual is so…“Prince-esque”!
Not only that, but some of the musical tracks sound Prince-ish, too! Although, this is not André trying to sound or be like Prince. Instead, it’s a natural gravitation toward, or possibly an homage to, a fellow musical genius. The tracks are all so...original, unique, unexpected, great! It's not like André’s intention is to “create his own style,” but more like the byproduct of simply allowing his true essence to flow naturally…which in turn creates an authentic style.
André’s album cover is just beautiful. It genuinely complements the unique style of creativity in his songs, music, topic choices, beats, lyrics, and lines—infused into every track on The Love Below, from beginning to end. The songs are comical, sincere, clever, lyrical, artistic, replayable (regularly), and just plain...sweet!
#3
Billie Holiday
Strange Fruit
Only recently did I discover the song “Strange Fruit”…and all its historical meanings and painful, truthful reflections of American society. This album is a 2017 compilation, on which “Strange Fruit” (the original 1939 version) is just one of eleven classic tracks. Of course, it’s the most significant song on the record. And that cover photo…it’s absolutely everything!
Billie Holiday was a dynamic vocalist, a troubled and conflicted soul, and a profound musical activist in many ways. The original photographer of this picture, William Gottlieb, was brilliant! (Hopefully TG will enlighten us with more details about this interesting jazz reporter, in a later article.) The phrase, “a picture is worth a thousand words” reigns unbelievably true here. This image visually “explains” so much insight about the artist—her internal tortures, passions, pains, sincerity, beauty, and so much more—all in this one dynamic photograph. I feel her passion and pain.
Per Wikipedia, Lady Day’s “vocal style, strongly influenced by jazz instrumentalists, inspired a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo.” (“Lady Day” was a nickname she received from her friend and music partner, Lester Young.) She “sang within a vocal range of barely an octave,” which also seems so ironic to her internal and external demons.
In addition to being one of William Gottlieb’s many editorial photos of jazz artists of the ’40s and ’50s, this picture is so famous that it’s been re-imagined and re-illustrated by various artists throughout time. Although Lady Day was only 44 years old when she transcended, she lives on in this iconic photo!
#2
Michael Jackson
Thriller
My second favorite album cover of all time is also one of my favorite albums (musically) of all time! It’s MICHAEL JACKSON, for crying out loud! It’s Thriller, for heaven's sake! This man was stunningly brilliant!
First of all, this photo of Michael Jackson is just sooooo beautiful! Michael was a great-looking man, at this point in his life.
Secondly, he chooses to wear a simple, white, glowing suit, opposite a black shirt and black belt, while resting on his elbow as he leans back, sitting on the floor. Really?! Just a plain white and black outfit?
Thirdly, his facial expression is “plain.” Those beautiful eyes, paired with no smile, mean business. Just a plain ole, gorgeous photo of the man himself, looking serious-ish. Just Michael. Just perfect! (The album’s music itself was brilliantly composed, written, performed, videoed, and so much more, which was a bonus for all album owners.)
Then, the album’s title—“Michael Jackson, Thriller”—has a magical glow about it! Just as his artistic brilliance, in endless ways, always commanded, demanded, and delivered!
The bonus to this already wonderful album cover is that upon opening the gatefold, fans discover an even more gorgeous photo of MJ, holding a beautiful, live, baby tiger.
Who does that? MICHAEL JACKSON! Brilliant!
#1
Beyoncé
Dangerously in Love
For years, my favorite album cover was Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Primarily because of my deep love for Michael and his excellent album. I have an absolute love for each and every song on Thriller. So, how and why, after all these years, did Beyoncé’s Dangerously in Love overtake Thriller…becoming my all-time favoritest album cover ever? What could have made me forsake Michael? Well, as you will see…absolutely everything!
The photography! Absolutely immaculate. I mean, look at it!
The album title, with emphasis on “dangerously”! Beautifully, visually indicative of Beyoncé’s pose, facial expression, hair, makeup, and glittering and sexy jewels and attire. YASSSS, “Dangerously in Love!”
The simplicity! At first glance, it’s simply a photo of a musical artist, standing there, holding her hands above her head, leaning sideways, looking at the camera, with her midriff showing, wearing a glittery top and denim bottoms. But actually, it’s BEYONCÉ standing there…leaning her sleek physique to the side. Just sexy enough to display her firm, flat abs (that most women dream of gaining instantly after a few uncomfortable crunches and sit-ups). Holding her hands above her perfect, blowing-in-the-wind, sexy hairstyle. With her seductively daring facial expression that begs the cameraman to flash as many pics as he chooses. As she taunts her audience with hints of her “parts” barely hidden beneath that blinding, slinky, diamond-glittered blouse (that most women dream of donning just after those few uncomfortable crunches and sit-ups that supplied those instant, flat abs)! It’s BEYONCÉ!!!
The fashion choices! Brilliantly beautiful, no matter who else may have donned this diamond-studded, sparkly, glitzy, every-woman’s-dream “blouse”! Jennifer Lopez could have worn it, or maybe Janet Jackson. But, Beyoncé “brung” us this now-iconic diamond-top, and it suited her beautifully, and booted her into even greater solo stardom. She’s not just a young lady now (who had just recently chosen to go solo), but she just might be “dangerously in love,” which is something young ladies sometimes do, indicating to you folks out there, she’s no “little girl” any more, so BAMMMM! “Check out my clothes!”
The background! The artist’s choice (whoever designed the album cover altogether) to make the background color be a simple yet perfect shade of grayish-blue, and slightly fade from light to a smidge darker from top to bottom, was PERFECT for that photo of Beyoncé, wearing that outfit. Just perfect choices all over this album cover!
Yep, this album is simply one of my most favorite, photographically PERFECT album covers of all time!
The Other Contenders…
Below are contenders who didn’t quite make the “hallowed” list above, but album covers that I love nonetheless. They are listed in no particular order…
Isaac Hayes
Hot Buttered Soul
Ike sported his bald head proudly back when bald heads were neither famous nor famously acceptable. And he wore a fat gold chain before it became whatever it became years later! And wearing fly sunglasses, he chose to advertise his bald head up close! WOWZERS!!
Tina Turner
Simply the Best
Her stance, outfit, hair…and especially her facial expression. I feel the Tina Turner that I’ve loved! She is singing one of her signature hits…right on the cover of this greatest-hits album! Thank you, Ms. Tina T! “Ohhhh, you’re the best!”
Janet Jackson
Rhythm Nation
Beautiful black-and-white photography, casting and showcasing superb shadows with perfect highlights! Ms. Jackson visually states that she’s not just Michael Jackson's little sister…nor did she come to play Control. She is in full control, of her “Rhythm Nation”…and she’s recruiting soldiers. Are you ready?
Erykah Badu
Mama’s Gun
Erykah brought the throwback, Jamaican beanie hat, with a toothpick hanging from the corner of her mouth. Only real “mamas” who mean true business carry a gun (which they will use should the circumstances call for it), and sport hanging toothpicks from their lips. She brought that signature Badu flow with those musical tracks, too.
Hear the Music That Inspired the Artwork…
Another great list! Hear a sampling of the best songs from the primary selection of albums above. Handpicked by yours truly, they represent some of my favorite tracks from those classics. Spotify playlist linked here. Enjoy!