10 well-known album automobiles, from Kendrick Lamar’s GNX to the Black Keys’ El Camino

Cars and music aren’t unusual bedfellows. There’s a great likelihood you had been listening to songs – both of your individual selecting or by way of the radio – in your most up-to-date journey.

While they will characterize two comparatively area of interest pursuits, there’s loads of crossover between the 2, with numerous songs about driving and likewise referencing sure automobiles.

Though Tracy Chapman stopped in need of doing so in her hit track (you realize the one), many artists have gone one step additional and put the automobiles they personal or want on the covers of their albums.

With one of many world’s greatest stars doing simply that this month, we thought we’d check out a number of the higher – and lesser – recognized albums with automobiles prominently featured on the quilt.

Kendrick Lamar, GNX – Buick Regal GNX

When the boy from the mad metropolis’s extremely anticipated sixth album debuted earlier this month, it sparked curiosity within the Buick Regal GNX of the Eighties.

The most potent evolution of the Grand National from 1979 to 1987 got here within the mannequin’s final 12 months on sale, when Buick launched the limited-run Grand National Experimental (GNX), a efficiency coupe with enter from McLaren.

Claimed to provide 206kW and 488Nm from its turbocharged V6, the GNX was quicker in a 400-metre dash than the Ferrari F40, and thus entered the realm of automotive folklore.

The instance on Lamar’s album is believed to be his personal, although it’s not the identical automotive because the GNX he was pushed residence from hospital in by his father after the now multi-award-winning hip hop star was born.

The Cars, Heartbeat City – Plymouth Duster 340

In March 1984, The Cars launched the album that contained what nonetheless stands as their most recognisable track – Drive.

And what may very well be extra becoming than a band referred to as The Cars releasing a track referred to as Drive on an album with a high-performance automobile on the quilt?

The Plymouth Duster was by no means bought in Australia, although it was born within the US muscle and pony automotive heyday, powered by a 340 cubic-inch (5.6-litre) V8, although the model on the quilt of Heartbeat City doesn’t present its engine – reasonably its olive inexperienced paint and black bonnet.

The Black Keys, El Camino – Chrysler Town & Country

Yes. An album named after a Chevrolet pickup really contains a photograph of a Chrysler people-mover on its cowl. 

The Black Keys’ breakthrough album – which included hits comparable to Gold on the Ceiling and Lonely Boy – was named after the El Camino as a result of the band reportedly noticed one and thought it’d make a great joke.

What’s misplaced on most audiences exterior the US is that the automotive on the quilt is definitely a Chrysler Town & Country, an uninspiring people-mover which options fake wooden paneling down its sides.

It’s not the one album to characteristic the Chrysler T&C, as Kendrick Lamar’s 2012 ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city’ album cowl displayed a later-generation model of the minivan.

Oasis, Be Here Now – Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

Many bands expertise troubles with their third albums, however not many teams have as a lot hype surrounding them as 1997-spec Oasis, which had develop into stars with Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?

For Be Here Now, the band employed photographer Michael Spencer Jones to give you a brand new cowl, which concerned paying tribute to The Who drummer Keith Moon’s swimming pool sinking of a Lincoln Continental.

As was the model on the time for Brits with an excessive amount of money, a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was chosen because the automobile of selection, and it was positioned into an empty swimming pool with out its engine, earlier than water was put again in to make it float.

Unfortunately, with out its V8 up entrance, the nostril of the automotive rose up, so it seems on the album cowl floating on the front-end reasonably than the rear.

Nickelback, All the Right Reasons – Ford Thunderbird

Canadian rockers Nickelback had been all the trend within the mid-2000s, however they went again to the Nineteen Fifties when on the lookout for a automotive to characteristic on the quilt of their 2005 album.

All the Right Reasons included the massive hit Photograph, however it additionally included a photograph of a 1958 Ford Thunderbird on the quilt, travelling down a street with the solar setting behind it.

Interestingly, the photograph on the again of the album which incorporates the band will not be of the Thunderbird, reasonably a 1970 Dodge Charger.

Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel – Lancia 2000

The former frontman of Genesis took two years to launch his solo profession, and did so with the eponymous Peter Gabriel in 1977.

Despite Solsbury Hill being its standout track, the album by no means acquired one other official title, even when it’s recognized by followers merely as Car.

That’s as a result of 1974 Lancia 2000 that options on the quilt, which was owned on the time by long-time Pink Floyd artist Storm Thorgerson, who sprayed the Italian coupe with water – a courageous choice – to create the moody picture.

Gabriel’s subsequent 4 solo albums had been additionally self-titled, although no others included automobiles or the Lancia on their covers, presumably as a result of it’d rusted away.

Frank Ocean, Nostalgia, Ultra – BMW M3

While Frank Ocean is now one of many greatest stars of R&B, his debut mixtape previewed the kind of music we might count on sooner or later – and supplied a take a look at what automobiles he needed.

It’s laborious to overlook this vibrant orange E30 BMW M3, particularly with its lowered stance and BBS wheels. But it wasn’t really owned by Ocean; it was as an alternative borrowed from the BMW fan discussion board, Bimmerpost.

Now a world star, Ocean did find yourself shopping for an E30 M3… and an E90 M3.. and an F10 M5. His present assortment contains many BMWs and higher-end supercars, however it was the boxy 3 Series that began all of it.

ZZ Top, Eliminator – Ford Coupe

The bearded trio hit it huge with 1983’s Eliminator, with singles comparable to Gimme All Your Lovin, Sharp Dressed Man and Legs.

But it’s band chief Billy Gibbons’ 1933 Ford Coupe that stole the highlight on the quilt, and its customisation was impressed by the identical factor because the album title – drag racing.

The Coupe itself was named Eliminator following the discharge of the album, and it as soon as once more featured on the entrance of a ZZ Top album in 1985’s Afterburner, albeit a cartoonised model impressed by the house shuttles of the time.

It now reportedly resides on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Smash Mouth, Fush Yu Mang – Ford Falcon Squire

Before they turned all-stars, Smash Mouth launched their debut album in 1997, full with lurid colouring, complicated lettering and with a 1962 Ford Falcon Squire wagon.

The Squire isn’t the one wood-panelled automobile to seem on this record, although it’s the solely automotive pictured flying by house.

Reportedly owned by Smash Mouth guitarist Greg Camp, the ‘Woody’ is pictured loaded up with gear as if it’s happening a street journey, although the band’s upcoming stardom meant it didn’t should tour within the Falcon for lengthy.

The Grogans, How Would You Know and Washed Out/Ride – Holden Kingswood

This could also be a distinct segment and there are a lot of extra artists on the market with automobiles on their album covers, however it’s not simply the massive names who put autos entrance and centre on their handiwork.

Victorian surf rock band The Grogans used an previous Holden Kingswood as their touring automobile of their early years, and the beige/white wagon discovered itself on the quilt of two singles in late 2018 and early 2019.

It’s not recognized whether or not the trio’s experiences within the Kingswood influenced their 2023 track ‘Overheat’, which particulars the ache that everybody who drives an previous automotive within the Australian summer season has skilled.