# Behind the Covers

> The story behind every iconic album cover — designers, photographers, and the art that defined generations of music.

Behind the Covers is an album cover art encyclopedia. Each entry tells the story of who designed the cover, how it was created, and why it became iconic. Content covers albums from the 1950s through the 2020s across all major genres.

## What you'll find here

- The designer or photographer behind each album cover
- The creative process and story behind the artwork
- Historical and cultural context for each cover
- Connections between covers by decade, genre, and visual style

## Browsing

### By Decade
- [1950s Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/decades/1950s)
- [1960s Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/decades/1960s)
- [1970s Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/decades/1970s)
- [1980s Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/decades/1980s)
- [1990s Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/decades/1990s)
- [2000s Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/decades/2000s)
- [2010s Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/decades/2010s)
- [2020s Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/decades/2020s)

### By Genre
- [Rock Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Rock)
- [Alternative Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Alternative)
- [Indie Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Indie)
- [Hip-Hop Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Hip-Hop)
- [R&B Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/R&B)
- [Soul Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Soul)
- [Jazz Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Jazz)
- [Electronic Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Electronic)
- [Punk Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Punk)
- [Metal Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Metal)
- [Pop Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Pop)
- [Country Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Country)
- [Folk Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Folk)
- [Blues Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Blues)
- [Classical Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Classical)
- [Reggae Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Reggae)
- [Funk Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/Funk)
- [World Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/genres/World)

### By Artist
- [A Tribe Called Quest](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/a-tribe-called-quest)
- [Amy Winehouse](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/amy-winehouse)
- [Aphex Twin](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/aphex-twin)
- [Arcade Fire](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/arcade-fire)
- [Arctic Monkeys](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/arctic-monkeys)
- [Bad Bunny](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/bad-bunny)
- [Björk](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/bj-rk)
- [Black Sabbath](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/black-sabbath)
- [Blur](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/blur)
- [Bob Dylan](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/bob-dylan)
- [Bruce Springsteen](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/bruce-springsteen)
- [Burial](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/burial)
- [David Bowie](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/david-bowie)
- [De La Soul](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/de-la-soul)
- [Erykah Badu](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/erykah-badu)
- [Fleetwood Mac](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/fleetwood-mac)
- [Frank Ocean](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/frank-ocean)
- [Funkadelic](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/funkadelic)
- [Gorillaz](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/gorillaz)
- [John Coltrane](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/john-coltrane)
- [Joni Mitchell](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/joni-mitchell)
- [Joy Division](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/joy-division)
- [Kanye West](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/kanye-west)
- [Kendrick Lamar](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/kendrick-lamar)
- [Lauryn Hill](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/lauryn-hill)
- [Led Zeppelin](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/led-zeppelin)
- [Massive Attack](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/massive-attack)
- [Metallica](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/metallica)
- [Miles Davis](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/miles-davis)
- [Missy Elliott](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/missy-elliott)
- [Muddy Waters](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/muddy-waters)
- [Nas](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/nas)
- [Neutral Milk Hotel](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/neutral-milk-hotel)
- [Nirvana](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/nirvana)
- [OutKast](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/outkast)
- [Patti Smith](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/patti-smith)
- [Pink Floyd](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/pink-floyd)
- [Pixies](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/pixies)
- [Portishead](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/portishead)
- [Prince](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/prince)
- [Radiohead](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/radiohead)
- [Rage Against the Machine](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/rage-against-the-machine)
- [Solange](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/solange)
- [Sonic Youth](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/sonic-youth)
- [Sufjan Stevens](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/sufjan-stevens)
- [Talking Heads](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/talking-heads)
- [Tame Impala](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/tame-impala)
- [The Beach Boys](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/the-beach-boys)
- [The Beatles](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/the-beatles)
- [The Clash](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/the-clash)
- [The Cure](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/the-cure)
- [The Jimi Hendrix Experience](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/the-jimi-hendrix-experience)
- [The Notorious B.I.G.](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/the-notorious-b-i-g)
- [The Rolling Stones](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/the-rolling-stones)
- [The Smiths](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/the-smiths)
- [The Velvet Underground](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/the-velvet-underground)
- [The Weeknd](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/the-weeknd)
- [The White Stripes](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/the-white-stripes)
- [Tyler, the Creator](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/tyler-the-creator)
- [U2](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/u2)
- [Vampire Weekend](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/vampire-weekend)
- [Weezer](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/weezer)
- [Willie Nelson](https://behindthecovers.com/artists/willie-nelson)

