Hundreds of the world’s “worst” album covers have gone on display in Northumberland.

The exhibition, at Alnwick’s Bailiffgate Museum and Gallery, includes 400 covers by the Beatles, Prince and the Rolling Stones, as well as work by less known musicians from around the world.

Museum volunteer Mick Grant said the collection had already brought smiles - and there are hopes people will have a dance too.

The exhibition, which has been on tour since 2022, will be in Alnwick until 21 April.

“Everybody who’s been here has at the very least smiled. A lot of people have burst out laughing,” Mr Grant said.

The curious covers belong to Steve Goldman, from Huddersfield, who has been collecting them for over seven years.

The album that started it all was Roadstar by Peter Rabbitt, which shows the bands’ faces superimposed onto the bodies of rabbits, and is also on display.

The sleeves had to be “unintentionally funny” to earn a place in the collection, Mr Goldman said.

“I want a record where the designers have tried to do something that’s gone horribly wrong,” he explained.

It also includes an educational album recorded by Muhammad Ali encouraging children to brush their teeth - it was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1977.

This is Steve’s website: The Worst Record Covers in the World. He’s also on Instagram.

    • smeg
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      9 months ago

      A great read, and I’ve just had a listen, pretty good dad rock too!

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    9 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    The exhibition, at Alnwick’s Bailiffgate Museum and Gallery, includes 400 covers by the Beatles, Prince and the Rolling Stones, as well as work by less known musicians from around the world.Museum volunteer Mick Grant said the collection had already brought smiles - and there are hopes people will have a dance too.The exhibition, which has been on tour since 2022, will be in Alnwick until 21 April.

    Tracks from the albums on display will be played at the gallery, where visitors will be invited to vote for their favourite cover.

    The curious covers belong to Steve Goldman, from Huddersfield, who has been collecting them for over seven years.The album that started it all was Roadstar by Peter Rabbitt, which shows the bands’ faces superimposed onto the bodies of rabbits, and is also on display.

    “And it all has to be good clean family fun – there are no record covers that are disgusting, gory, violent, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or racist.”

    It also includes an educational album recorded by Muhammad Ali encouraging children to brush their teeth - it was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1977.

    I think partly it’s the image, which, to be honest, I didn’t realise it was Neil Diamond when I first looked at it."


    The original article contains 388 words, the summary contains 209 words. Saved 46%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!