The Best Sci Fi Album Covers, Part 13

Bongwater, The Power of Pussy—1990

Anybody paying homage to Raquel Welch’s stinker 1 Million Years B.C. is okay in my book. Though it may not be strictly sci-fi. The movie has dinosaurs in it…and Ms. Welch in animal furs. The Power of Pussy is probably in my 10 top favorite albums to listen to of all time. Band member Ann Magnuson was my fantasy girlfriend for a while there. She stars opposite John Malkovich in the b-movie android flick Making Mr. Right.

The Best Sci-Fi Album Covers, Part 12

Vangelis, Hypothesis—1978

I don't know a whole lot about Vangelis, except Chariots of Fire and, of course Blade Runner, but I did figure I'd score an excellent album cover if I did some digging in the New Age section. And I did. Boy Howdy. I am totally craving jello now.

The Best Sci-Fi Album Covers, Part 11

Parliament, Mothership Connection—1976

Put your sunglasses on! This is probably my second favorite sci-fi album cover in this list. George Clinton said about the album, "We had put black people in situations nobody ever thought they would be in, like the White House. I figured another place you wouldn't think black people would be was in outer space. I was a big fan of Star Trek, so we did a thing with a pimp sitting in a spaceship shaped like a Cadillac..." Brilliant.

Coming to you directly from the mothership, here is your P-funk if you want it. It’ll improve your interplanetary funksmanship. It really will.

The Best Sci-Fi Album Covers, Part 10

The Misfits, Walk Among Us—1982

Yeah, I know. The Misfits are "Horror Punk." Doesn’t that disqualify them here? See: saucers in the back ground. See: Astro Zombies. See: Glenn Danzig. You wanna tell him he can’t be on my list?

The Best Sci-Fi Album Covers, Part 9

Megadeth, Rust in Peace—1990

Rust in Peace came out after my relationship with MTV and Headbangers Ball had ended. Sure, we would hook up like exes sometimes do for a nostalgic rendezvous every now and then, but I’d always feel guilty and not a little dirty afterward. The video for the signature song on Rust in Peace is a little ditty about our favorite town in New Mexico. The song is called “Hangar 18” and boy, does it tell a story. Basically, it looks as though the government (led by Mr. Grinning Skull Guy) are harvesting alien organs. From like, 50 different species of aliens! The members of Megadeth are mad as hell about it. Why? Well why not watch it and see? Look for the mini Sleestak at around 5:13.

Best Sci-Fi Album Covers, Part 8

ZZ Top, Afterburner—1985

Afterburner (1985) is a terrible ZZ Top album. It is sittin’-on-the-tailgate-of-your-F150-drinking-Bartyles-and-James-and-smoking-clove-cigarettes-up-the-holler-round-at-midnight bad. But the album cover? It’s nearly perfect. Who doesn’t remember the bad ass “Eliminator” hot rod in multiple ZZ Top videos? It’s the car that empties scantily clad women ala a Ringling Brothers clown car. ZZ Top…they’re about fast cars, fast women, and fast music. What exemplifies speed more than a pimped out 1933 model Ford? Why, a space shuttle/Eliminator mash up, that's what? That thing is beautiful. And it’s moving so fast that it appears to be bending space!

The Best Sci-Fi Album Covers, Part 7

Beck, Mellow Gold—1994

I'm not including this album cover because I think it is one of the best. I want to prove a point.

See Ecclesiastes 1:9—The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Now see “Turbo Lover,” by Judas Priest. Sorry Beck.

Also, Beck has a thing for Xenu.