1. Grace Jones – Island Life
Grace Jones was never one to shy away from a bold image, but her Island Life cover takes it to another level. The photo, shot by Jean-Paul Goude, shows her body impossibly bent like a gymnast, holding a microphone in one hand and balancing on one foot. Of course, the pose was a bit of an illusion, created by splicing together multiple shots to exaggerate her already striking physique. At first glance, it’s mesmerizing.
Fans loved the mix of athleticism and surrealism, and the cover quickly became one of the most recognizable of the decade. It’s not just an album, it’s practically a sculpture in two dimensions. You can feel the mix of high fashion, performance art, and music all colliding in a single frozen moment. Strange, yes—but unforgettable.
2. Talking Heads – Remain in Light
This one feels like something out of a digital fever dream. The Remain in Light cover features red blotches obscuring the band members’ faces, created using early computer graphics. At the time, the pixelated effect looked futuristic, but today it’s both retro and a little unsettling.
The strangeness was the point, though, since Talking Heads were always pushing boundaries. The cover matches the album’s mix of world rhythms, art rock, and experimentation. It wasn’t trying to be pretty—it was trying to make you think. That tension between strange and smart is exactly why people still talk about it.
3. Prince – Lovesexy
Prince made plenty of eyebrow-raising choices, but the Lovesexy cover remains one of his most infamous. He appears nude, crouched in a garden of flowers, staring directly at the viewer. It’s sensual, spiritual, and a little confusing all at once.
Some record stores even refused to stock it unless it was sold in a brown paper bag. But Prince thrived on controversy, and the cover forced people to confront both his sexuality and his vision. Whether you saw it as provocative art or pure shock value, it definitely stuck in your mind.
4. Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Welcome to the Pleasuredome
The title alone hinted at something unusual, and the cover didn’t disappoint. It’s an elaborate painting of fantastical creatures, chaotic scenes, and surreal landscapes, almost like a modern-day Hieronymus Bosch. At a glance, you can’t even tell if it’s an album or an art book.
It perfectly captured the excess of the band’s image and the wild energy of the ‘80s. The whole thing felt like an invitation to a party that was equal parts dangerous and exhilarating. If you wanted safe and simple, this was not it.
5. Van Halen – 1984
At first glance, it looks almost innocent: a cherub-like baby sitting by a pack of cigarettes. But then you realize the angel is sneaking one out, grinning like he knows he’s caught doing something naughty. It’s playful and bizarre all at once.
The image stirred up plenty of controversy, with critics questioning why a childlike figure was tied to smoking. But the cover worked, because it reflected Van Halen’s mischievous brand of rock. It’s a snapshot of rebellion with a smirk.
6. Yes – 90125
Compared to wild covers of the era, this one looks tame at first. Just a blocky, geometric logo with bright colors on a white background. But in 1983, it felt oddly alien, like something out of a sci-fi catalog.
The stark minimalism was a huge departure from the fantasy art the band had been known for in the ‘70s. Fans either loved or hated it, but it became iconic precisely because it stood out in an age of excess. Strange doesn’t always mean chaotic—it can mean stripped bare.
7. Ratt – Out of the Cellar
Hair metal wasn’t known for subtlety, and this cover proved it. A woman in torn clothing crawls into a shadowy basement, her hair teased high, the word “Ratt” looming in sharp red letters above her. It’s equal parts theatrical and confusing.
Some saw it as campy fun, others as unsettling imagery. Either way, it cemented the band’s reputation for flashy, over-the-top presentation. Like many metal covers of the decade, it’s a little cringe-worthy now—but still instantly recognizable.
8. Duran Duran – Rio
Here we get a glamorous illustration of a woman with perfect makeup and a wide grin, her hair blowing across the frame. It looks more like fashion art than an album cover, and that was the whole point. The woman doesn’t even look entirely real, but rather like an airbrushed dream.
It was created by artist Patrick Nagel, and his style became synonymous with ‘80s luxury and excess. The bright colors and clean lines scream pop culture at its most stylish. It’s strange in that it feels almost too perfect, like a commercial come to life.
9. ZZ Top – Eliminator
This cover is iconic for one reason: the glowing red hot rod. It almost looks like it’s flying out of another dimension, headlights blazing in your face. There’s nothing inherently odd about a car—but the way it’s presented makes it feel supernatural.
The Eliminator car became just as legendary as the music itself, appearing in music videos and cementing the band’s image. It was a mix of Americana and science fiction, all in one shiny hood ornament. Strange, but undeniably cool.
10. Dead Kennedys – Frankenchrist
This one stirred up more than a little trouble. The band originally included a poster of artist H.R. Giger’s “Landscape XX” inside the album, which depicted rows of graphic imagery that sparked obscenity charges. The cover itself looked fairly tame, but what came inside was another story.
The controversy nearly destroyed the band financially, but it also made the album infamous. It showed just how much an album’s visuals could stir up social panic. In that sense, it’s one of the strangest cultural moments tied to an ‘80s release.
11. Michael Jackson – Bad
Compared to Thriller, this cover is a sharp departure. Jackson poses in black leather, with chains, zippers, and an almost defiant glare. The word “Bad” is scrawled across the wall in graffiti-style letters, as if daring the viewer to challenge him.
At the time, fans were startled by how edgy it felt. Gone was the approachable smile—this was Jackson reinventing himself as tougher and stranger. The cover reflected that tension, which is why it remains so memorable today.
12. Eurythmics – Touch
Annie Lennox looks straight at the camera, sporting a bright orange crew cut and wearing a blindfold pushed up onto her forehead. It’s striking, but it also makes you wonder: is this glamorous, intimidating, or both? Dave Stewart stands beside her in contrast, but Lennox steals the focus.
The image helped define Lennox as one of the most visually daring figures of the ‘80s. It was unusual, but it worked perfectly with the band’s experimental sound. Strange becomes iconic when it’s backed up by that kind of talent.
13. Meat Loaf – Dead Ringer
You could always count on Meat Loaf to go big with his covers, and Dead Ringer is no exception. Painted in a dramatic fantasy style, it shows a muscular man riding a giant bat-like creature over a fiery apocalypse. It’s more heavy metal novel than rock album.
At the time, it was considered over-the-top, but that was exactly the point. Meat Loaf embraced the theatrical, and his covers became as much a part of his storytelling as the songs. It’s strange, sure, but it’s also pure spectacle.
14. David Bowie – Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
Leave it to Bowie to give us a cover that’s both art and enigma. Dressed as his Pierrot clown character, with pale makeup and a distant stare, Bowie looks otherworldly. The painted background adds layers of distortion, as though the image itself is breaking apart.
The cover matched the experimental and unsettling tone of the album. Fans weren’t entirely sure what to make of it, but that was exactly Bowie’s magic. Strange, haunting, and completely unforgettable.
