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Picture discs are gramophone (phonograph) records that show images on their playing surface, rather than being of plain black or colored vinyl. Collectors traditionally reserve the term picture disc for records with graphics that extend at least partly into the actual playable grooved area, distinguishing them from picture label discs, which have a specially illustrated and sometimes very large label, and picture back discs, which are illustrated on one unplayable side only.


The beginnings

A few seven-inch black shellac records issued by the Canadian Berliner Gramophone Company around 1900 had the "
His Master's Voice His Master's Voice (HMV) was the name of a major British record label created in 1901 by The Gramophone Co. Ltd. The phrase was coined in the late 1890s from the title of a painting by English artist Francis Barraud, which depicted a Jack Russ ...
" dog-and-gramophone trademark lightly etched into the surface of the playing area as an anti-piracy measure, technically qualifying them as picture discs by some definitions. Apart from those debatable claimants for the title of "first", the earliest picture records were not discs, strictly speaking, but rectangular picture postcards with small, round, transparent
celluloid Celluloids are a class of materials produced by mixing nitrocellulose and camphor, often with added dyes and other agents. Once much more common for its use as photographic film before the advent of safer methods, celluloid's common contemporary ...
records glued onto the illustrated side. Such cards were in use by about 1909. Later, the recordings were pressed into a transparent coating that covered the entire picture side of the card. This novelty product idea proved to have a very long life. In the 1950s and throughout the rest of the vinyl era, picture postcard records, usually oversized and often featuring a garish color photograph of a tourist attraction or typical local scenery, were issued in several countries. These and similar small novelty picture records on laminated paper or thin cardboard, such as were occasionally bound into magazines or featured on the backs of boxes of breakfast cereal, are usually not classed with the larger and sturdier discs that were sold in record stores or used as promotional gifts by record companies, but a few featured famous performers and are now eagerly sought by collectors of those artists' records. The first picture discs of substantial size, sold as records meant only to be looked at and played, not put into a mailbox, appeared in the 1920s. Their first wave of significant popularity did not arrive until the start of the 1930s, when several companies in several countries began issuing them. Some were illustrated with photographs or artwork simply designed to be appropriate to the musical contents, but some graphics also promoted films in which the recorded songs had been introduced, and a few were blatant advertising that had little or no connection with the recording. Some politicians and demagogues explored the potential of the discs as a medium for propaganda.
Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
and British fascist
Oswald Mosley Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet (16 November 1896 – 3 December 1980) was a British politician during the 1920s and 1930s who rose to fame when, having become disillusioned with mainstream politics, he turned to fascism. He was a member ...
were each featured on their own special picture discs. Most of these records were made of a simple sheet of fairly thin printed cardboard with a very thin plastic coating and their audio quality was substandard. Some were more sturdy and well-made and they equaled or actually surpassed the audio quality of ordinary records, which were still made of a gritty shellac compound that introduced a lot of background noise. In 1933, RCA Victor in the U.S. issued a few typical cardboard-based picture records but was unhappy with their quality and soon began making an improved type. A rigid blank shellac core disc was sandwiched between two illustrated sheets and each side was then topped with a substantial layer of high-quality clear plastic into which the recording was pressed. Like nearly all records being made for the general public, they were recorded at 78 rpm, but one issue was recorded at 33⅓ rpm, a speed already in use for special purposes which Victor was then unsuccessfully attempting to introduce into home use. It was the first 33⅓ rpm picture disc and the only one made until many years later. These were deluxe picture discs, priced much higher than ordinary records, and they sold in very small numbers. In the early 1930s the entire record industry was being devastated by a worldwide economic depression and the proliferation of the new medium of radio, which made a wide variety of music available free of charge. Picture discs of all kinds were among the casualties.


1946 to 1969

With the Great Depression and
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
no longer around to interfere with such modest luxuries, the picture disc reemerged in 1946, when Tom Saffardy's Sav-Way Industries began issuing Vogue Records. Vogues were a well-made product physically similar to RCA Victor's improved 1933 issues except that their core discs were aluminum instead of shellac. The Victor discs had been illustrated in high Art Deco style, often in sober but elegant black-and-white. Vogue's discs featured artwork done in the styles typical of 1940s commercial illustration and pin-up art, most of it gaudily colored, some dramatic, some humorous, some very cartoonish. The audio quality was excellent by contemporary standards and they featured professional talent, most with names known to the general public, but Vogue was handicapped by the lack of any big "hit" names. Top-tier talent was usually under exclusive contract to companies such as
Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. In the United States, it i ...
, for whom Sav-Way manufactured special attention-grabbing, quiet-surfaced picture discs that Mercury distributed only to radio disc jockeys. Vogue records retailed for US$1.05, about fifty percent more than ordinary ten-inch 78 rpm records. The novelty of the colorful discs attracted interest and sales at first, but success proved elusive and Vogue went out of business in 1947 after fewer than 100 catalog items bearing the Vogue logo had been issued. More commercially successful and long-lived were some of the children's picture discs marketed by the Record Guild of America from the late 1940s through the 1950s. Their most popular and well-known issues resembled Vogue records in their general style of illustration and use of high-quality materials, but they were only 7 inches in diameter, had no reinforcing core disc, and sold for a much lower price. Other companies such as Voco also made picture discs for children. Red Raven Movie Records, introduced in 1956, were a very unusual type of children's picture disc. They featured a sequence of sixteen interwoven animation frames arrayed around the center and were to be played at 78 rpm on a turntable with a short spindle, on which a small sixteen-mirrored device, a variety of the praxinoscope, was placed. Gazing into this as the record played, the user saw an endlessly repeating high-quality animated cartoon scene appropriate to the song. Only the earliest Red Raven discs, which were of the coated cardboard type but reinforced with a metal rim and spindle hole grommet, were true picture discs. The more common later issues were larger "picture label discs" made of solid colored opaque, translucent or transparent plastic, with the recording in a band surrounding a very large label that carried the animation graphics. In the 1960s similar products were introduced in several countries under various brand names—Teddy in France and the Netherlands, Mamil Moviton in Italy, etc. Picture discs of the large and solid Victor-Vogue type were very rarely issued in the U.S. between the demise of Vogue in 1947 and the end of the 1960s, but several lines of picture discs, such as the French Saturnes, were produced in Europe and Japan during these years.


