2 album covers in our archive
Sly and the Family Stone is featured in Behind the Covers' archive with 2 album covers spanning the 1960s and 1970s. Released across Epic Records, the artwork sits in the funk, soul, rock, r&b tradition. Each cover is documented in our archive with design notes covering starburst, psychedelic, radiating lines, abstract, geometric, minimalism. Below you'll find the full story behind each Sly and the Family Stone cover — designers, photographers, label history, and the visual choices that defined the release.
The explosive red-orange burst radiating from the center creates one of funk's most dynamic covers, perfectly matching the revolutionary energy of Sly Stone's music. The simple yet powerful design became a template for psychedelic soul artwork.
The most radical album cover statement of 1971 wasn't an image at all — it was the complete absence of one. Sly Stone's black void cover became a powerful visual metaphor for social decay and artistic rebellion.
