Top 10 Rolling Stones Album Covers

Photo: By Gorupdebesanez (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Rolling Stones first album was released in 1964 in the U.K. The album was simply entitled The Rolling Stones. Thier first U.S. album was released the same year in 1964 entitled England’s Newest Hit Makers. The follow-up album to both releases was issued in entitled 12 X 5. For the rest of the 1960’s the band released different versions of albums in both the U.S. and U.K in similar fashion as to what the Beatles did with the U.K Parlophone label and Capitol Records in the United States. The 1970’s saw a consistent release schedule for the band between the U.K and the U.S. The release of Rolling Stones albums began to slow down a bit towards the end of the 1980’s. Their last original studio album A Bigger Bang was released in 2005. As of this writing in 2016, it has been 11 years since the release of A Bigger Bang. That represents the longest time period between studio albums of the band’s career. But Hey! these guys started out at the same time as the Beatles. The band has released many iconic cover during their career. Here is our choice for the Top 10 Rolling Stones Album Covers of all time.

# 10 – Black and Blue

The Rolling Stones album Black and Blue was released in 1976. The album was released in a gate-fold which presented the rest of the band on the back cover. The close up shot of Mick Jagger somewhat listening to Keith Richards in the forefront, with Bill Wyman standing in the background left the meaning behind the shot wide open for interpretation.

# 9 – Let It Bleed

The Rolling Stones album Let It Bleed was released in 1969. The cover of the album was so iconic it became part of the United Kingdom’s “Classic Album Cover” postage stamps which were issued in 2010.

# 8 – Between the Buttons

The Rollings Stones Album Between the Buttons was released in 1967. With their collars raised high, dressed in black and photographed outside while standing close together, the Rolling Stones album cover always reminded us of the Beatles For Sale album cover.

# 7 – December’s Children (And Everybody’s)

In 1965, the Rolling Stones released their 5th American studio album entitled December’s Children. Simply just a very cool black and white cover.

# 6 – Some Girls

The original Rolling Stones album cover of Some Girls was one of their most creative and interesting covers the band ever released. Too bad it only lasted a few weeks on the shelves at records stores because of the use of celebrity photos on the cover. Its the original version that lands the sixth spot on our Top 10 Rolling Stones Album Covers List.

# 5 – It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll

Interpret this one as you will.The classic It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll Cover was released in 1974.

# 4 – Their Satanic Majesties Request

This great Rolling Stones album was released in 1967. Early issues of the album were released with a lenticular cover. It was one of the heaviest (weight)albums ever released due to the hard cardboard that was needed to house the lenticular cover.

# 3 – Tattoo You

The Rolling Stones album Tattoo You was released in 1981. How can you not love the dual simplicity and complexity of the Tattoo You album cover cover.

# 2 – Exile on Main Street

The depth of the cover of Exile On Main Street gave fans an exceptional cover to stare at for hours and hours.

# 1 – Sticky Fingers

Record companies have utilized many clever gimmicks over the years in constructing rare album covers. Andy Warhol’s design and implementation of a zipper was pure genius and a brilliant meeting of two legendary artists. Like all albums that featured a gimmick, only the initial releases of the album featured the mechanical zipper.Its hard to even find a picture of this iconic Rolling Stones album cover.