The covers of some of the most iconic albums ever produced were shot at these locations in London.
The covers of these iconic albums were shot at locations across London:
- Absolutely – Madness
- The Clash – The Clash
- The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars – David Bowie
- (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? – Oasis
- Abbey Road – The Beatles
- Animals – Pink Floyd
1. Absolutely – Madness
Absolutely was the 2nd studio album from the British ska band Madness, which reached number 2 in the UK album charts.
Baggy Trousers, Madness’ biggest hit, and also my favourite, reached No. 3 in the singles charts back in 1980, was from the Absolutely album.
The album cover was taken outside the Chalk Farm Station in Camden.
2. The Clash – The Clash
Debut studio album by The Clash, released in 1977.
The album cover was photographed by Kate Simon on what is now known as The Clash Steps in Camden Market.
Back then, the steps were just a ramp.
The Clash reached No.12 in the charts in the UK.
I didn’t follow The Clash, but my favourite song and also, I found out, on the way back from London, is Miss CDMX’s favourite too, is London Calling, which is on their 3rd studio album “London Calling”.
Nomadic Backpacker at the Clash Steps in Camden:
I later visited Frestonia, where some of the material for the Combat Rock album was recorded.
3. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars – David Bowie
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was the fifth studio album by David Bowie, released on 16 June 1972.
This is my favourite album from David Bowie, and if I had to choose ‘My Top 5 Albums’, this would definitely be up there. Back in the day, I had it on cassette tape.
The Ziggy Stardust album cover is from outside his studio on Heddon Street, Mayfair, in London.
Last week I backpacked to Aylesbury.
The opening line on the first track, “5 Years”, ‘Pushing through the market square’, is inspired by the market square in Aylesbury.
Bowie had performed in Aylesbury 2 weeks before he wrote that song.
A statue, entitled Earthly Messenger, erected in 2018, lies just off the market square and is dedicated to David Bowie, who passed in 2016.
Back to Heddon Street, I took a meal in a glass, Guinness at The Starman, another track on the Ziggy Stardust album.
A second pint of the infamous Guinness and the words started to flow.
A plaque marks the spot:
4. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? – Oasis
Can’t say I am a huge fan of Oasis, but their songs are classic, and the lyrics, absolutely genius.
I grew up in the 80s listening to some of the most iconic bands ever: The Rolling Stones, Status Quo, The Who, Pink Floyd. Much of the stuff produced in the mid-’90s and beyond made little impact.
But Oasis left their mark.
(What’s the Story) Morning Glory was the second studio album by Oasis. The album features hits including ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Roll With It’ and ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’.
The album cover for (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? is from Berwick Street in Soho:
I snuck into a record shop and found 2 of the albums featured here: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars, and The Clash:
5. Abbey Road – The Beatles
The Abbey Road album, released on 26 September 1969, was recorded at Abbey Road Studios.
The album cover features The Fab Four on the Abbey Road Crosswalk outside the Abbey Road Studios.
My favourite track from this album is Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun”.
I couldn’t find the album to take a photo, but am sure you all know what the original looks like 😉
6. Animals – Pink Floyd
The cover for Animals by Pink Floyd, with the inflatable pig hanging from the 2 southern towers of Battersea Power Station, is from 1977.
A shot, impossible to replicate, the building from where the photo was taken is long gone.
Bonus – Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan:
A sneaky addition, as it’s not an album but the video for Subterranean Homesick Blues was recorded in an alleyway behind the Savoy Hotel.
Am a huge fan of Bob Dylan. My favourite track is a hard one to choose from such a catalogue. But if I have to choose, it’s a toss-up between Rolling Stone and Hurricane but Subterranean Homesick Blues is a good one too.
Subterranean Homesick Blues appeared on the Bringing It All Back Home album.
