The Sexiest Album Covers of All Time
This is by no mean a definitive list, but these albums are worth revisiting
In the last few years, Vinyl has experienced a massive resurgence.
It accounted for 9.7 million album sales in 2018, thanks, begrudgingly, to what NPR called the "Hipsterfication of America." While the sales can mainly be attributed to classics like Michael Jackson's Thriller and The Beatles' Abbey Road, it seems fitting to pay homage to the records that gave us Millennial's a "thunder down under" and kickstarted our sexual awakenings.
The racy nature of the album covers below sparked cultural phenomenons. Let's dive into the birth of the "Parental Warning" and revisit the album that turned whipped cream from a mere dessert topping into something much more. These are some of the most risque records in history.
Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, "Whipped Cream and Other Delights" (1965)
Arguably one of the most famous album covers of all time, Whipped Cream & International Delights would go on to bring notoriety to model Dolores Erickson, who achieved fame as "the whipped cream" lady. "They stared at it constantly. It was very risque," Erickson said of the cover. "They hadn't seen this much breast in their life." The album has sold over 6 million copies and was the band's most popular release to date.
▲The Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Electric Ladyland" (1968) (UK Edition)
On the cover art for the UK release of what would be Jimi Hendrix's final album, a variety of naked young women are seen sprawled across a black background. It's a very literal interpretation of Electric Ladyland, but it's so f*ckin rock and roll.
▲The Rolling Stones, “Sticky Fingers” (1971)
Arguably The Rolling Stone's best album and most controversial, Sticky Fingers elevated the band to iconic status. Due to the bulging cover art, the album was initially widely banned but is now one of the most iconic covers of all time. Rumor has it that the band paid upwards of $15,000 for Andy Warhol to design the cover art, but the government ended up pressuring the Stones to switch it for a shot of a woman's crotch, rather than a man's. It just wasn't as good.
▲Prince, “Lovesexy” (1988)
While this album is a bit of a mixed bag, the cover art developed its own amazing reputation. Prince looks like a Greek god as he sprawls across a Water Lillie, his thick hair blowing in the breeze. Thematically, the album covered everything from self-improvement to religion and was still well-reviewed, despite its commercial fumble.
▲2 Live Crew, “As Nasty As They Wanna Be” (1989)
2 Live Crew's third album served as the first album ever to be deemed "legally obscene" and sparked the initial discussions surrounding the "Parental Warning" label. With singles like "Me So Horny" and "The F*ck Shop," it came as no surprise when the album was deemed illegal in certain counties in Florida. But the arrest of the Crew came as a shock, with the band members being put on trial after performing some of the project's tracks at a local sex club. They were eventually acquitted.
Hurricane "Slave to the Thrill" (1990)
The metal band's third outing was well received, but it's most remembered for its graphic machine sex cover art. It sure is...something.
▲Sade "Love Deluxe" (1992)
This album was a return to cool jazz and lush ambient music for Sade, who was already a trip-hop innovator at this point in her career. The album cover is sensual, sexy, and warm, and while Love Deluxe was by no mean's Sade's best work, it was one of her most raw projects and was followed by a seven year hiatus for the singer. She was rumored to be battling addiction and depression during this time.
▲Unrest “Animal Park” (1994)
It was probably the first schlong you saw that wasn't your dad's or baby brother's. Unrest's surprisingly graphic choice for the cover of 1994's Animal Park turned a lot of heads, mostly because the 3 songs weren't thematically sexual at all. In fact, they were painfully reflective. "What about today? I wish you were here today," Bridget Cross sings on "Afternoon Train."
▲Ween, "Chocolate and Cheese" (1994)
While no one necessarily remembers the music of Ween, many of us remember the feeling of stumbling upon this album in our local Borders music section. With tracks like "Baby B*tch," "The HIV Song," and "Mister, Will You Please Help My Pony?" Ween's crude antics were remembered long after their music faded. But to be fair, Chocolate and Cheese reminded many that under-boobs are very hot.
