Billboard's Greatest Album Covers of All Time
45. Lady Gaga, 'The Fame Monster' (2009)
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Portrait shots can be iconic when done just right, and if there’s one artist who knows about iconic imagery, it’s Lady Gaga. For the re-release of her debut The Fame, Mother Monster -- framed by a white wig -- went black and white, rocking a shiny, angular coat that shrouded the lower half of her face.
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44. Janet Jackson, 'Rhythm Nation 1814' (1989)
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Eschewing a friendly, fun image more conducive to '80s pop chart success, Janet Jackson adopted a militaristic tone for her instantly iconic black-and-white Rhythm Nation 1814 cover art. With Janet's face only partially emerging from the shadows and her body clad in a nondescript soldier's uniform, the artwork made label execs uneasy, but in the end, she was right. This cover photo perfectly complements the increased social consciousness of the album, and it would go on to become her most recognizable album art.
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40. Whitney Houston, 'Whitney Houston' (1985)
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Although he's best (worst?) remembered for taking nude photos of a very underage Brooke Shields, Garry Gross' cover photo for Whitney Houston's self-titled debut stands out as a beautifully less-is-more image in the visually explosive MTV era. Wearing a simple, timeless toga with pearls, she announced herself to the world as a class act whose elegant ferocity went beyond any fashion trend.
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36. Beyonce, 'Beyonce' (2013)
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The lasting significance of the cover art for Beyoncé’s 2013 surprise release Beyoncé should come as no surprise at all. Not just because anything the ***Flawless female does becomes instantly iconic, but because the simple pink knockout typeface over a plain black background is what contemporary design dreams are made of. The color-font combo became a classic and found its way to shirts, mugs and memes the world over.
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34. Madonna, 'True Blue' (1986)
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Madonna’s third studio album, True Blue, was covered by a striking image of the diva photographed by celebrated photographer Herb Ritts. (He would later re-team with Madonna for both the You Can Dance and Like a Prayer covers.) Before his death in 2002, Ritts would also direct a number of music videos -- including Madonna's "Cherish" -- and earn an MTV Video Music Award nomination.
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30. Kanye West, 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' (2010)
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After a handful of album covers featuring the Dropout Bear and a simple, Kaws-designed image for 808s & Heartbreak, Kanye West transitioned into high-concept art for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Teaming with artist George Condo for a series of paintings, the rapper matched the widescreen brilliance of the album’s music with boundary-cracking art, including a controversial image of a demonic West being straddled by a nude angel.
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