When an alternate album cover is (in your opinion) better than the original?

I liked these guys better when Wind joined...

 

Here's an example of where the rationale seems to be "If there's any trace of whimsy in the original cover, let's stamp it out!"

UK original:



US "this is some basic crap image marketing can get behind" version:

 

You're correct! I've updated the original post. Thanks.

 

The Dutch and American covers, respectively.

 

I prefer the reissue cover for Megadeth's "Killing Is My Business" to the original. Too bad "These Boots" is so annoyingly censored.

Hopefully someone can post the covers for me.

 

which one do you prefer?

 

These are just a couple of variations if you want to see most of the 90+ go here: Synchronicity

 

Far right - the one I've had for 36 years!

 

There's another David Bowie example - The Buddha of Suburbia.

The original (a really badly cut out screen grab from the TV series):



Versus the much classier looking reissue cover:

 

Art Garfunkel's FATE FOR BREAKFAST was released with six different covers. Which do you prefer?

 

Wow, never knew that, but to me, the 1st and 3rd in the top row are album cover worthy with the 3rd being the clear winner. The rest should have been outtakes.

 

The ones on the left.

 

Original '95:



Reissue 2005:

 

Centre top row is the only one that doesn't look like an outtake to me. Was that only used in Spanish speaking territories?

 

I prefer the US belly button cover to the UK God cover as well. Interesting to note - in changing the cover, it meant not having to do the more elaborate packaging of the UK version which folded open. Not quite a gatefold but more elaborate than the standard single spine of the US. Still, I much prefer the simpler look of the US - the weirdness of "Show me your belly buttons!" and all.

 

No it was issued widely. It was just that I couldn't find an image of that one other than that Spanish-sticker one at the time I assembled that image.

 

I assume you're not familiar with their music..?
Excellent Dutch prog band. They got more commercial, but all the albums up until 1977 are all recommended!

 

Prefer the first one.

 

Agree. The first one looks more era-appropriate.

 

Hendrix:

1. Reprise cover of "AYE" over Track.
[tho luv the UK cover/US has more of a feel for "AYE" IMO]
2.Reprise "EL" cover over Jimi's suggested photo.
[posted here at SHMF before very biased toward Hendrix inspired Psychedelic art/Eastman's photo is OK]
2A. '75 Japan Barclay "EL" cover is trippy.
3. German "Loose Ends" over UK.
3A. French Barclay "LE" cover is wild!
4. EH "Live at Monterey".
4A. LD "LaM" cover.
5. '95 Nectar CD over original "Experience[/More Experience]" LP cover.

 

"The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers"
Spainish cover.
The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers (Dedos Pegajosos)

 

Only vaguely familiar with them, but I couldn't resist the remark...

 

No one outside of the band has ever seen it (since it was rejected) but I'll bet the originally commissioned cover for Cream Corn from the Socket of Davis would have been more fun than the released cover.

 

That indeed remains one of the biggest mysteries regarding this whole album... I've read accounts from members here who recall in-store displays and even radio advertisements for the 2LP still being around as late as the first week of April, yet just days later the product failed to reach shelves without as much as an explanation. finally arriving in June after being extensively reworked. CBS obviously made the decision to trim the material down at the last possible minute, since the test pressings that have surfaced confirm it wasn't even put into acetate form until the middle of March. After originally being scheduled for December 1982, it seems the entire project was to be rushed into mass production, having already missed one deadline that was also widely reported. On this note, the lead single wasn't initially going to be Rock 'N' Roll Is King, but rather Beatles Forever - ironically the one leftover that has yet to officially see the light of day. If my research is correct, the replacement song's video was filmed at the end of '82, suggesting this change predated the other far more drastic alterations that would take place a few short weeks after. While no final copies of the vinyl edition have ever been confirmed as still existing, two sets of the aforementioned acetates are definitely out there, including an earlier variation with a slightly different tracklist and possibly alternate mixes of certain songs, plus there's at least one complete double gatefold sleeve in the possession of a known collector who prefers to keep this hidden away. Curiously, a former member of ELO had once spoken of having to return their promotional cassette back to CBS, and engineer Bill Bottrell has a reference dub of this in his private archive. One of our only hopes for getting to hear the full assembly is if some obscure radio station or journalist didn't give their tape back when the order was made to withdraw these.