2 cover stories in our archive
Behind the Covers' archive includes 2 album covers documented under the "high contrast" design theme, all from the 1980s. These covers sit within the pop, rock tradition and feature work by Madonna, Bon Jovi. 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.
Madonna's True Blue cover emerged from a single Polaroid test shot that photographer Herb Ritts took during their first collaboration. The intimate black-and-white portrait, with Madonna's tousled hair and direct gaze, became one of the most influential pop album covers of the 1980s.
The cover that almost featured a bikini-clad model on a wet slip-and-slide became one of rock's most iconic designs when the band chose bold yellow typography over a mysterious plastic bag instead. The original shoot was deemed too risqué, leading to this instantly recognizable minimalist masterpiece.