10 Coolest Album Covers From the 80s

In the digital era, album covers may be considered a thing of the past. Long gone are the days where the album art on the record was of extreme importance. Take a look below to see ten of the coolest album covers from the 80s.

10. Hot Space – Queen

Queen’s 10th studio album debuting in 1982, included one of their most well known songs. Under Pressure concludes the album featuring David Bowie. The pop art album cover clearly puts it in the top 10 for the decade in terms of aesthetic appeal.

See More: Queen Albums Ranked

9. Ghost In The Machine – The Police

Simple, yet extremely appealing and effective. Ghost in the Machine is The Police’s studio album released in 1981. A clean, simple aesthetic making it visually appealing and easy to remember. The album being released by a legendary band certainly helps.

See More: The Police Albums Ranked

8. London Calling – The Clash

One of the most iconic pictures in rock n’ roll history. One of the most distinctive pictures of the punk era. The Clash’s London Calling album is not only one of the most famous album covers of all time, musically it’s one of the best, that will certainly also stand the test of time.

See More: The Clash Albums Ranked

7. War – U2

Distinctive, and in your face. U2 is known to release politically charged music. This album continues on this trend. Released in 1983, War contains two of U2’s most well know songs New Year’s Day and Sunday Bloody Sunday. The album cover is just as well known.

See More: 10 Coolest Album Covers of All Time

6. 1984 – Van Halen

Hot for Teacher, Jump, Panama. Musically one of Van Halen’s most well known albums. The album art aesthetically may be their best. Absolutely fantastic album art and music, from one of the greatest bands of all time.

See More: Van Halen Albums Ranked

5. Ride the Lightning – Metallica

The founders of Thrash Metal. Ride the Lightning is one of Metallica’s best albums of all time. The album art is just as good. The lightning and electric chair catch the eye, and probably makes for one of the coolest posters to hang on your wall.

See More: Metallica Albums Ranked

4. Synchronicity – The Police

he Synchronicity album art was produced at a time when the three members of The Police were not speaking to each other. The band had recorded the album in separate rooms in a studio in Monserrat, and tensions were high as band dynamics had drastically changed.

3. The Pleasure Principle – Gary Numan

The Pleasure Principle is Gary Numan’s third album and marks the first time where he is not credited as The Tubeway Army. After his U.K. chart-topping Are Friends Electric, he had enough clout to convince his label (Beggar’s Banquet) to allow him to go with a solo identity.

2. Rebel Yell – Billy Idol

At a televised performance of VH1 Storytellers Billy Idol said that he had attended an event where Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones were taking swigs from a bottle of “Rebel Yell” bourbon whiskey. He was not familiar with the brand, but he liked the name and decided to write a “Rebel Yell” song.

1. Purple Rain – Prince

This album gave Prince the status of being the only person to have the number one album at the same time he had the highest movie. Purple Rain was Prince’s most successful album.