Can You Guess the Band from These Iconic Album Covers?
Over the years, some music albums have become the cream of the crop, celebrated as the best ever released. While some reached critical acclaim upon release, others were initially underrated. Over time, these records have gained immense popularity, becoming some of the most famous pieces of music ever made. Even their album covers are instantly recognizable, like the cover of Nevermind. Today, we’re testing our readers’ knowledge of these iconic albums. Each album is considered immensely popular today, with some even reaching Rolling Stone‘s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” We’ve also included fun facts about whether the albums were initially successful or criticized.
An Iconic Crosswalk
Need multiple choice?
- The Rolling Stones
- The Beatles
- The Who
The Beatles
Abbey Road was released in 1969, and it’s now one of the most popular covers (and records) ever made.
A Big Explosion
Need Multiple Choice?
- The Offspring
- Blink-182
- Green Day
Green Day
Dookie was the third album by Green Day and released in 1994. It became a huge success and peaked to number two on the US Billboard 200.
A Banana
Need Multiple Choice?
- The Velvet Underground & Nico
- The Ramones
- Pink Floyd
The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground & Nico was the debut album for The Velvet Underground. It was actually a commercial failure but became one of the most acclaimed and influential albums in music.
Triangle and Rainbow
Need mulitple choice?
- Led Zeppelin
- Tame Impala
- Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
The Dark Side of the Moon, released in 1973, is none other than Pink Floyd! It’s their eighth album, but it became one of the top albums the group ever made.
A Hippie Couple
Need Multiple Choice?
- Fleetwood Mac
- Janis Joplin
- Hall & Oates
Fleetwood Mac
Rumours is one of Fleetwood Mac’s most popular albums– if not the most popular. It was released in 1977, this album earned the band a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978.
An American Man
Need multiple choice?
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- Neil Young
- Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Born in the USA was Bruce Springsteen’s seventh album, and it released in 1984. It quickly became his most commercially successful album and one of the highest-selling records of all time.
A Soldier
Need multiple choice?
- The Clash
- The Smiths
- The Cure
The Smiths
Meat is Murder was released in 1985 and became The Smiths’ sole number-one album in the UK during their lifetime. It stayed on the chart for a whopping 13 weeks.
People Running From Police
Need multiple choice?
- The Roots
- A Tribe Called Quest
- De La Soul
The Roots
In 1999, The Roots released Things Fall Apart. It’s arguably one their breakthrough album and became the first album to sell over 500,000 copies.
White Album With Letters
Need multiple choice?
- The Beatles
- Pink Floyd
- Cheap Trick
The Beatles
Who other than The Beatles could release The White Album (aka The Beatles)? Released in 1968, this album was a plain white sleeve with no graphics or text other than the band’s name embossed. It was a huge contrast to their other albums, which are lavish with color.
A Hotel and Palm Trees
Need multiple choice?
- The Rolling Stones
- The Doobie Brothers
- The Eagles
The Eagles
Hotel California was the fifth album by the Eagles, released in 1976. This album quickly became one of the greatest albums of all time and sold 42 million copies worldwide.
Black and White Airship
Need multiple choice?
- Led Zeppelin
- Pink Floyd
- Black Sabbath
Led Zeppelin
A Zeppelin on the cover? Has to be Led Zeppelin. This self-titled album released in 1969, but it wasn’t critically well received when it released. Now, of course, things have changed.
Two Men Shaking Hands
Need multiple choice?
- The Who
- King Crimson
- Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Wish You Were Here was released by Pink Floyd in 1975. This album also appeared on the Rolling Stone’s list of The Greatest 500 Albums of all Time despite receiving mixed reviewed when released.
Someone Destroying a Guitar
Need multiple choice?
- Ramones
- The Clash
- The Jam
The Clash
London Calling, released in 1979 by The Clash, was a double album in the UK. It got widespread acclaim and has sold over five million copies worldwide.
Guys Standing Around a Concrete Slab
Need multiple choice?
- The Who
- The Smiths
- The Doors
The Who
Who’s Next was the fifth album by The Who and was released in 1971. Naturally, the album was immediately successful and has been viewed as one of the best records by the band.
A Toddler Sitting
Need multiple choice?
- Jay-Z
- 2 Pac
- The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Ready to Die was The Notorious B.I.G.’s debut album, released in 1994. It was released to critical acclaim and became a huge commercial success.
Rows of White Gravestones
Need multiple choice?
- Metallica
- Iron Maiden
- Black Sabbath
Metallica
Master of Puppets, released in 1986, became one of the most popular songs and albums from Metallica. Naturally, it was critically acclaimed when it released.
Waveform
Need multiple choice?
- Beck
- Joy Division
- Bauhaus
Joy Division
1979’s Unknown Pleasures is from Joy Division! It was the band’s debut album, but it didn’t get the acclaim it deserved until later. Some critics loved it—others hated it.
A Man's Pants
Need multiple choice?
- The Rolling Stones
- Bruce Springsteen
- The Animals
The Rolling Stones
None other than The Rolling Stones! Sticky Fingers was the band’s first album of the decade and fans loved it. It hit the number one spot on the British charts and remained there for four weeks.
Man With Face Paint
Need multiple choice?
- Paul McCartney
- David Bowie
- Elton John
David Bowie
David Bowie, duh! Released in 1973, Aladdin Sane featured Bowie’s signature face paint. This was his sixth album and was the follow up to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.
Man With Horns and a Tail
Need multiple choice?
- Black Sabbath
- Van Halen
- AC/DC
AC/DC
This devilish album is none other than AC/DC. Released in 1979, it was the last album to feature the lead singer Bon Scott, who died early the following year.
Squished Egg
Need multiple choice?
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- The Strokes
- Metric
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It’s Blitz! was the third album from Yeah Yeah Yeahs. When it released in 2009, it got universal acclaim from music critics. It also features some of the most famous songs of the band.
A Man in a Dark Room
Need multiple choice?
- Bob Dylan
- Hank Williams
- Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
American IV: The Man Comes Around, was released by Johnny Cash in 2002. The majority of the albums were covers, including “Personal Jesus,” where Cash performed his own style.
Girl With Red Lipstick
Need multiple choice?
- Katy Perry
- Taylor Swift
- Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift has a ton of records that are remarkable, but 2014’s 1989 is the most recognizable. It sold 1.287 million copies in the United States during its first week and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
A Guitarist
Need multiple choice?
- Bruce Springsteen
- Neil Young
- Tom Petty
Bruce Springsteen
It’s impossible to forget Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run. This 1975 album was his effort to break into the mainstream, and it worked. It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and sold six million copies in the United States.
People With Fabulous Hair
Need multiple choice?
- Aerosmith
- The Rolling Stones
- Queen
Queen
Queen has plenty of popular albums, but Queen II is one of their most popular, which is astounding considering it’s their second album. Critically, reviews were mixed, but it retained a cult following since its release.
A Man Stepping Inside A Mural
Need multiple choice?
- Elton John
- Billy Joel
- Michael Jackson
Elton John
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was by Elton John. This 1973 album sold over 30 million copies worldwide and is now considered one of his best.
