Slippery When Wet

The Slippery When Wet cover almost looked completely different — and infinitely more controversial. The original concept featured a scantily-clad model on a giant slip-and-slide water toy, shot by photographer Mark Weiss in a playful, summer-themed photo session that would have been right at home in a beer commercial.

The idea came from the album's title, which Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora had spotted on a sign at a Vancouver strip club during their tour. The band thought the cheeky reference would make a perfect album title, and the record label initially embraced the provocative concept for maximum visual impact.

When Mark Weiss executed the original photo shoot, he captured exactly what was envisioned — a blonde model in a yellow bikini sliding down a wet plastic surface, water droplets glistening under studio lights. The image was undeniably eye-catching and perfectly literal in its interpretation of the album's suggestive title.

But somewhere between the photo session and the final artwork approval, cooler heads prevailed. The band and Mercury Records decided the image was too explicit and might overshadow the music itself, potentially limiting radio play and retail placement in conservative markets.

The replacement concept couldn't have been more different. Instead of flesh and water, the final cover featured a simple black garbage bag with condensation droplets, shot in stark contrast against a dark background. The band's name and album title were rendered in bold, aggressive yellow lettering that practically jumped off the shelf.

This dramatic shift from provocative photography to minimalist product design actually amplified the album's impact. The mysterious black surface invited curiosity rather than controversy, while the bold typography communicated the raw energy of the music within.

When Slippery When Wet hit stores in August 1986, the cover's restraint proved commercially brilliant. Rather than being banned or hidden behind counters, the album was prominently displayed everywhere from mall record stores to major retail chains, contributing to its eventual 12-times-platinum success.

The original Mark Weiss photographs eventually surfaced years later, becoming collector's items and bootleg curiosities. The contrast between what was shot and what was released became part of rock mythology, with fans debating whether the band made the right choice.

The cover's influence on rock packaging was immediate and lasting. Dozens of bands in the late 1980s adopted similar high-contrast typography over mysterious or abstract imagery, proving that sometimes less really is more in album artwork.

Music retailers later credited the cover's bold design with exceptional shelf presence, noting how the yellow lettering remained visible even in dimly lit record bins. This practical consideration of retail environment would become increasingly important as music shopping moved to big-box stores.

The Slippery When Wet artwork remains a masterclass in the power of creative restraint. By choosing mystery over revelation, the band created a cover that let the music do the talking while the artwork did the selling.