1970 and beyond

A new generation of picture discs appeared in the 1970s. The first serious pictures discs, with acceptable but still inferior sound quality, were developed by Metronome Records GmbH, a subsidiary of Elektra Records. These new picture discs were made by creating a five-layer lamination consisting of a core of black vinyl with kiln-dried paper decals on either side and then outer skins of clear vinyl film, manufactured by 3M, on the outsides. In manufacture, one layer of the clear film was first placed on the bed of the press on top of the stamper, then a "puck" of hot black vinyl from the extruder was placed on top of that. Finally the top print and vinyl film layer was added (held by a retracting pin in the upper profile usually employed to retain the upper paper label) and the press closed. Problems with poor vinyl flow caused by the paper texture and air released from the paper (that had not been removed in the kiln drying process) plagued the process. The first 'modern' rock picture disc was introduced as an assortment of artists such as the
MC5 MC5, also commonly called The MC5, is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan, in 1963. The original line-up consisted of Rob Tyner (vocals) Wayne Kramer (guitar), Fred "Sonic" Smith (guitar), Michael Davis (bass), and Dennis ...
and
The Doors The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial and influential rock acts ...
. It was released in 1969 by Metronome of Germany and entitled "
Psychedelic Underground - Off 2, Hallucinations Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...
". The second release was the British
progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. In ...
band Curved Air's first album, ''
Air Conditioning Air conditioning, often abbreviated as A/C or AC, is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space to achieve a more comfortable interior environment (sometimes referred to as 'comfort cooling') and in some cases also strictly controlling ...
'', a UK issue (1970). One commercially issued American picture disc is ''To Elvis: Love Still Burning'', a collection of 11
Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
tribute songs by various artists, issued in May 1978. Both sides of the album (Fotoplay FSP-1001) picture Presley. Initially picture discs were usually promotional items pressed in small quantities, but by the late 1970s they began to be produced as commercial products in large quantities. In the 1980s numerous commercial picture discs were released, but by the end of the decade, the interest in picture discs had declined as consumers began transitioning away from vinyl records towards newer formats such as cassette tapes and compact discs.


Types of picture discs

On some picture discs, the images used were meant to create an optical illusion while the record was rotating on the turntable (as in the B side of Curved Air's ''Airconditioning''), while others used the visual effect to add to the music — for example, the 1979 picture disc of
Fischer-Z Fischer-Z are a British rock group and main creative project of singer, guitarist and poet John Watts. In 1982 Watts temporarily dissolved Fischer-Z and started a solo career under his own name. John Watts has gone on to release both solo and ...
's ''The Worker'' featured a train which endlessly commuted around the turntable, reinforcing the song's message. Later picture discs included liquid light show style fluids between the vinyl, Rowlux 3D effect film, diffraction rainbow film, metal flake (''vide'' examples here), pressure-sensitive liquid crystals that changed color when the record was picked up, and a real holographic record. Shaped picture discs became common in the 1980s. These are mostly considered to be collecting items, rather than for listening as the sound quality is inferior to regular vinyl. Shaped picture discs are manufactured at full 12 inch size and then cut in various shapes using a cutting tool. Shaped picture discs are always singles rather than albums and are usually limited to a few thousand copies.
Interview disc In media terms, an interview disc is a recorded disc with spoken word recordings in an interview style format, with a specific person or group of people, as opposed to the usual music features. The source of the recording can vary. Description S ...
s are quite commonly pressed as picture discs as well.


