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    These terrible album covers will make you laugh and then violently cringe

    Here are the very worst classical album covers of all time. Weird, funny, alarming and perplexing all at the same time - who knew the world of classical music album covers could be so bizarre?

    1. worst album covers

      1. Saturday Night Fiedler

      John Travolta has absolutely nothing to worry about from Arthur Fiedler, former conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra. Except maybe a poke in the eye from his baton. Stay cool, Arthur.

    2. worst album covers

      2. Simon Rattle - The Jazz Album

      Is there any Dave Brubeck on your jazz album, Simon Rattle? 'Cos those braces need to Take 5.

    3. Derek Bell Plays With Himself

      3. Derek Bell Plays With Himself

      Could Derek Bell have picked a better title for this baroque extravaganza? No. No he could not. Kudos, Derek.

    4. Red Priest - Handel in the Wind

      4. Red Priest - Handel in the Wind

      Geddit? Actually, this doesn't really deserve to be in a gallery of terrible album covers. This is genuinely amazing.

    5. bad album covers classical

      5. Raymond Devos - Au theatre des varietes

      Did you know, "Au theatre des varietes" is actually French for "maniac takes harp on lawnmower and wears inappropriate loafers"?

    6. Music For Your Plants

      6. Music For Your Plants

      The only thing that will grow while this record is on is the desire to turn it off.

    7. worst album covers

      7. Nigel Kennedy - Mendelssohn, Bruch, Schubert

      Who knew that Nik Kershaw took a classical detour in the 80s? Only kidding. But it does seem that the great Nigel Kennedy has controversially decided to print his score on his waistcoat. It's a nice idea, not sure how it'll work in concert.

    8. worst album covers

      8. Holst - The Planets, Sir Adrian Boult, Vienna State Philharmonic Orchestra

      Much like an eclipse, it's best not to stare directly at it.

    9. worst album covers

      9. Opera Swing Quartet - Easy To Handel

      See what they did there? Handel? Handle? 'Cos they're lifting it? Yeah? Ah, forget it…

    10. worst album covers

      10. Don Dorsey - BachBusters

      Bach was known for his keyboard prowess and his intricate finger work, but what the inimitable Don Dorsey has cleverly done is update it to the 20th century. Specifically, to a hybrid of Harold Faltermeyer and Liberace. From 1985. Well-tempered keytar, anyone?

    11. worst album covers

      11. Anssi Karttunen, Esa-Pekka Salonen, London Sinfonietta

      Because nothing says 'modern cello works' like a terrifying painting of Donald Duck in a smoking jacket.

    12. worst album covers

      12. Villa Lobos - Alma Brasileira, Michael Tilson Thomas, New World Symphony

      Shades? Check. Baggy red shirt? Check. Parrot? Check. Get the maracas out, it's time to make some music!

    13. worst album covers

      13. A Lindberg Extravaganza

      We're not going to lie. Christian Lindberg features quite heavily in this gallery. Here he is, standing proudly on top of a mountain holding two trombones and wearing what looks like a velour cycling jersey from 1987.

    14. worst album covers

      14. Christian Lindberg - Trombone Odyssey

      Here's Christian again, this time fully embracing Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' era and borrowing his wife's leather boots.

    15. worst album covers

      15. Christian Lindberg - All The Lonely People

      Blimey, Christian. Way to pull on the heart strings.

    16. worst album covers

      16. Khachaturian - Constantine Orbelian, Spiritual Revival Choir of Russia

      What better way to depict the rich romance, social conscience and balletic beauty of the music of Aram Khachaturian? An orange Dracula font and Bela Lugosi-esque picture, obviously.

    17. worst album covers

      17. Mozart at the Movies

      The more you look at this one, the better it gets. The keyboard lapel-lining. The 'attempt' at a convincing Amadeus poster. The two bits of popcorn that Maestro Salieri (is that who it is? He's IN the film!) seems to have dropped. It's too much.

    18. worst album covers

      18. Hao Jiang Tian - Operatic Arias

      Not only has Hao Jiang Tian opted for the controversial '90s boyband' technique of sitting on a chair, he's also brought his faithful hound along with him too.

    19. worst album covers

      19. Herbert von Karajan - Grieg, Sibelius

      When the great Herbert von Karajan wasn't conducting, he liked nothing more than capsizing other people's boats with a mournful expression on his face.

    20. worst album covers

      20. The Three Tenors - A Tenors Christmas

      Looks like José was the designated driver at this year's Three Tenors office party.

    21. worst album covers

      21. Carl Orff - Carmina Burana, Seiji Ozawa, Berlin Philharmonic

      Sometimes the hotel pool just isn't as secluded as you'd like. Pass the soap, someone?

    22. worst album covers

      22. Lara St. John - Bach Partitas

      Violinist Lara St. John there, demonstrating the missing link between Bach and the Old Spice advert.

    23. worst album covers

      23. Hanus, Eben, Haas - Risonanza

      It's difficult to know where to start with this one. The weird underscores in the titles, the creepy guy in the background, the other guy's fixation with jewellery… answers on a postcard.

    24. worst album covers

      24. Julian Lloyd Webber - Travels With My Cello

      In this mildly unsettling depiction of one man's quest to ensure his instrument isn't dropped by the baggage handlers, the thing we're still drawn to most is that incredible jumper.

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