10 Georgia Folk Music Album Covers You Need to See

In no particular order, here are 10 Georgia Folk Music Album Covers you need to see.

The Allman Brothers Band – At Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band’s live album At Fillmore East is one of the most influential records in rock history. But beyond its musical contributions, the album’s distinctive cover art is an important part of its legacy.

Designed by award-winning graphic artist Paul Maxon, the cover features a photo of the band set against a background of orange and yellow banners. Maxon was inspired by the Fillmore East concert venue, where the album was recorded, and used colors that he felt conveyed the energy of the band’s live performances.

The cover art for At Fillmore East has been hailed as one of the greatest album covers of all time, and it remains an iconic image of the band to this day.

R.E.M. – Reckoning

R.E.M.’s second album, Reckoning, was released in 1984 to critical acclaim. The album’s folk-influenced sound was a departure from the band’s previous album, Murmur, and helped to establish R.E.M. as one of the leading bands of the 1980s college rock scene. The album’s artwork, designed by Michael Stipe and Nancy Gwinn, is a collage of photographs of Georgia folk musicians, including Blind Willie McTell, Fiddlin’ John Carson, and Dock Boggs.

The B-52’s – Cosmic Thing

Released in 1989, The B-52’s – Cosmic Thing was the fifth album by the Athens, Georgia-based band. It featured the hits “Love Shack” and “Roam” and was their most successful album, reaching #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The cover art was designed by Bruce Weber and features a close-up of a statue of Liberty head surrounded by everyday objects.

OutKast – Aquemini

Aquemini is the third studio album by American hip hop duo OutKast, released on September 29, 1998, by LaFace Records. The title is a portmanteau of the two performers’ Zodiac signs: Aquarius and Geminin. The album was certified 3× Platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2003, it was ranked number 386 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

1) “Hold On, Be Strong”
2) “Return of the ‘G'”
3) “Rosa Parks”
4) “Skew It on the Bar-B”
5) “Aquemini”
6) “Synthesizer”
7) “Slump”
8) “Y’all Scared”
9) “Chonkyfire”
10)”Liberation” (ft. Cee-Lo Green & Erykah Badu)

Drive-By Truckers – Southern Rock Opera

Drive-By Truckers – Southern Rock Opera is a two-disc concept album released in 2001 by the American alternative country/Southern rock band Drive-By Truckers. The album tells the story of two friends in the 1970s, one a diehard fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the other a budding musician influenced by the New York Dolls. It deals with issues of race, class, and regionalism in the South.

Sugarland – Enjoy the Ride

Sugarland is an American country music duo consisting of singer-songwriters Jennifer Nettles (lead vocals) and Kristian Bush (background vocals, mandolin, guitar). Sugarland was founded in 2002 by Kristen Hall with Kristen O’Hara and became a trio after hiring Jennifer Nettles as lead singer. Hall left in 2006 before the group released its second album, Enjoy the Ride. This album produced their first two No. 1 singles: “Want To” and “Everyday America” and won the Duo of the Year at the 2007 CMA Awards.

John Mayer – Continuum

album cover features a captured moment in time of Mayer and his band playing in a club. Mayer is shown in the center of the image, with his arms crossed and head slightly bowed. His eyes are closed, lost in the music. The other members of the band are also shown in mid-performance, with their instruments and bodies positioned in a way that makes it clear they are all part of a cohesive unit. The background is blurred, giving the impression that the focus is on the music and the band, not their surroundings. The word “Continuum” is written across the top of the image in white text, with Mayer’s name appearing at the bottom.

The album cover was designed by Aimee Mann and photographed by Danny Clinch.

The Black Crowes – Amorica

Amorica is the third studio album by American rock band The Black Crowes, released on November 1, 1994 by American Recordings. The album sold over two million copies and peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200. Amorica was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 1995 Grammy Awards.

The album artwork caused some controversy upon release, as it featured a close-up image of a woman’s crotch clad in stars and stripes panties. American Recordings received numerous complaints and recalled the album’s initial pressing. The second pressing featured a more modest image of the woman on the cover.

Lady Antebellum – Need You Now

It’s hard to believe that Lady Antebellum’s debut album, “Need You Now,” is turning ten this year. The album quickly made the trio one of country music’s biggest crossover success stories, thanks to hits like the title track, “American Honey,” and “Our Kind of Love.”

To celebrate the anniversary of this landmark album, we’ve rounded up ten of our favorite Georgia-themed album covers. From R.E.M. to Outkast, these covers feature some of our state’s most beloved musicians. So sit back, relax, and take a trip down memory lane with us as we revisit some of our favorite Georgia albums.

Zac Brown Band – Uncaged

The Zac Brown Band’s album cover for Uncaged was inspired by the Georgia folk music scene. The image on the cover is of a barn with a guitar hanging from a rafter. The band’s name and album title are written in a classic country Western font. The overall effect is of a simple, rural setting that evokes the rootsy sound of the music inside.