2 cover stories in our archive
Behind the Covers' archive includes 2 album covers documented under the "purple" design theme, all from the 1980s. These covers sit within the r&b, pop, funk, rock tradition and features work by Prince. 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.
Prince's purple-tinted double album cover features a stark, minimalist portrait that launched his iconic color association. Photographer Allen Beaulieu captured the brooding image in a single session, creating one of the most recognizable album covers of the 1980s.
Prince on a custom purple motorcycle, bathed in purple light and smoke, wearing a sequined jacket — the image that cemented purple as his personal brand. After his death in 2016, Pantone created a custom shade called 'Love Symbol #2' in his honor.