List of (selected) picture discs


First modern picture discs 1970 to 1979

* ''Off II - Hallucinations'' featuring
Various Artists A compilation album comprises tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several performers. If by one artist, then generally the tracks were not originally intended for rel ...
(1969) The first modern picture disc pressed in Germany and released as a promotional disc. * ''Air Conditioning'' by Curved Air (
1970 Events January * January 1 – Unix time epoch reached at 00:00:00 UTC. * January 5 – The 7.1 Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (''Extreme''). Between 10,000 and ...
) One of the first modern picture disc conceived and designed by Mark Hanau. * ''
Tubular Bells Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the percussion family. Their sound resembles that of church bells, carillon, or a bell tower; the original tubular bells were made to duplicate the sound of church bells within a ...
'' by
Mike Oldfield Mike may refer to: Animals * Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum * Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off * Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and document ...
(1973) was released as a picture disc as well as its regular release * ''
Farewell Aunty Jack "Farewell Aunty Jack" was the closing theme to ''The Aunty Jack Show'', played at the end of each episode. It was re-recorded and released as a hit single in late 1973 and spent 3 weeks at number one in the charts in Australia in February and M ...
'' by
Rory O'Donoghue Rory O'Donoghue (13 May 194913 December 2017) was an Australian actor, composer and musician, best known for playing the character "Thin Arthur" in the 1970s ABC Television sketch comedy series ''The Aunty Jack Show'', and for playing the guita ...
and
Grahame Bond Grahame John Bond AM (born 21 November 1943) is an Australian actor, writer, director, musician and composer, known primarily for his role as Aunty Jack. Early career Bond began his career in entertainment at University of Sydney in the 1960s ...
(1973) was the first Australian picture disc * ''Magical Love'' by Saturnalia c.1973. First non-compilation album to be advertised on television in Europe. * ''Black Sabbath'' by
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath were an English rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy met ...
(''Rare - Shows the cover art of their first album'') 1974 (re-release of album as picture disc) * ''
The Dark Side of the Moon ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 1 March 1973 by Harvest Records. The album was primarily developed during live performances, and the band premiered an early version of ...
'' by Pink Floyd (
1973 Events January * January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 15 – Vietnam War: ...
) - picture disk edition 1974 or 1975. * ''
Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
'' by
Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
1976. * ''
Dreamboat Annie ''Dreamboat Annie'' is the debut studio album by American rock band Heart. At the time, the band was based in Vancouver, British Columbia; the album was recorded in Vancouver and first released in Canada by the local label Mushroom Records in S ...
'' by
Heart The heart is a muscular organ in most animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, while carrying metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide to t ...
1976. Shows ''Dreamboat Annie'' cover on front and back with text indicating the side number. * '' Magazine'' by
Heart The heart is a muscular organ in most animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, while carrying metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide to t ...
1978. Same as Dreamboat Annie except with Magazine's cover. Both were under the Mushroom Records label. * ''To Elvis: Love Still Burning'' by 11 various artists, including
Ral Donner Ralph Stuart Emanuel Donner (February 10, 1943 – April 6, 1984) was an American rock and roll singer. He scored several pop hits in the US in the early 1960s, and had a voice similar to Elvis Presley. His best known song is his 1961 top ten hi ...
. Produced by Jerry Osborne's Fotoplay label, and distributed by Pickwick International, has 11 songs of tribute to
Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
( 1978). Features a portrait of Elvis by Marge Nichols on both sides. The first of many Elvis picture discs, and North America's first commercially issued picture disc album by anyone — an event reported on the front page of '' Billboard'' magazine (''August 28, 1978 issue''). * ''Elvis: A Legendary Performer, Vol. 3.''
Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
( 1978). Issued by RCA about six months after the Fotoplay picture disc. * '' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' by
The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...
(1978) Released in conjunction with the
Robert Stigwood Robert Colin Stigwood (16 April 1934 – 4 January 2016) was an Australian-born British-resident music entrepreneur, film producer and impresario, best known for managing Cream (band), Cream, Andy Gibb and the Bee Gees, theatrical productions ...
film production by that name. * '' Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo'' by Devo (1978) -
Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman (musician), Tom Newman. It ...
LP - still frames from Devo's ''
The Truth About De-Evolution ''The Truth About De-Evolution'' (full title: ''In The Beginning Was The End: The Truth About De-Evolution'') is a 9-minute short film written by Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh, for the band Devo, and directed by Chuck Statler. Filmed in M ...
'' film. * " My Best Friend's Girl" by
The Cars The Cars were an American rock band formed in Boston in 1976. Emerging from the new wave scene in the late 1970s, they consisted of Ric Ocasek ( rhythm guitar), Benjamin Orr (bass guitar), Elliot Easton (lead guitar), Greg Hawkes ( keyboard ...
( 1978) - graphic of old-style car on white background * "
Just What I Needed "Just What I Needed" is a song by American rock band The Cars from their self-titled debut album (1978). The song, which first achieved radio success as a demo, took inspiration from the Ohio Express and the Velvet Underground. The song is sun ...
" by
The Cars The Cars were an American rock band formed in Boston in 1976. Emerging from the new wave scene in the late 1970s, they consisted of Ric Ocasek ( rhythm guitar), Benjamin Orr (bass guitar), Elliot Easton (lead guitar), Greg Hawkes ( keyboard ...
( 1978) - graphic of old-style car on blue background * ''
Blondes Have More Fun ''Blondes Have More Fun'' is Rod Stewart's ninth album, released in November 1978. As was the popular musical trend at the time, it is Stewart's foray into disco music. The album was commercially successful, reaching number 3 in the UK and numbe ...
'' by Rod Stewart (1978) - Artist is hugging a blonde woman with her back to the camera, and on the B side, the artist has the same pose, but with a brunette. * '' Hemispheres'' by Rush (1978) - Contains album cover on both sides of the disc. * "Hard Love" by
Shaun Cassidy Shaun Paul Cassidy (born September 27, 1958) is an American singer, actor, writer, and producer. He has created and/or produced a number of television series including ''American Gothic'', '' Roar'' and ''Invasion''. Cassidy currently serves as ...
(1978) - 12" and 7" picture discs from '' Under Wraps'' - Contains album cover on both sides of the disc. * ''Translumadafractadisc'' (artists include
Sid Vicious John Simon Ritchie (10 May 1957 – 2 February 1979), better known by his stage name Sid Vicious, was an English musician, best known as the bassist for the punk rock band Sex Pistols. Despite dying in 1979 at age 21, he remains an icon of the ...
) * ''
Pieces of Eight The Spanish dollar, also known as the piece of eight ( es, Real de a ocho, , , or ), is a silver coin of approximately diameter worth eight Spanish reales. It was minted in the Spanish Empire following a monetary reform in 1497 with content ...
'' by Styx 1978. Has album cover on front side with a picture of the band on the back. * ''
Who Are You ''Who Are You'' is the eighth studio album by English rock band the Who, released on 18 August 1978 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and MCA Records in the United States. Although the album received mixed reviews from critics, it was a ...
'' by
The Who The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...
(1978) - has the regular album cover with the band posed amid electrical cables and PA equipment * ''
Living in the USA ''Living in the USA'' is the ninth studio album by American singer Linda Ronstadt, released in 1978. The album was Ronstadt's third and final No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Release The album was originally released by Asylum in the L ...
'' by Linda Ronstadt (1978) Picture of inner sleeve roller skating pic on both sides. Alison single from "Living in the USA'' by Linda Ronstadt (1978) same picture both sides of 45. Citation of fact Asylum Records. * ''The Lord of the Rings'' soundtrack by
Leonard Rosenman Leonard Rosenman (September 7, 1924 – March 4, 2008) was an American film, television and concert composer with credits in over 130 works, including '' East of Eden'', ''Rebel without a Cause'', '' Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home'', ''Beneath the ...
- limited edition double LP picture disc with four scenes from the 1978 movie by
Ralph Bakshi Ralph Bakshi (born October 29, 1938) is an American animator and filmmaker. In the 1970s, he established an alternative to mainstream animation through independent and adult-oriented productions. Between 1972 and 1992, he directed nine theatric ...
(1978). *
Max Webster Max Webster was a Canadian hard rock band formed in Toronto in 1972. The band's founder, Kim Mitchell, enjoyed a long and successful solo career in their native Canada. Biography Initially a trio for their first gigs in December 1972, the ori ...
British single for their single Paradise Skies CLP 16079 from the album
A Million Vacations ''A Million Vacations'' is the fourth album by Canadian rock band Max Webster. The record was released in 1979 in Canada by Anthem Records and in the United States and Europe by Capitol Records. The hit songs "A Million Vacations", "Let Go the Lin ...
Capitol Records UK Catalog number EST-1-11937 (1979) * "
Are 'Friends' Electric? Are commonly refers to: * Are (unit), a unit of area equal to 100 m2 Are, ARE or Åre may also refer to: Places * Åre, a locality in Sweden * Åre Municipality, a municipality in Sweden **Åre ski resort in Sweden * Are Parish, a municipa ...
" by
Tubeway Army Tubeway Army were a London-based new wave band led by lead singer Gary Numan. Formed at the height of punk rock in 1977 the band gradually changed to an electronic sound. They were the first band of the electronic era to have a synthesiser ...
(1979). 7" picture disc, 20,000 issued. * ''The Worker'' by
Fischer-Z Fischer-Z are a British rock group and main creative project of singer, guitarist and poet John Watts. In 1982 Watts temporarily dissolved Fischer-Z and started a solo career under his own name. John Watts has gone on to release both solo and ...
(
1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the '' International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the '' Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the so ...
) - cartoon image of a train arranged around the edge of the record * ''Light My Fire'' by Amii Stewart (1979) - photographic image of the singer against a pink background * ''
Oceans of Fantasy ''Oceans of Fantasy'' is the fourth studio album by Euro- Caribbean group Boney M. Released in September 1979, ''Oceans Of Fantasy'' became the second Boney M. album to top the UK charts and features the hits " El Lute / Gotta Go Home" and "I'm B ...
'' by
Boney M Boney M. was a German-Caribbean vocal group that specialized in disco and funk created by German record producer Frank Farian, who was the group's primary songwriter. Originally based in West Germany, the four original members of the group's o ...
(1979) inner cover used as front cover back of disc as per standard cover . * ''
Never Trust a Pretty Face ''Never Trust a Pretty Face'' is the third studio album by French singer Amanda Lear, released by the West German label Ariola Records in 1979. The album included notable hit singles " The Sphinx" and " Fashion Pack (Studio 54)", and turned out a ...
'' by
Amanda Lear Amanda Lear (; born 1939) is a French singer, songwriter, painter, television presenter, actress, and former model. She began her professional career as a fashion model in the mid-1960s, and went on to model for Paco Rabanne, Ossie Clark, and ...
(1979)Covers As per standard album front & Back cover issued in thick plastic cover with sticker with track list . * ''
Gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile me ...
'' by Jefferson Starship - a picture of the 1976-78 lineup of the band on both sides. * " Driver's Seat" by
Sniff 'n' the Tears Sniff 'n' the Tears is a British rock band best known for their 1978 song "Driver's Seat", a moderate hit in many countries (including No. 15 on the American ''Billboard'' Hot 100) (in September 1979). The band is led by singer/songwriter Pa ...
(1979) - a leggy woman holding a gun startles a black cat * '' Off the Wall'' by
Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
(1979) - same image of original album front and back * L.A (Light) Album, The Beach Boys (1979) - Logo from album cover on one side, band photos from inner sleeve on the other.


