Music Album Covers Featuring the Artwork of Shusei Nagaoka

Composite image of 16 album covers featuring the artwork of Shusei Nagaoka.

Shusei Nagaoka (長岡秀星, Nagaoka Shūsei, November 26, 1936 – June 23, 2015), a renowned Japanese illustrator, gained significant recognition in the 1970s and 1980s for his captivating album cover art. His work appears on the covers of albums by artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Electric Light Orchestra, and Jefferson Starship. Nagaoka's artwork is characterized by its futuristic and imaginative themes, often depicting otherworldly landscapes, cosmic scenes, and fantastical elements. His meticulous airbrush technique and vibrant color palettes create a sense of depth and dynamism in his illustrations, making them visually striking and memorable.

Lest we think these album covers themes of space and future slightly anachronistic and quaint, we should keep in mind that impact of the moon landing at the end of the 1960s. The Apollo 11 mission in 1969, which saw humans land on the moon for the first time, had a profound impact on popular culture and the collective imagination of the 1970s. A 1970s record executive: “Get me some spaceships on that cover!”.

Here are 16 albums by Shusei Nagaoka:

Caldera - “Sky Islands” (1977)
Caldera - “Time and Chance” (1978)
Deep Purple - “When We Rock” (1969)
Earth Wind and Fire - “All ‘N All” (1977)

Electric Light Orchestra - “Out of the Blue” (1977)
Jefferson Starship - “Spitfire” (1976)
Kitaro - “Oasis” (1979)
Mandré - “Mandré Two” (1978)

Munich Machine - “Munich Machine” (1977)
Parlet - “Pleasure Principle” (1978)
Space - “Deliverance (US Edition)” (1977)
Space - “Just Blue” (1978)

Sun - “Destination Sun” (1979)
The Godz - “The Godz” (1978)
The Skyliners - “The Skyliners” (1978)
The States - “The States” (1979)