Behind the Covers

photorealistic

1 cover story in our archive

Behind the Covers' archive includes 1 album cover documented under the "photorealistic" design theme, all from the 1970s. The cover sits within the rock tradition and features work by Billy Joel. 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.

Piano Man by Billy Joel — album cover art

Piano Man by Billy Joel (1973)

The haunting cover of Piano Man features what many assumed were manipulated photographs but are actually photorealistic acrylic paintings by Bill Imhoff, one of Columbia Records' go-to album artists. The front and back cover paintings were originally gifted to Joel's manager before eventually being sold.

Label
Columbia Records
Designer
Beverly Parker
Genre
Rock
Decade
1970s
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