Rock-and-roll was all about building iconic brands, before branding was cool. The 70s and 80s proved that consistent branding translated to big dollars for many classic and metal rock acts. From a hundred feet away, you could easily spot one of the above logos on a signature black t-shirt and know exactly what music group it was.

Walking the isles at the local music shop, you could quickly spot a new album by Boston, Kiss, or Iron Maiden, simply from the unmistakable brand. While the music industry is currently getting blasted about their inability to stay in check with consumers, they were well ahead of other industries who continue to not understand the value of building a consistent brand.

Album artwork often offered the most consistent brand reinforcement over time. Many bands of the 70s and 80s had a defined logotype and design style that carried from album to album. While general creative themes changes over time, many musical groups opted to deliver a consistent feel. This consistency build brand loyalty for teens, looking to embrace their rock Gods. Essentially, music promoters recognized the power of building a brand, and ran with it.

With the migration to digitally downloaded music, the industry is going through a change. Gone are the days perusing the isles at the local music shop. "Albums" purchased through iTunes now offer "e-booklets," essentially the album / CD artwork in digital format. Even though I was programmed to be hypnotized by this artwork and copy, I'm sure today's musical youth - along with me - don't spend the quality time reviewing the nooks and crannies in the online version of "album liners."

If you were a musical consumer from the 70s and 80s, I'm sure you'll be able to easily identify what musical groups are associated with the above. Can you name them all?