### By Designer


### Best Of (Decade + Genre)
- [Best 1950s Blues Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1950s-blues)
- [Best 1950s Jazz Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1950s-jazz)
- [Best 1960s Folk Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1960s-folk)
- [Best 1960s Pop Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1960s-pop)
- [Best 1960s Rock Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1960s-rock)
- [Best 1970s Alternative Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1970s-alternative)
- [Best 1970s Country Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1970s-country)
- [Best 1970s Folk Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1970s-folk)
- [Best 1970s Funk Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1970s-funk)
- [Best 1970s Jazz Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1970s-jazz)
- [Best 1970s Metal Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1970s-metal)
- [Best 1970s Pop Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1970s-pop)
- [Best 1970s Punk Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1970s-punk)
- [Best 1970s Rock Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1970s-rock)
- [Best 1980s Alternative Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1980s-alternative)
- [Best 1980s Electronic Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1980s-electronic)
- [Best 1980s Funk Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1980s-funk)
- [Best 1980s Hip-Hop Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1980s-hip-hop)
- [Best 1980s Indie Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1980s-indie)
- [Best 1980s Pop Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1980s-pop)
- [Best 1980s Rock Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1980s-rock)
- [Best 1990s Alternative Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1990s-alternative)
- [Best 1990s Electronic Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1990s-electronic)
- [Best 1990s Funk Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1990s-funk)
- [Best 1990s Hip-Hop Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1990s-hip-hop)
- [Best 1990s Indie Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1990s-indie)
- [Best 1990s Jazz Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1990s-jazz)
- [Best 1990s Metal Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1990s-metal)
- [Best 1990s Pop Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1990s-pop)
- [Best 1990s R&B Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1990s-randb)
- [Best 1990s Rock Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1990s-rock)
- [Best 1990s Soul Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/1990s-soul)
- [Best 2000s Alternative Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2000s-alternative)
- [Best 2000s Electronic Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2000s-electronic)
- [Best 2000s Indie Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2000s-indie)
- [Best 2000s Pop Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2000s-pop)
- [Best 2000s R&B Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2000s-randb)
- [Best 2000s Rock Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2000s-rock)
- [Best 2000s Soul Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2000s-soul)
- [Best 2010s Electronic Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2010s-electronic)
- [Best 2010s Hip-Hop Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2010s-hip-hop)
- [Best 2010s Pop Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2010s-pop)
- [Best 2010s R&B Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2010s-randb)
- [Best 2010s Rock Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2010s-rock)
- [Best 2010s Soul Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2010s-soul)
- [Best 2020s Hip-Hop Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2020s-hip-hop)
- [Best 2020s R&B Album Covers](https://behindthecovers.com/best/2020s-randb)