Post-1980

* ''
Special Brew Carlsberg A/S (; ) is a Danish multinational brewer. Founded in 1847 by J. C. Jacobsen, the company's headquarters is in Copenhagen, Denmark. Since Jacobsen's death in 1887, the majority owner of the company has been the Carlsberg Foundation. T ...
'' by Bad Manners (1980): Photo of Buster Bloodvessel coveting a pint of the drink of the same name. * ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' (soundtrack to the
Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...
film) (1980) * " One of Us" b/w "Should I Laugh or Cry" by
ABBA ABBA ( , , formerly named Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid or Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida) are a Swedish supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group ...
(1981): A-side with
Agnetha Fältskog Agneta Åse Fältskog (born 5 April 1950), known as Agnetha Fältskog (), is a Swedish singer, songwriter, and musician. She first achieved success in Sweden with the release of her 1968 self-titled debut album. She later achieved internatio ...
and
Frida Lyngstad Princess Anni-Frid Synni Reuss, Countess of Plauen (born Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad on 15 November 1945), also known by her nickname "Frida", is a Norwegian-born Swedish singer, songwriter and environmentalist, who is best known as one of the foun ...
("One of Us")/B-side with
Benny Andersson Göran Bror Benny Andersson (; born 16 December 1946) is a Swedish musician, singer, composer and producer best known as a member of the musical group ABBA and co-composer of the musicals ''Chess'', ''Kristina från Duvemåla'', and '' Mamma M ...
and
Björn Ulvaeus Björn Kristian Ulvaeus (; born 25 April 1945) is a Swedish singer, songwriter, producer, a member of the musical group ABBA, and co-composer of the musicals '' Chess'', '' Kristina från Duvemåla'', and ''Mamma Mia!'' He co-produced the films ...
* ''Anthem'' by Toyah (1981) * ''Turn Up the Night 12" single'' by
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath were an English rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy met ...
(1982) (''Rare - Shows a Lucifer-like figure silhouetted against a cross'') * ''
Bat Out of Hell ''Bat Out of Hell'' is the 1977 debut album by American rock singer Meat Loaf and composer Jim Steinman. It is one of the best-selling albums in history. The album was developed from a musical, ''Neverland'', a futuristic rock version of '' ...
'' by
Meat Loaf Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), known professionally as Meat Loaf, was an American rock singer and actor. He was noted for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. He is on t ...
(1982) (reissue of the 1977 album, has album artwork on the disc) * ''Planets'' by Eloy (1982) * "That's Good" b/w "Speed Racer" by Devo (1982): 12" single. * ''Got No Brains'' by Bad Manners (1982): Cartoon-like image of Buster Bloodvessel's brain flying out of his head. * "
House of Fun "House of Fun" is a song by English ska/pop group Madness, credited to Mike Barson and Lee Thompson. Retrieved on 28 June 2007. It was released as a one-off single on 14 May 1982 and reached number one in the UK Singles Chart, spending nine we ...
" by Madness (1982): Still photo from the promo video. * '' E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' by John Williams (1982): Close up of title character's head on the front and with the bike over the moon shot on the back (both front and back are stills from movie). * ''Driving In My Car'' by Madness (1982): Close-up photo of a Morris Minor hubcap. * '' Monkee Business'' by
The Monkees The Monkees were an American rock and pop band, formed in Los Angeles in 1966, whose lineup consisted of the American actor/musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork alongside English actor/singer Davy Jones. The group was con ...
(1982): A side color photo of band, B side b&w promotional photos and monkey shape. * "
Countdown A countdown is a sequence of backward counting to indicate the time remaining before an event is scheduled to occur. NASA commonly employs the terms "L-minus" and "T-minus" during the preparation for and anticipation of a rocket launch, and eve ...
" b/w "
New World Man "New World Man" is a hit single from the 1982 album '' Signals'' by Canadian rock band Rush. The song was the last and most quickly composed song on the album, stemming from a suggestion by then-Rush producer Terry Brown to even out the lengths ...
" by Rush (1982): 7-inch single shaped like a space shuttle. * Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd (1982): A picture of a skeleton holding a gun. * ''
Baby Snakes ''Baby Snakes'' is a film which includes footage from Frank Zappa's 1977 Halloween concert at New York City's Palladium Theater, backstage antics from the crew, and stop motion clay animation from award-winning animator Bruce Bickford. Relea ...
'' soundtrack album by Frank Zappa (1982): Frank Zappa's face. * '' Let's Dance'' LP by
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
(1983):
Serious Moonlight Tour The Serious Moonlight Tour was a worldwide concert tour by English musician David Bowie, launched in May 1983 in support of his album '' Let's Dance'' (1983). The tour opened at the Vorst Forest Nationaal, Brussels, on 18 May 1983 and ended in ...
concert photo and album cover photo. * '' Thriller'' by
Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
(1983): Several different picture discs with artwork from the album photoshoot. * ''
War War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
'' by U2 (1983) * ''
Colour by Numbers ''Colour by Numbers'' is the second album by the British new wave group Culture Club, released in October 1983. Preceded by the hit single "Karma Chameleon", which reached number one in several countries, the album reached number one in the UK ...
'' by Culture Club (1983) * '' Mushi'' by
The Stalin were a Japanese punk rock band formed in June 1980, by leader and vocalist Michiro Endo. After numerous member changes, he disbanded the group in February 1985. In May 1987 Michiro formed a group called Video Stalin, which mostly made vi ...
(1983) * ''Just a Dream'' by
Nena Gabriele Susanne Kerner (born 24 March 1960), better known as Nena, is a German singer and songwriter who rose to international fame in 1983 as the lead vocalist of the band Nena (band), Nena with the Neue Deutsche Welle song "99 Luftballons". I ...
(1984): 10" Band photo. * ''
Dreamtime The Dreaming, also referred to as Dreamtime, is a term devised by early anthropologists to refer to a religio-cultural worldview attributed to Australian Aboriginal beliefs. It was originally used by Francis Gillen, quickly adopted by his co ...
'' by
The Cult The Cult are an English rock band formed in 1983 in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Before settling on their current name in January 1984, the band performed under the name Death Cult, which was an evolution of the name of lead singer Ian Astbury' ...
(1984): Band photo. *
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...
(double LP) by
Tangerine Dream Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music band founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The group has seen many personnel changes over the years, with Froese having been the only constant member until his death in January 2015. The best-known lineup ...
(1984): Album photos. * ''14 Greatest Hits'' (LP) by
Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
and
the Jackson 5 The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most o ...
(1984): Drawing of 3 Jackson brothers and old band photo. * ''
Victory The term victory (from Latin ''victoria'') originally applied to warfare, and denotes success achieved in personal combat, after military operations in general or, by extension, in any competition. Success in a military campaign constitutes ...
'' by
The Jackson 5 The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most o ...
(1984) * ''
Legend A legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived, both by teller and listeners, to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human values, and possess ...
'' LP by
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...
(1984): Album photo. * '' Keep Moving'' LP by Madness (1984): Photo of the band on a running track. * ''
Make It Big ''Make It Big'' is the second and final studio album from British pop duo Wham!, released in 1984. In comparison to their earlier work, Wham! (George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley) had more control over the album's production and Michael would a ...
'' by
Wham! Wham! (briefly known in the US as Wham! U.K.) were an English pop duo formed in Bushey in 1981. The duo consisted of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. They became one of the most commercially successful pop acts of the 1980s, selling mor ...
(1984) (picture disc edition) * "
