I found 20 of the greatest vinyl album sleeves of all time in the attic

A few years ago I was clearing out the attic of my family home and I found a treasure trove of fantastic vinyl that my father had accumulated throughout his life. It made me excited to see musical gems from my own past, as well as jewels in the crown from my father’s extensive, eclectic collection of records. Below are a selection of the twenty most unusual, wacky, funny, cool or downright odd record sleeves in the collection. It reminded me how remarkable a vinyl album cover is. To see it in such a large format, announcing itself so boldly. I felt transported to that moment when you would buy a new record and hold that sleeve in your hand, turning it over, studying it in detail, marveling at the thought process and all of the hands & minds that had brought this cover art to the world. And sadly that tradition is largely fading with the shift to digital formats, but as the masterpieces below illustrate, nothing compares to a striking album cover, no matter how odd or unintentionally strange it might be. Enjoy!

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I presume the dog’s name is Seamus Gallagher. Big Shay they call him.

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The voice of Erin. The jumper from Christmas

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Rock ‘n’ rollies

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Hearty AND Hellish. The ultimate combo

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Go on admit it. You are imagining that Batman theme riff in your head right now

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Sequel to George Gershwin at the front door

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Five ants are greater than four elephants. Swedish album title FTW.

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It’s time to start the music…

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As boring as it looks

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There’s only one Jacques Dutronc

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Airline bands. A sadly neglected genre.

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Swedish jazz. O ja, jätte cool bejbi.

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57 varieties of coolness

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Really good vibes

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She might be lonely but she has her own modern jazz soundtrack. You don’t have that.

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Bad-ass Biggles Bebop

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I want whatever that golden key around his neck unlocks

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Pitchforks at the ready

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This guy is living in the past

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Probably better than most London Underground buskers. Certainly better dressed.

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One saxophone, good. Three saxophones, better.