Best 1980s Album Covers
A curated selection of the most iconic 1980s album covers — the artwork, designers, and visual ideas that defined the decade. Every cover here has its own story: who made it, how it was conceived, and why it became iconic.
24 curated covers
Disintegration
The Cure · 1989
The Joshua Tree
U2 · 1987
Appetite for Destruction
Guns N' Roses · 1987
Born in the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen · 1984
Purple Rain
Prince · 1984
Shout at the Devil
Mötley Crüe · 1983
Remain in Light
Talking Heads · 1980
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul · 1989
Technique
New Order · 1989
Doolittle
Pixies · 1989
Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth · 1988
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Public Enemy · 1988
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A · 1988
Louder Than Bombs
The Smiths · 1987
Paid in Full
Eric B. & Rakim · 1987
Sign o' the Times
Prince · 1987
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths · 1986
Graceland
Paul Simon · 1986
So
Peter Gabriel · 1986
True Blue
Madonna · 1986
Licensed to Ill
Beastie Boys · 1986
Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi · 1986
Master of Puppets
Metallica · 1986
Skylarking
XTC · 1986