2 cover stories in our archive
Behind the Covers' archive includes 2 album covers documented under the "classical composition" design theme, all from the 1980s. These covers sit within the pop, alternative, hip-hop tradition and feature work by Kate Bush, Eric B. & Rakim. Each entry below includes the cover artwork, the designers and photographers behind it, and a short story about the visual choices that defined the release.
Kate Bush herself conceived and art-directed this haunting cover, lying in silk with two Afghan hounds in a deliberate recreation of classical painting compositions. The ethereal image perfectly captured the album's mystical themes.
The stark black and white portrait that launched a thousand hip-hop covers used the simplest possible concept: two artists, direct eye contact, no gimmicks. This minimalist approach became the template for serious rap album artwork.