Pride (In the Name of Love) "Pride (In the Name of Love)" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the second track on the band's 1984 album, ''The Unforgettable Fire'', and was released as its lead single in September 1984. The song was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lano ...
" by U2 (1984): 7-inch single with same track listing but different (color) photos of the band. * ''
Waking Up with the House on Fire ''Waking Up with the House on Fire'' is the third album by the English new wave group Culture Club, released on 22 October 1984. The album peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart, becoming the band's third top five album. Overview The first ...
'' by Culture Club (1984) * ''
Creeping Death "Creeping Death" is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on November 23, 1984, as the lead and only commercial single from their album ''Ride the Lightning'' (" Fade to Black" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls", from the sam ...
'' by Metallica (1984) * '' Ride the Lightning'' by Metallica (1984) 1985 release, limited edition only. * '' Fugazi'' by Marillion (1984) * ''
Miami Vice Theme "''Miami Vice'' Theme" is a musical piece composed and performed by Jan Hammer as the theme to the television series ''Miami Vice''. It was first presented as part of the television broadcast of the show in September 1984, was released as a sin ...
'' by Jan Hammer (1985) * ''
Loving the Alien "Loving the Alien" is a song written and recorded by David Bowie. It was the opening track to his sixteenth studio album ''Tonight''. One of two tracks on the album written solely by Bowie, an edited version of the song was released as a singl ...
'' by
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
(1985): 7 and 12 Inch versions. * ''Electric'' by
The Cult The Cult are an English rock band formed in 1983 in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Before settling on their current name in January 1984, the band performed under the name Death Cult, which was an evolution of the name of lead singer Ian Astbury' ...
(1987): Gold vinyl with a band photo. * '' Walk This Way (EP)'' by Run D.M.C/Aerosmith (4 July 1986) 12" * '' Hysteria'' by
Def Leppard Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1976 in Sheffield. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drums, backing vocals), Phil Collen (guitar, backing vocals), ...
(1987) * ''Something Special'' by
Sabrina Sabrina may refer to: * Sabrina (given name), a feminine given name, including a list of persons and fictional characters with the name People * Sabrina (actress), stage name of Norma Ann Sykes (1936–2016), a British glamour model and actres ...
(1988) * ''So far, so good... so what!'' by Megadeth (1988): A skeleton dressed in combat gear holding a machine gun. * "Wake Up!" a hit sampler (Bangles, REO Speedwagon, Earth, Wind and Fire...) issued by Honda (the motor people) (1988): Showing a comic style full continental breakfast on the one side, and the "H" logo on the reverse. * Special Edition Live EP by
Ozzy Osbourne John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born 3 December 1948) is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adop ...
(1988) * "
Animal (Fuck Like a Beast) "Animal (F**k Like a Beast)" is a song by American heavy metal band W.A.S.P. It was originally intended to be the opening track on their self-titled 1984 debut album, but was dropped before the album's release, although it appears as a bonu ...
" by W.A.S.P. (1988): Watercolor of a
Dobermann The Dobermann (; ), or Doberman Pinscher in the United States and Canada, is a medium-large breed of domestic dog that was originally developed around 1890 by Louis Dobermann, a tax collector from Germany.Disintegration by
The Cure The Cure are an English rock band formed in 1978 in Crawley, West Sussex. Throughout numerous lineup changes since the band's formation, guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith has remained the only constant member. The band's ...
(1989) * ''For Ladies Only'' by Killdozer (1989): Painting of a young woman in a negligee with photos of band members on the reverse side. * ''
Sweet Soul Sister ''Sonic Temple'' is the fourth studio album by British Rock music, rock band The Cult, released on 10 April 1989. The album features some of the band's most popular songs, including "Fire Woman" and "Edie (Ciao Baby)". ''Sonic Temple'' was the l ...
'' by
The Cult The Cult are an English rock band formed in 1983 in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Before settling on their current name in January 1984, the band performed under the name Death Cult, which was an evolution of the name of lead singer Ian Astbury' ...
(1990): 12" single, different band photo on both sides. * Zoo Station by U2 (1992): US 12" promo featuring the Zoo TV and U2 logos from the tour. * '' Nightswimming'' by
R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternati ...
(1993) * ''The Hearts Filthy Lesson'' by
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
( BMG UK, 1995): Graphically manipulated images from the lyric pages of the 1995 album Outside for the A side and B side songs. * ''The Best of Both Worlds'' by Marillion (1996) * POP by U2 (1997): Front side is the same four-paned portraits on the CD cover, but the back side is different, featuring a rainbow of colors and a picture of each band member taken from the
Discothèque A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music. Nightclubs gener ...
video (looks official, some say this is a bootleg). * ''
Californication Californication may refer to: *Californication (word) ''Californication'' is a portmanteau of California and fornication, appearing in ''Time'' on May 6, 1966 and written about on August 21, 1972, additionally seen on bumper stickers in the U.S. ...
'' by
Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983, comprising vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante. Their music incorporates elements of alternative rock, funk ...
(1999) * ''s/t 10"'' by Song of Zarathustra (2000 blood of the young) * '' Exploiting Dysfunction'' by
Cephalic Carnage Cephalic Carnage is an American death metal band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1992. The band comprises vocalist Lenzig Leal, guitarists Steve Goldberg and Brian Hopp, drummer John Merryman and bassist Nick Schendzielos. Cephalic Carnage has re ...
(2000): Side A and B feature the original cover/back artwork by
Wes Benscoter Wes Benscoter is an American artist who is best known for his work album covers, especially heavy metal albums. He also has made covers for magazines and books, and shirt designs, and his art is featured in many galleries around the world. Most ...
. * ''Heaven'' by Live (2003): European 7-inch single containing title track plus ''Forever May not be Long Enough (Egyptian Dreams Remix)'' as a B-side. An unknown quantity were mispressed with remixes of ''Let's Get Ill'' by
P. Diddy Sean Combs (born Sean John Combs; November 4, 1969), also known by his stage names Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Puffy, or Diddy, is an American rapper, actor, record producer, and record executive. Born in New York City, he worked as a talent directo ...
. * '' Inertiatic ESP'' by
The Mars Volta The Mars Volta is an American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership for ...
(2003): Artwork by
Storm Thorgerson Storm Elvin Thorgerson (28 February 1944 – 18 April 2013) was an English graphic designer and music video director. He is best known for closely working with the group Pink Floyd through most of their career, and also created album or other ar ...
. * '' Televators'' by
The Mars Volta The Mars Volta is an American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership for ...
(2003): Artwork by
Storm Thorgerson Storm Elvin Thorgerson (28 February 1944 – 18 April 2013) was an English graphic designer and music video director. He is best known for closely working with the group Pink Floyd through most of their career, and also created album or other ar ...
. * ''Puta'' by Khima France (2004) Limited Edition 7". * '' I, Lucifer'' by The Real Tuesday Weld (UK only, 2004) * '' Hell Yeah!'' by
HorrorPops HorrorPops are a Danish punk band that formed in 1996. The band's sound is rooted in psychobilly, rockabilly, and punk rock. History 1996–1999: Formation Band founders Patricia Day and Kim Nekroman first met when Day's now-defunct band ...
(2004): Side A has an altered version of the cover artwork and side B contains the track listing. * ''Split'' by
Agalloch Agalloch () was an American extreme metal band from Portland, Oregon. Formed in 1995 by frontman John Haughm, they released five full-length albums, four EPs, two singles, one split single, two demos, four compilation albums and one live video ...
/
Nest A nest is a structure built for certain animals to hold eggs or young. Although nests are most closely associated with birds, members of all classes of vertebrates and some invertebrates construct nests. They may be composed of organic materi ...
