2 album covers in our archive
Michael Jackson is featured in Behind the Covers' archive with 2 album covers spanning the 1980s and 1970s. Released across Epic Records, the artwork sits in the pop, r&b, funk tradition. Each cover is documented in our archive with design notes covering photography, portrait, typographic, color field. Below you'll find the full story behind each Michael Jackson cover — designers, photographers, label history, and the visual choices that defined the release.
The white suit on the most recognizable man in pop music wasn't his at all — it belonged to the photographer, who'd simply worn it to work that day. The story behind Michael Jackson's Thriller cover is a small accident that helped shape an image seen around the world.
The first cover shot down was Michael Jackson in kids' clothes by a campfire. What replaced it: a tuxedo, a brick wall, and a smile cropped just below the eyes. Here's how Mike Salisbury and Steve Harvey turned a young singer into a star who looked like he'd already arrived.
