Search for the Worst: Millie Jackson

The reason why I began my search for the worst album covers ever created is that many of the previous lists published online have included album covers that are far from the worst. Many lists include classic album covers like Captain Beefheart’s Trout Mask Replica (right) and Frank Zappa’s Weasel Ripped My Flesh. While these covers may be avant garde, they are certainly not as bad as they come.

However, one album cover that is included on almost every list of “worst ever” covers belongs without question. R&B singer Millie Jackson’s 1989 album Back to the S__t! features Jackson sitting on a toilet with her panties around her ankles and a straining expression on her face.

 This album cover is so crass, it can’t even be viewed as being campy or ironic. It fails on every possible level. With tracks titled Love Stinks and Muffle That Fart, one would mistakenly assume this was a comedy album.

There have been a few other album covers featuring people sitting on Toilets. This year, The Bloody Beetroots used an illustration of a masked character sitting on the toilet while reading a newspaper. Because it is an illusttation rather than an actual photograph of the artist, I do not think it is as bad as the Millie Jackson cover. Imagine an album cover with Rihanna or Beyonce sitting on the pot.