(2004): 10" Picture Disc. * ''Filthy Danceheng EP'' by Baron Mordant ( Mordant Music UK, 2004): Image of creepy tutonic child on a side, track list and 1970s looking child on reverse. * ''Blood Rushed to Head'' by Portion Control (portion-control.net UK, 2005): 7" portion Control logo on both sides. * '' Analord 10'' by AFX (re-release) (2005) * ''
The Trooper "The Trooper" is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released as the second single on 20 June 1983 from the band's fourth studio album, ''Piece of Mind'' (1983). It was one of only a few songs to get much radio airplay i ...
'' by
Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...
(1983) 7-inch single was re-released in 2005 as a picture disc. * '' Preaching the "End-Time" Message'' by
Eyehategod Eyehategod (also abbreviated and referred to as EHG) is an American sludge metal band from New Orleans, Louisiana who formed in 1988. They have become one of the better known bands to emerge from the NOLA metal scene. Their core lineup has r ...
(2005): Limited to 500 copies. * ''
Lateralus ''Lateralus'' () is the third studio album by American rock band Tool. It was released on May 15, 2001, through Volcano Entertainment. The album was recorded at Cello Studios in Hollywood and The Hook, Big Empty Space, and The Lodge, in Nor ...
'' by
Tool A tool is an object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many animals use simple tools, only human beings, whose use of stone tools dates ba ...
(2005): Double picture disc album. Limited edition only. * ''
The Hand that Feeds "The Hand That Feeds" is a song by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, ''With Teeth'' (2005). The single is the highest-charting Nine Inch Nails song on all charts except for ...
'' by Nine Inch Nails (2005) * ''
Death on the Road ''Death on the Road'' is a live album and video released by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden on 29 August 2005 on CD and vinyl, and on 6 February 2006 on DVD. The album was recorded at Westfalenhallen in Dortmund, Germany on 24 November 200 ...
'' by
Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...
(2005): Double picture disc album, disc 1 contains artwork and disc 2 has pictures from live shows. * '' The Widow'' by
The Mars Volta The Mars Volta is an American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership for ...
(2005): Artwork by
Storm Thorgerson Storm Elvin Thorgerson (28 February 1944 – 18 April 2013) was an English graphic designer and music video director. He is best known for closely working with the group Pink Floyd through most of their career, and also created album or other ar ...
. * ''
L'Via L'Viaquez ''Frances the Mute'' is the second studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta released in February 2005 on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal. Produced by guitarist and songwriter Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the album incorpor ...
'' by
The Mars Volta The Mars Volta is an American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership for ...
(2005): 10" Picture Disc. * '' Scab Dates'' by
The Mars Volta The Mars Volta is an American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership for ...
(2005): Dbl 12" Picture Disc LP. * ''
Omar Rodriguez ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb ( ar, عمر بن الخطاب, also spelled Omar, ) was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () as the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate o ...
'' by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2005) * ''
Gold Digger Gold digger is a term for a person, typically a woman, who engages in a type of transactional relationship for money rather than love. If it turns into marriage, it is a type of marriage of convenience. Etymology and usage The term "gold ...
'' by
Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
(2005): 12" single has a plain gold coloured picture disc. * '' Mezmerize'' and '' Hypnotize'' by
System of a Down System of a Down (also known as SoaD or simply System) is an Armenian-American heavy metal band formed in Glendale, California, in 1994. Since 1997, the band has consisted of Serj Tankian (lead vocals, keyboards); Daron Malakian (guitar, voc ...
(2005) * " Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz (2005): Features a drawing of the windmill island from the video. * The 12th record from the 7" of the Month Club by NOFX (2006): Side A: Picture of band, Side B: Cartoon Hotdogs - limited to 3000. * ''
Sam's Town ''Sam's Town'' is the second studio album by American rock band the Killers. It was released on September 27, 2006, by Island Records. Regarding the album, frontman Brandon Flowers noted that he "wanted to create an album that captured, chron ...
'' by
The Killers The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals). After going through a number of short-term bass players and drummers in t ...
(2006) * ''
Donuts A doughnut or donut () is a type of food made from leavened fried dough. It is popular in many countries and is prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and fra ...
'' by
J Dilla J, or j, is the tenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its usual name in English is ''jay'' (pronounced ), with a now-uncommon vari ...
(2006) * '' The Shining EP'' by
J Dilla J, or j, is the tenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its usual name in English is ''jay'' (pronounced ), with a now-uncommon vari ...
(2006) * ''
Age of Winters ''Age of Winters'' is the debut album by American heavy metal band The Sword, released in the United States on February 14, 2006. The Japanese edition, released by record label Toy's Factory, contains three bonus tracks recorded live at the CBGB ...
'' by
The Sword The Sword was an American heavy metal band from Austin, Texas. Formed in 2003, the band was composed of vocalist and guitarist John D. Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist Bryan Richie and drummer Santiago "Jimmy" Vela III for most of its t ...
(2006): limited to 500 copies. Side A features original CD Artwork, Side B a track listing and logo. * ''
The Pick of Destiny ''The Pick of Destiny'' is the second studio album by American comedy rock band Tenacious D, the soundtrack for their feature film of the same name. The album was released on November 14, 2006, through Epic Records, and debuted at number 8 ...
'' by
Tenacious D Tenacious D is an American comedy rock duo formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. It was founded by actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass, who were members of The Actors' Gang theater company at the time. The duo's name is derived from "ten ...
(2006) * ''
Get Warmer ''Get Warmer'' is the fourth full-length album by DIY collective Bomb the Music Industry!. Recording and composition Originally, the band were going to follow up 2006’s '' Goodbye Cool World!'' with an EP entitled ''No No New York''. This con ...
'' by
Bomb the Music Industry! Bomb the Music Industry! (commonly abbreviated as Bomb or BtMI!) were an American punk rock musical collective from Baldwin, Nassau County, New York, United States, led by singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Rosenstock. ...
(2006): Features a pictures of parks and track listings on the A and B sides. * ''Fine as Fuck'' by
Electrosexual Electrosexual is a French electronic musician, composer, performer, record producer and music video director living in Berlin. Career Electrosexual's passion for early electronic engines and primitive sounds from analog synthesizers inspired h ...
and Scream Club featuring
Peaches The peach (''Prunus persica'') is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in Zhejiang province of Eastern China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and others (the glossy-skinned, non-fu ...
(2006): Features a collage made by Electrosexual and a logo created by French graffiti artist Tilt. Limited to 500 copies, France
Rock Machine Records Electrosexual is a French electronic musician, composer, performer, record producer and music video director living in Berlin. Career Electrosexual's passion for early electronic engines and primitive sounds from analog synthesizers inspired h ...
. * ''
Gold Lion "Gold Lion" is the first single by American indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs from their second album, ''Show Your Bones''. Distinct in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' discography, it features acoustic guitar and a more slowed-down pace in contrast to ear ...
'' by
Yeah Yeah Yeahs The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O (born Karen Lee Orzolek), guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are compl ...
(2006): 7" Features a drawing of a lion. * ''Lycanthrope'' by +44 (2006): Features a picture of the band on one side of the single and the band logo on the other. * ''