### Search
- [Search all album covers](https://behindthecovers.com/search)

## Album Cover Stories

- [Demon Days by Gorillaz, 2005](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/demon-days) (cover by Jamie Hewlett)
- [After Hours by The Weeknd, 2020](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/after-hours) (cover by Aleksi Tammi)
- [Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend, 2008](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/vampire-weekend)
- [Disintegration by The Cure, 1989](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/disintegration) (cover by Andy Vella)
- [Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson, 1975](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/red-headed-stranger) (cover by Monica White)
- [Parklife by Blur, 1994](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/parklife) (cover by Rob O'Connor)
- [Illinois by Sufjan Stevens, 2005](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/illinois) (cover by Divya Srinivasan)
- [The Joshua Tree by U2, 1987](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/the-joshua-tree) (cover by Steve Averill)
- [Yeezus by Kanye West, 2013](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/yeezus) (cover by Virgil Abloh)
- [The Best of Muddy Waters by Muddy Waters, 1958](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/best-of-muddy-waters)
- [Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny, 2022](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/un-verano-sin-ti) (cover by Adrian Hernandez (Ugly Primo))
- [AM by Arctic Monkeys, 2013](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/am) (cover by Matthew Cooper)
- [Blue Train by John Coltrane, 1958](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/blue-train) (cover by Reid Miles)
- [Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, 1966](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/pet-sounds)
- [Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd, 1975](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/wish-you-were-here) (cover by Storm Thorgerson)
- [Abbey Road by The Beatles, 1969](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/abbey-road)
- [The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie, 1972](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/the-rise-and-fall-of-ziggy-stardust-and-the-spiders-from-mars) (cover by Terry Pastor)
- [The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, 1973](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/the-dark-side-of-the-moon) (cover by Storm Thorgerson & Aubrey Powell / Hipgnosis)
- [Supa Dupa Fly by Missy Elliott, 1997](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/supa-dupa-fly)
- [Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles, 1967](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/sgt-peppers-lonely-hearts-club-band) (cover by Peter Blake & Jann Haworth)
- [Untrue by Burial, 2007](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/untrue)
- [Baduizm by Erykah Badu, 1997](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/baduizm)
- [Weezer by Weezer, 1994](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/weezer-blue-album)
- [A Seat at the Table by Solange, 2016](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/a-seat-at-the-table) (cover by Solange Knowles)
- [White Blood Cells by The White Stripes, 2001](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/white-blood-cells) (cover by Jack White)
- [The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest, 1991](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/the-low-end-theory) (cover by Zombart International)
- [Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath, 1970](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/black-sabbath)
- [Currents by Tame Impala, 2015](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/currents) (cover by Robert Beatty)
- [Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen, 1984](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/born-in-the-usa)
- [IGOR by Tyler, the Creator, 2019](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/igor)
- [Maggot Brain by Funkadelic, 1971](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/maggot-brain) (cover by George Clinton)
- [Dummy by Portishead, 1994](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/dummy)
- [3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul, 1989](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/3-feet-high-and-rising) (cover by Toby Mott)
- [In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel, 1998](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/in-the-aeroplane-over-the-sea) (cover by Chris Bilheimer)
- [...I Care Because You Do by Aphex Twin, 1995](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/i-care-because-you-do) (cover by Richard D. James)
- [Blue by Joni Mitchell, 1971](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/blue)
- [Ready to Die by The Notorious B.I.G., 1994](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/ready-to-die)
- [Mezzanine by Massive Attack, 1998](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/mezzanine) (cover by Tom Hingston)
- [Horses by Patti Smith, 1975](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/horses)
- [Aquemini by OutKast, 1998](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/aquemini) (cover by D.L. Warfield)
- [The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths, 1986](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/the-queen-is-dead) (cover by Morrissey)
- [Are You Experienced by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1967](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/are-you-experienced)
- [Blonde by Frank Ocean, 2016](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/blonde) (cover by Frank Ocean)
- [Rage Against the Machine by Rage Against the Machine, 1992](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/rage-against-the-machine)
- [The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan, 1963](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/the-freewheelin-bob-dylan)
- [Post by Björk, 1995](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/post)
- [Illmatic by Nas, 1994](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/illmatic) (cover by Aimee Macauley)
- [Back to Black by Amy Winehouse, 2006](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/back-to-black)
- [Doolittle by Pixies, 1989](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/doolittle)
- [Goo by Sonic Youth, 1990](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/goo) (cover by Raymond Pettibon)
- [Metallica by Metallica, 1991](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/metallica-black-album) (cover by Peter Menell)
- [Purple Rain by Prince, 1984](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/purple-rain)
- [Funeral by Arcade Fire, 2004](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/funeral) (cover by Tracy Maurice)
- [The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill, 1998](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/the-miseducation-of-lauryn-hill) (cover by Erwin Gorostiza)
- [Remain in Light by Talking Heads, 1980](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/remain-in-light) (cover by Tibor Kalman / M&Co)
- [My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West, 2010](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy) (cover by George Condo)
- [Bitches Brew by Miles Davis, 1970](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/bitches-brew)
- [To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar, 2015](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/to-pimp-a-butterfly) (cover by Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar)
- [Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones, 1971](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/sticky-fingers) (cover by Andy Warhol)
- [OK Computer by Radiohead, 1997](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/ok-computer) (cover by Stanley Donwood & Thom Yorke)
- [Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, 1977](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/rumours)
- [London Calling by The Clash, 1979](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/london-calling) (cover by Ray Lowry)
- [Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin, 1971](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/led-zeppelin-iv) (cover by Graphreaks)
- [Aladdin Sane by David Bowie, 1973](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/aladdin-sane)
- [Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division, 1979](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/unknown-pleasures) (cover by Peter Saville)
- [The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground, 1967](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/the-velvet-underground-and-nico) (cover by Andy Warhol)
- [Nevermind by Nirvana, 1991](https://behindthecovers.com/covers/nevermind) (cover by Robert Fisher)

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## Contact

Behind the Covers is a project by Behind the Covers LLC.
Website: https://behindthecovers.com