▲Black Crowes, "Amorica" (1994)
Initially taken from the cover of the July 1976 issue of Hustler magazine, Amorica, The Black Crowe's third album, went on to be banned across multiple chain stores like Kmart and WalMart due to the "graphic" cover. The band would go on to re-release the album with a solid black background so that only the America thong could be seen, but that's not hot. So we choose to remember this album art as it was intended to be remembered.
▲Sugar Ray "Lemonade and Brownies" (1995)
These guys really went for it on their debut album. Doesn't get more sexual than this.
▲Basement Jaxx, "Remedy" (1999)
Coming out the gate strong, Basement Jaxx's 1999 debut was a critical smash in the UK. The cover art was a visual innuendo for orgies, but Felix Buxton reaffirmed that the project was meant to stress "togetherness." "You may be black; you may be white; you may be a Jew; you may be gentile. It doesn't matter in our house," he said. We're still talking about orgies though, right?
▲Lil Kim, “The Notorious K.I.M.” (2000)
While all of Lil Kim's album covers deserve to be on this list, the rapper's sophomore triumph was a fierce party record, with Kim calling out the absurdity of sexual politics while also gloating that she's got "some straight chicks rubbing their t*ts." That lyric is off of a song titled "Suck My D*ck," if that gives any indication of the album's vibe.
▲Rollins Band, "Nice" (2001)
While the song "What's The Matter Man" may serve as a nostalgic trip down memory lane for those who played Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3, the cover of Rollins Band's final full-length Nice is as pornographic as album art comes, but it is definitely nice.
▲The Strokes, "Is This It" (2001)
Another album whose art stirred controversy, The Strokes' 2001 booty-full cover art for Is This It was eventually replaced for the U.S. market. The album still received widespread critical acclaim, though.
▲Shakira “Laundry Service” (2002)
The seventh best-selling album of 2002, the multi-platinum Laundry Service was rich in innuendo and sexual metaphors. "Underneath your clothes, there's an endless story, there's the man I chose, there's my territory," Shakira sings on "Underneath Your Clothes." The album's thematic material was ripe in sexual tension, with Shakira exploring themes of passion with a seductive persona that made us all wheeze. "To the tabloids, she is a sexy stunna...In men's magazines, she is a leggy diversion from endless articles on Achieving Your Best Sex Ever," wrote The Guardian. Shakira, in an innumerable amount of ways, would go on to relentlessly remind us that sex is nothing without hips, love, and passion.
▲Beyonce “I AM... SASHA FIERCE” (2008)
Do I really need to explain? Look at her. Look at that flawless skin, her perfect beach hair, the glow in her eyes. Do I truly need to justify this cover? Next question.
▲Rihanna, “Unapologetic” (2012)
It wouldn't be a "sexy"-anything list without Rihanna. 2012's Unapologetic came at the tail end of Rihanna's crushing album run, wherein she released a new project every year between 2009 and 2012. Unapologetic, like its predecessors, was a commercial smash, and was led by the singles "Bitch Better Have My Money" (though it never appeared on the actual album) the Sia-assisted "Diamonds," and "Stay." The album went on to win a Grammy for "Best Urban Contemporary" album and was the eighth best selling album of 2012.
▲Sky Ferreira “Night Time, My Time” (2013)
At 21 years old, Sky Ferreira turned pop music on its head with her 2013 debut. She would disappear from the public eye for over 5 years before returning with new music, but that cover art still puzzles us with its balance of sexy and depressing.
▲Nicki Minaj, Queen (2018)
Minaj's big return album has spurred plenty of controversy, but the album cover is definitely the sexiest in Barbie's discography. She is like a sexy Pharoah, with nothing but jewels and diamonds covering her body. It's not exactly "risque" by 2018 standards, but is still a fierce look for one of Hip-Hop's sexiest emcee's.
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