World's 'worst' album covers go on display

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.

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

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

"Because we've got the soundtrack of some of the albums playing, hopefully we'll get some people doing a bit of a boogie at times, a bit of dancing, and just generally having fun."

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 can't just be a performer in bad clothes – though there are a couple that have got in that were just irresistible.

"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 it's about the cover, rather than the music," Mr Grant added.

"We have some by the Beatles, the Beach Boys. The music is often very good. It's the cover that Steve's attracted to.

"We have one with Neil Diamond. 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."

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