1980s
50 cover stories
New wave typography, Peter Saville's minimalism at Factory Records, and the arrival of MTV made visual identity more important than ever. The CD format shrank the canvas, pushing designers toward bolder, more iconic imagery.
All 1980s album covers
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys · 1989
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses · 1989
Technique
New Order · 1989
Disintegration
The Cure · 1989
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul · 1989
Doolittle
Pixies · 1989
Surfer Rosa
Pixies · 1988
Danzig
Danzig · 1988
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A · 1988
Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth · 1988
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Public Enemy · 1988
Hysteria
Def Leppard · 1987
Sign o' the Times
Prince · 1987
Paid in Full
Eric B. & Rakim · 1987
Louder Than Bombs
The Smiths · 1987
Appetite for Destruction
Guns N' Roses · 1987
The Joshua Tree
U2 · 1987
Reign in Blood
Slayer · 1986
Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C. · 1986
True Blue
Madonna · 1986
Skylarking
XTC · 1986
Graceland
Paul Simon · 1986
Master of Puppets
Metallica · 1986
So
Peter Gabriel · 1986
Licensed to Ill
Beastie Boys · 1986
Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi · 1986
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths · 1986
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths · 1985
Hounds of Love
Kate Bush · 1985
Brothers in Arms
Dire Straits · 1985
Hatful of Hollow
The Smiths · 1984
Powerslave
Iron Maiden · 1984
Ride the Lightning
Metallica · 1984
Stop Making Sense
Talking Heads · 1984
Born in the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen · 1984
Purple Rain
Prince · 1984
Faster Than the Speed of Night
Bonnie Tyler · 1983
Shout at the Devil
Mötley Crüe · 1983
Power, Corruption & Lies
New Order · 1983
Synchronicity
The Police · 1983
Thriller
Michael Jackson · 1982
1999
Prince · 1982
Rio
Duran Duran · 1982
The Number of the Beast
Iron Maiden · 1982
Bad Brains
Bad Brains · 1982
Ace of Spades
Motörhead · 1980
Sandinista!
The Clash · 1980
Back in Black
AC/DC · 1980
Blizzard of Ozz
Ozzy Osbourne · 1980
Remain in Light
Talking Heads · 1980
Frequently asked questions
- What defined 1980s album cover art?
- New wave typography, Peter Saville's minimalism at Factory Records, and the arrival of MTV made visual identity more important than ever. The CD format shrank the canvas, pushing designers toward bolder, more iconic imagery.
- What are the most iconic album covers of the 1980s?
- Notable covers featured on Behind the Covers include Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys, The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses, Technique by New Order, Disintegration by The Cure, and 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul.
- How many 1980s album covers does Behind the Covers feature?
- Behind the Covers features 50 1980s cover stories, with cover art by designers including John Squire, Peter Saville, and Andy Vella (as Parched Art).