Hip Hop Is Dead ''Hip Hop Is Dead'' is the eighth studio album by American rapper Nas, released December 19, 2006, on Def Jam Recordings. His first album for the label, it was co-financed by Nas's previous label, Columbia Records, which once distributed for Def ...
'' by
Nas Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air ( ...
(2006): 12" single has a picture of Nas with title of the song on the A side and Nas's logo on the B side. * ''
Infinity on High ''Infinity on High'' is the third studio album by American rock band Fall Out Boy, released on February 6, 2007, by Island Records. Recorded from July to October 2006 at Pass Studios in Los Angeles, California, its music was composed by lead s ...
'' by
Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy is an American rock band formed in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, lead guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurle ...
(2007) * '' From Yesterday'' by
Thirty Seconds to Mars Thirty Seconds to Mars (commonly stylized as 30 Seconds to Mars) is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of brothers Jared Leto (lead vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards) and Shannon Leto (drums, ...
(2007) * '' Here Come the Waterworks'' by
Big Business Big business involves large-scale corporate-controlled financial or business activities. As a term, it describes activities that run from "huge transactions" to the more general "doing big things". In corporate jargon, the concept is commonly ...
(2007) * '' Catch You''
12-inch single The twelve-inch single (often written as 12-inch or 12″) is a type of vinyl ( polyvinyl chloride or PVC) gramophone record that has wider groove spacing and shorter playing time with a 'single' or a few related sound tracks on each surfac ...
by
Sophie Ellis-Bextor Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor (born 10 April 1979) is an English singer and songwriter. She first came to prominence in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience. After the group disbanded Ellis-Bextor went solo and ach ...
(2007) * ''
Me and My Imagination "Me and My Imagination" is a song by British recording artist Sophie Ellis-Bextor for her third studio album, '' Trip the Light Fantastic'' (2007). It was written by Ellis-Bextor, Hannah Robinson and co-written and produced by Matt Prime. It is ...
''
12-inch single The twelve-inch single (often written as 12-inch or 12″) is a type of vinyl ( polyvinyl chloride or PVC) gramophone record that has wider groove spacing and shorter playing time with a 'single' or a few related sound tracks on each surfac ...
by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (2007) * '' Festival Thyme'' by ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead (2008) * ''Pedrophilia'' by Busy P on
Ed Banger Records Ed Banger Records (sometimes referred to as Ed Rec) is a French electronic music record label founded by Pedro Winter in 2003 as a division of Headbangers Entertainment. It focuses on house music, particularly French house, as well as alterna ...
(2008) * ''Pocket Piano'' by
DJ Mehdi Mehdi Favéris-Essadi (20 January 1977 – 13 September 2011), better known by his stage name DJ Mehdi, was a French hip hop and house music producer and DJ. He was signed to the label Ed Banger Records, founded by his friend Pedro Winter, in ...
(2008) * " God Has a Voice, She Speaks Through Me" by
CocoRosie CocoRosie is an American musical group formed in 2003 by sisters Sierra Rose "Rosie" and Bianca Leilani "Coco" Casady. The group's music has been described as folktronica, freak folk and "New Weird America", and incorporates elements of pop, blu ...
(2008) * ''
Aim and Ignite ''Aim and Ignite'' is the debut studio album by American indie pop band Fun. It was recorded at Appletree Studios. Background On February 4, 2008, The Format broke up. Soon after, vocalist Nate Ruess had called up Jack Antonoff, from the band ...
'' by
Fun Fun is defined by the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' as "Light-hearted pleasure, enjoyment, or amusement; boisterous joviality or merrymaking; entertainment". Etymology and usage The word ''fun'' is associated with sports, entertaining medi ...
(2009) * ''Time Warp / Join the Dots'' by Sub Focus (2009) * ''
The Fame Monster ''The Fame Monster'' is a reissue of American singer Lady Gaga's debut studio album, ''The Fame'' (2008), and was released on November 18, 2009, through Interscope Records. Initially planned solely as a deluxe edition reissue of ''The Fame'', I ...
'' by
Lady Gaga Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...
(2009) * ''
Ignorance Ignorance is a lack of knowledge and understanding. The word "ignorant" is an adjective that describes a person in the state of being unaware, or even cognitive dissonance and other cognitive relation, and can describe individuals who are unaware ...
'' by Paramore (2009) * ''The Infection'' by Chimaira (2009) * "Wonderful Life (Hurts song), Wonderful Life (Arthur Baker Remixes)" by Hurts (2010): Side A has a portrait picture of band member Theo Hutchcraft and side B contains a portrait picture of Adam Anderson. * ''The Final Frontier'' by
Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...
(2010): Double picture disc. Disc 1 contains album cover on disc 1, side one and silhouette of band on disc 2, side 1. * "Bittersweet (Sophie Ellis-Bextor song), Bittersweet" 7-inch single by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (2010) * ''So I Ate Myself, Bite by Bite'' by Dreamend (2010): Side A is designed to act as a phenakistoscope when used with the included die-cut sheet, along with a pint glass and light source. * "Remedy (The Black Crowes song), Remedy" by The Black Crowes (2011): Side A is a live acoustic version of the song while side B is a live electric version. Special release with the band's album "Croweology" for Record Store Day. * ''Thirteen (Megadeth album), Th1rt3en'' by Megadeth (2011) * ''Heritage (Opeth album)'' by Opeth (2011) * ''We Are Young'' by
Fun Fun is defined by the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' as "Light-hearted pleasure, enjoyment, or amusement; boisterous joviality or merrymaking; entertainment". Etymology and usage The word ''fun'' is associated with sports, entertaining medi ...
(2011) * ''Lady Luck (Jamie Woon song), Lady Luck'' by Jamie Woon (2011) * ''Trials of Imaginaerum'' by Nightwish (2012) * ''National Anthem'' by Lana Del Rey (UK only, 2012) * ''We Don't Even Live Here'' by P.O.S (rapper), P.O.S (2012) * ''Kiss (Carly Rae Jepsen album), Kiss'' by Carly Rae Jepsen (2012) * ''Blue Ash and Other Suburbs'' by Trey Anastasio (2013): Features outtakes from the Traveler sessions that were co-produced by Trey and Peter Katis in Fall, 2011 and Original artwork by Micah Lidberg. * ''The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here'' by Alice In Chains (2013) * ''Life on Mars?'' by
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
(2013) * ''Bangerz (album), Bangerz'' by Miley Cyrus * ''Art Support Machine'' by
Electrosexual Electrosexual is a French electronic musician, composer, performer, record producer and music video director living in Berlin. Career Electrosexual's passion for early electronic engines and primitive sounds from analog synthesizers inspired h ...
artwork by Dutch artist Lukas Julius Keijser and designed by Philip Marshall (2014) * ''Pika Pika Fantajin'' by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (2014) * ''Vulnicura, Vulnicura Live'' by Björk (2015) * ''The Incredible True Story'' by Logic (rapper), Logic (2015) * ''The Last Hero (album), The Last Hero'' by Alter Bridge (2016) * ''The Vengeful One'' by Disturbed (band), Disturbed (2016) * ''Hesitant Alien'' by Gerard Way (2017) * ''Reputation (Taylor Swift album), Reputation'' by Taylor Swift (2017) * ''Yellow Submarine (album), Yellow Submarine'' by
The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...
(2018) * ''Post-Apocalypto (album), Post-Apocalypto'' by
Tenacious D Tenacious D is an American comedy rock duo formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. It was founded by actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass, who were members of The Actors' Gang theater company at the time. The duo's name is derived from "ten ...
(2018) * ''Los Prisioneros (album), Los Prisioneros'' by Los Prisioneros (2020) * ''Manzana (album), Manzana'' by Los Prisioneros (2020) * ''View-Monster'' by Lemon Demon (2020) * ''Man on the Moon III: The Chosen'' by Kid Cudi (2020) * ''No One Sings Like You Anymore'' a posthumous cover song, covers album by Chris Cornell (2020) * ''Fortitude (Gojira album), Fortitude'' official-store-only special edition by Gojira (band), Gojira (2021) * ''Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum (album) , Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum'' by Tally Hall (band) , Tally Hall (2021)


