Soul Music’s history is not only one of tremendous musical creativity, but also one of visual artistry. Especially during vinyl’s first big run, an album’s graphic presentation played an important role in what made Soul Music special. The 1970s and 80s had a particular focus on the album cover as a presentation of the musician’s vision, and those decades created some iconic covers that remain in our consciousness. Artists from Earth, Wind & Fire to Marvin Gaye to Funkadelic presented their work with covers that both complemented and enhanced the musical experience.
While the mid 80s arrival of compact discs made it tougher to make grand visual statements, over the past three decades artists such as The Roots and Janelle Monae have created instant classics, covers that encapsulated their ideas in simple, powerful ways.
Our love of album covers was such that we asked some of our music industry friends to help pick the greatest and most iconic Soul Music album covers. We think that their choices will help you remember some great musical and visual expeiences from Soul Music history, and will also help you discover some covers that you may not already know. Each album cover is also a link to Amazon.com, where you can hear clips from the honored album.
We hope you enjoy this collection of the 50 Greatest Soul Music Album Covers, and let us know of others you love in the comment section below.
| 1 |  |
Earth Wind & Fire All N All |
| 2 |  |
Marvin Gaye I Want You |
| 3 |  |
Stevie Wonder Songs In The Key of Life |
| 4 |  |
Diana Ross The Boss |
| 5 |  |
Funkadelic Maggot Brain |
| 6 |  |
Michael Jackson Off The Wall |
| 7 |  |
Marvin Gaye Whats Going on |
| 8 |  |
Ohio Players Honey |
| 9 |  |
Sade Love Deluxe |
| 10 |  |
Donna Summer Bad Girls |
| 11 |  |
Chic Risque |
| 12 |  |
Whitney Houston Whitney Houston |
| 13 |  |
Stevie Wonder Innervisions |
| 14 |  |
Diana Ross diana |
| 15 |  |
Isaac Hayes Black Moses |
| 16 |  |
The Roots Things Fall Apart |
| 17 |  |
Sly and the Family Stone Stand! |
| 18 |  |
Anita Baker Rapture |
| 19 |  |
Aretha Franklin Young, Gifted and Black |
| 20 |  |
Donna Summer Four Seasons of Love |
| 21 |  |
Janelle Monae The Archandroid |
| 22 |  |
Michael Jackson Dangerous |
| 23 |  |
Esperanza Spalding Radio Music Society |
| 24 |  |
The Pointer Sisters That’s A Plenty |
| 25 |  |
Prince 1999 |
| 26 |  |
The Temptations Wish It Would Rain |
| 27 |  |
Millie Jackson Back to the S–t |
| 28 |  |
Four Tops LIVE! |
| 29 |  |
Al Green Greatest Hits |
| 30 |  |
Donnie The Colored Section |
| 31 |  |
Earth Wind & Fire Faces |
| 32 |  |
Isaac Hayes Hot Buttered Soul |
| 33 |  |
El Debarge In The Storm |
| 34 |  |
Tina Turner Private Dancer |
| 35 |  |
Funkadelic One Nation Under A Groove |
| 36 |  |
Grace Jones Island Life |
| 37 |  |
Rahsaan Patterson Love In Stereo |
| 38 |  |
Ohio Players Skin Tight |
| 39 |  |
Terry Callier What Color Is Love |
| 40 |  |
Stevie Wonder Hotter Than July |
| 41 |  |
Sylvia Sweet Stuff |
| 42 |  |
Stevie Wonder Talking Book |
| 43 |  |
Daryl Hall & John Oates Daryl Hall & John Oates |
| 44 |  |
Diana Ross Diana Ross |
| 45 |  |
Grace Jones Slave to the Rhythm |
| 46 |  |
Maxwell Embrya |
| 47 |  |
The Spirit of Atlanta The Burning of Atlanta |
| 48 |  |
TLC Crazy Sexy Cool |
| 49 |  |
Earth Wind & Fire Raise |
| 50 |  |
Janet Jackson janet. |
