OK, right off the bat, even though yesterday’s Ask was “What Are The Best And Worst Car-Based Album Covers?” I need to point out that the topshot is not an album cover. It’s a promo shot for a single, as Dan Klotz pointed out:
It’s not an “album cover” but the promo shot for Sammy Hagar’s song “Trans Am (Highway Wonderland)” with the Red Rocker sitting on his T/A that the license plate “IEATZ28” was absolutely epic.
To which I say, “close enough.” My life is so much better for having that pic of The Red Rocker languishing on his T/A, even if the inter-F-body fighting makes me uneasy.
And now, just a few of your car-flavored album cover picks, there were so many greats:
Paradsecar
I think the cover to Tone Loc’s Lōc-ed After Dark album is both the best AND the worst car-based album cover. The beautiful Series 2 Jaguar E-Type absolutely dominates about 55% of the cover, but the angle of the shot is such that we only get a glimpse of the headlight and…not much else. Meanwhile, Mr Loc himself is but a tiny speck sandwiched between the title font and car.
The fact that I still remember this 37 years after the album came out is remarkable, but less ideal is the fact that I had no idea what the car was because Al Gore hadn’t invented the internet yet.
The Bishop
It was a rip-off too!
Rip-off, or homage? The resemblance to the Donald Byrd LP is undeniable. My feeling is that even when the intent is homage, if the original is so vastly superior that the homage-er cannot even be compared, it becomes a rip-off by default. Sorry, Tone.
Rollin Hand nominated Big Sugar’s Hit and Run, and I don’t think a Charger R/T has even been more in my face, or anyone else’s.
We got another homage here, via Ford Timelord:
Beck ‘hyperspace’ is a great cover yet it’s let down by the aftermarket wheels on the Celica. It’s based on the album ‘Rich and Famous’ by Keith Mansfield. See the album covers here:
Kinda wish Beck really went for it and duped the entire Keith Mansfield design, it’s fantastically 8os (never mind that it came out in 1993).
Dr Flywheel turned me on to this gem:
One of my favourites is Electric Brown by Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird. Firebirds aren’t common in Australia, so I assume that’s why they went with an old Corolla.
Gen3 Volt:
Jeez, no Husker Du peeps here?
Zen Arcade is one of the greatest album covers, period, with a seemingly infinite number of cars depicted.
I do love the “crayons/markers over degraded photocopy” look every time I see it.
RustHoles came in hot with two picks:
The Minutemen – Double Nickles on the Dime: interior shot of Mike Watt’s Beetle doing 55 on I-10. Slint – Tweez: Saab 99s are pretty
I love the band and album name integration into the Saab’s grille.
“Any with an Isetta on it,” says Jonee Eisen, linking these two beauts. I agree!
I’m sure both the lovely ladies above loved reeking of gasoline and fumes.
MSV with this wonderful selection:
I’ll put an obscure one out Richard Hamilton yellow Datsun car. I accidentally found it looking for new stuff from the Datsuns a band from NZ. It’s weird but get the point across. Decently done. Good sounding song.
It’s perfect.
Fu Manchu got a few mentions. Dodd Lives:
Fu Manchu: King of the Road and it’s old Econoline.
And Holvey:
Fu Manchu has several good ones including California Crossing (El Camino), In Search Of…(Chevelle and Mustang), and Daredevil (Meyer’s Manx Dune Buggy)
Hold up, The Osmonds? Good find Bronco2CombustionBoogaloo.
I think the cover for Crazy Horses is absolutely hideous with its very of-its-time “gritty city” vibe, but I do think everyone should know the Osmonds can go this hard:
I mean, holy shit. That’s a long way from “One Bad Apple.”
Top graphic image: Capitol Records
The orange E30 on the cover of Frank Ocean’s album, Nostalgia,ULTRA
Weirdly, the first that come’s to mind is the cover of Dark Dancer by Les Rythmes Digitales, with it’s Mk1 Golf GTI (more obvious on the back cover). From the style of art, the focus on the 80’s, and listening to the music, you’d assume this was a modern synthwave album from the last few years, but it actually came out in 1999, when no one had any nostalgia for the 1980’s.
No one except for LRD anyway; born either ten years too late, or thirty years too early.
I can’t believe no one mentioned Candy-O by the Cars. I know it’s not the first thing you see, but trust me, there’s a car there.
Dang. I have to revisit The Osmonds.
I was also stoked to see that The Minutemen made the list.
Believe this is the first comment I’ve had republished. Woohoo.
About that Husker Du cover: I only recently learned that their late, great drummer/vocalist Grant Hart did most all of the band’s graphic design, and we have him to thank for this as well.
Made in France by Francis Lai has a Citroen SM. That’s the end-all be-all for me
What is Big Sugar doing? Don’t they know that Alberta doesn’t have front license plates?
Augh i forgot to post my nomination! Yuko Imai
(Lotus Europa)
Glad to see Fu Manchu repped here. I would also include the Cars’ Candy-O.
Too political?
https://catchgroove.com/2023/11/03/neil-young-trans/
Oh man. Late to the party here. It’s got to be Neko Case, Middle Cyclone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Cyclone
What? No one suggested Peter Gabriel’s 1977 album, designed by Hipgnosis and showing bits of a Lancia Flavia? Surely one of the greatest.
Sammy still can’t drive fifty five.
Am I the only one thinking ZZ Top? Eliminator is iconic.
Def Leppard’s “On Through The Night” is right up there, too.
I mentioned Eliminator only to read about 50 other comments noting it. I’m guessing Peter only comes back with less obvious examples to note or maybe just his personal preferences.
Confession: I would like to have spent much longer on this, because SO much gold. I assure you, I wanted to include basically EVERY submission.
You run out of internets? Is there a cap on the bytes? Tell Jason to swap the 300 baud modem for a sweet 5400! The future is now! Go crazy!
I get that. But Eliminator seems like such an obvious choice for the question. And there were so many, very obscure ones chosen.
And I know you and I are very close in age so don’t try and tell me you aren’t aware of the ZZ.
Dang…you missed Billy Strings “Highway Prayers”
I must have missed the original post. My vote would be Terminator X: Valley of the Jeep Beats. It also showcases the style and modifications of early SUVs in that late 1980’s era.
I have the cassette somewhere.
Big Sugar also have Heated – same Charger, different angle.
But more importantly, they named one of their albums Hemi-vision.
I thought that top shot was from Greatest American Hero
Believe it or not it’s just me.
I want to say Mike Post. How wrong am I?
[looks it up]
BOOYAH