Shaped Discs & 'special pressings'

*''It's a Mistake'' by Men at Work (1983 in music, 1983) – apparently also mispressed as a release by Men Without Hats, though such mispressings were clearly labeled *A single shaped like DEVO's famous Energy Dome headgear was planned, but never made it past the test pressing stage.


Picture discs by band


Helloween

*''Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I'' 1987 *''Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II'' 1988


Kiss

*Several Kiss (band), Kiss discs from ( 1978), each with a different band (music), band member *''A World Without Heroes'' by Kiss (1981 in music, 1981) *''Creatures of the Night'' by Kiss (United States, U.S., 1982 in music, 1982) *''Hotter than Hell (album), Hotter Than Hell'' by Kiss (the Netherlands, 1982 in music, 1982) *''Dressed to Kill (album), Dressed to Kill'' by Kiss (the Netherlands, 1982 in music, 1982) *''Destroyer (Kiss album), Destroyer'' by Kiss (the Netherlands, 1982 in music, 1982) *''Rock and Roll Over'' by Kiss (the Netherlands, 1982 in music, 1982) *''Love Gun'' by Kiss (the Netherlands, 1982 in music, 1982) *''Dynasty (Kiss album), Dynasty'' by Kiss (the Netherlands, 1982 in music, 1982) *''Unmasked (Kiss album), Unmasked'' by Kiss (the Netherlands, 1982 in music, 1982) *''Music from "The Elder"'' by Kiss (the Netherlands, 1982 in music, 1982) *''Crazy Nights'' by Kiss (US, 1987 in music, 1987) *''Crazy Crazy Nights'' by Kiss (UK, 1987 in music, 1987) *''Reason to Live'' by Kiss (UK, 1987 in music, 1987) *''Monster (Kiss album), Monster'' by Kiss (US, 2012 in music, 2012)


Muse

British rock band, Muse (band), Muse have released several picture discs since 2006. They have also notably had much of their work pressed on clear vinyl since 1999. *"Supermassive Black Hole (song), Supermassive Black Hole" (2006) (7" picture) *"Starlight (Muse song), Starlight" (2006) (7" picture) *"Knights of Cydonia" (2006) (7" picture) *"Invincible (Muse song), Invincible" (2007) (7" picture) *"Resistance (song), Resistance" (2010) (7" picture)


Guided By Voices

*"Cut-out Witch" (1996) (7" picture)


See also

* Unusual types of gramophone records


References

{{reflist


External links


Vinyl Underground, a Gallery of Picture Discs and Colored Vinyl Records. Displays images contained within this article.
Audio storage Lists of albums