While the art of music may have a diverse array of genres, one theme that can be traced throughout them all is love and its many forms. From sex to lust, flirtation, crushes, heartbreak, and a lot more sex, love has been expressed just as much through lyrics as through album art. The 60s are filled with kitschy imagery while the 80s balance tongue-in-cheek wordplay. In the funk arena, Donna Summer and the Ohio Players, among others, get sensuous. The list goes on. Find a selection of valentine-inspired covers below:
Honeymoon Suite eponymous LP released 1984 on WEA. Photography by Patrick Harbron. Design and concept by Steve Gerdes and Dean Motter.
John Lennon & Yoko Ono Double Fantasy released 1980 on Geffen. Photographed by Kishin Shinoyama. Artwork by Christopher Whorf/ Art Hotel. Art direction by John Lennon & Yoko Ono.
serpentwithfeet Deacon released 2021 on Secretly Canadian. Photography by Braylen Dion. Creative direction by Rush Davis.
Sous Le Manteau Ici Sur Terre released 2000 on Gambler Records. Photographed by Nan Goldin.
Peter Brown Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me? released 1977 on Drive.
Ohio Players Honey released 1975. Art Direction by Jim Ladwig, Photography by Richard Fegley, Design by Joe Kotleba.
Donna Summer Love To Love You Baby released 1975 on Atlantic. Photography by Lazzaroni. Art direction and design by Stephen Lumel.
Buckingham Nicks eponymous LP released 1973 on Polydor. Photography by Lorrie Sullivan and Jimmy Wachtel. Design by Jimmy Wachtel.
A Star is Born Soundtrack released 1976 on Columbia. Photography by Francesco Scavullo. Art direction by Seiniger & Assoc.
Shura forevher released 2019 on Secretly Canadian. Photographed by Holly Fernando.
The Jim Carroll Band Dry Dreams released 1982 on ATCO Records. Photography by Annie Leibovitz.
Paul & Paula We Go Together released 1963 on Philips. Artwork by William Smith.
Mary Wells The One Who Really Loves You released 1962 on Motown. Artwork by Barni Wright.
Freddie Hughes Send My Baby Back released 1968 on Wand. Art direction and design by Burt Goldblatt.
Stevie Nicks The Wild Heart released 1983 on Modern Records. Art direction, design and photography by Herbert Wheeler Worthington III. Concept by Stevie Nicks.
The Charles Lloyd Quartet Love-In released 1967 on Atlantic. Photography by Jim Marshall. Design by Stanislaw Zagorski.
Minnie Riperton Stay in Love released 1977 on Epic. Photography by David Alexander. Design by Kosh.
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