Behind the Covers

found imagery

1 cover story in our archive

Behind the Covers' archive includes 1 album cover documented under the "found imagery" design theme, all from the 1990s. The cover sits within the alternative, rock tradition and features work by Pearl Jam. 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.

Vitalogy by Pearl Jam — album cover art

Vitalogy by Pearl Jam (1994)

Pearl Jam's third album featured pages torn from an actual 1920s medical textbook, creating one of the most unique and disturbing covers in rock history. The band found the vintage "Vitalogy" book in a thrift store and used its bizarre medical illustrations to reflect their frustration with fame.

Label
Epic Records
Designer
Ames Design
Genre
Alternative, Rock
Decade
1990s
Read the full story →

Related design themes