Sampling Sleeves: Five album covers that reference other albums
Just like eyes are windows to the soul, album covers are glimpses into a musician’s artistic expression. In some instances, cover art has become just as—if not more—iconic than the music itself, proving that the visual component has always been a significant aspect of the broader experience. Take Fleetwood Mac‘s English Rose, for example: not one of their best or most impactful albums by a long shot, but an immensely famous image nonetheless.
Still, the psychology behind such an observation is simple. Images, colours, and texts are immensely powerful signs that our minds hold onto, and when they’re associated with something as visceral and emotionally connecting as music, the association builds itself. For instance, while Low became legendary for various reasons, it also visually epitomised the grounded tonality of David Bowie’s time in Berlin, signalling a new era with bold colour contrasts that immediately drew you in.
The same goes for many sleeves—Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Velvet Underground & Nico, Rumours, Nevermind, The Dark Side Of The Moon, the list goes on—each of these ventured beyond the impact of the music itself, contributing to the culture they emerged from, proving the ever-importance of unique and artistic album cover art.
Throughout history, however, several bands and musicians have sought to recreate the magic of the past, whether in reference to their own narratives or the impact of their heroes. By utilising intertextual layers like this, they have been able to mirror different facets of the industry with refreshed perspectives, offering different takes on bygone eras. In some instances, this serves to poke fun at others, while in others, it honours the legacy of the originators who came before. Let’s dive into some…
Album covers that reference other albums:
Pavement – ‘Watery, Domestic’ & Ambergris – ‘Ambergris’
For Pavement‘s 1992 release Watery, Domestic, the indie outfit defaced the 1970s prog rock debut record from Ambergris, featuring a rooster doodled over for a more unkempt, anarchic effect. Although this was an iconic work of art from the band’s Stephen Malkmus, he often drew over old album sleeves, using this one as the gateway into one of the alternative scene’s best-ever creations.
The title also leaned into this playfulness after having been inspired by Bob Nastanovich’s description of his beer preferences, with him leaning more towards low or non-alcoholic beers that taste, well, watery and domestic. Although it’s not always easy to detect the exact aesthetic they were going for with this particular sleeve, one thing’s for sure: it’s definitely attention-grabbing.
The Residents – ‘Meet The Residents’ & The Beatles – ‘Meet The Beatles’
This story is actually underscored by some pretty sticky legalities, appearing in stark contrast to the lighthearted nature of the previous entry. With The Residents‘ Meet The Residents, which was a direct reference to The Beatles’ Capitol Records release Meet The Beatles, they landed themselves in hot water, especially after the label reportedly got in touch and threatened to sue.
Moreover, they didn’t exactly hide the reference, especially considering the title and the provocative nature of the image, which mirrors the exact artwork used by the Liverpudlian quartet’s earlier release. However, after allegedly receiving grief from the label, they released the album with alternative artwork, though it remains unclear whether this was in direct response to the backlash, especially as all subsequent re-releases have reverted back to the original, Beatles-esque visual.
Ween – ‘The Pod’ & Leonard Cohen – ‘The Best of Leonard Cohen’
Some album covers are far more creative than others, and while Ween‘s The Pod seemed to lean more on the obvious side, its nod toward an earlier Leonard Cohen compilation hints at a deeper, more ironic homage, using humour to poke fun while remaining respectful of the source image. Ween’s music is also some of the most eclectic, making this reference particularly fitting.
By sticking a photo of bassist Mean Ween’s head over Cohen’s cover art for The Best of Leonard Cohen, Ween subtly referenced the record while appearing completely original, topped off with the title of the record itself, which was the nickname for the apartment they recorded the record in.
The Clash – ‘London Calling’ & Elvis Presley – ‘The Elvis Presley Album’
While some cover albums fail to captivate as much as others, The Clash‘s decision to repurpose an old Elvis Presley record for their opus London Calling seemingly achieved the impossible. After all, not only did it borrow its image from another that had already been done before, by The King no less, but it also earned legendary status in its own right, all by being a mere copy.
However, the record itself was anything but, channeling the same anarchic edge they came to epitomise during their rise, adorned with a sleeve that stood them apart from their peers. With an image showing Paul Simonon smashing his guitar into the ground, London Calling did more than comment on those who came before; it changed the landscape forever.
Mötley Crüe – ‘Too Fast for Love’ & The Rolling Stones – ‘Sticky Fingers’
From the 1960s onwards, everybody in music became obsessed with The Rolling Stones. Unlike other famous bands at the time, like The Beatles, they came with a punk-rock edge, proving that rock bands didn’t have to play the game to be popular. For Mötley Crüe, this was kryptonite and a position that influenced them so much they paid homage to it for their 1981 debut.
Too Fast for Love didn’t just visually praise the Stones’ Sticky Fingers; it utilised their entire appeal with an image that tested the provocative nature of the rock, echoing the mischievous, rebellious spirit of the Stones’ original design. Reflecting one of the most iconic images in rock history would always be a tricky game, but by doing so, the Crüe established their attitude from the outset, proving that they arrived with the same sense of raw, youthful energy.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Beatles Newsletter
All the latest stories about The Beatles from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.