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Our Top 10 Lady Gaga Album Covers list looks at an innovative and successful artist who is known for her larger-than-life presence on and off stage. She is photogenic which shows in her album covers. Lady Gaga is known for making a statement in music and fashion. Her statement reflects on her album covers. Lady Gaga always gives people something to talk about. She loves to shock people with her fashion sense. Lady Gaga isn’t your average pop star. No one can ever accuse her of being predictable. She has had some of the biggest hits in pop music so it makes sense that her album covers would stand out. The same person who wore a bacon outfit to an awards show has no problem showing her creativity on her album covers.
Lady Gaga has sold millions of albums over the years. Fans love her creative style in music as well as her fashion sense. She pushes the envelope that only a few artists know how to do. She is a photographer’s dream because she isn’t afraid to be cutting edge. Her album covers reflect her edgy side. She’s not shy when it comes to showing off her big personality. You can see her courage and strength any time you pick up her albums and look at the pictures. They will capture your eyes and speak to you. The singer’s album covers tell a visual story and you want to listen to it.
Looking at Lady Gaga’s album covers is like stepping into an art gallery. She never has the same cover twice. The artwork is mesmerizing and unique. These are words that describe Lady Gaga perfectly. Her album covers evolved with her style. She always knows how to surprise her listeners. Her style is flashy one minute and understated the next. These are the things Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters love about the iconic singer. She is eclectic and expressive. She has released several albums on her own as well as albums with Tony Bennett. It was fun looking through her album covers to pick the perfect ones for our list. Take a stroll with us on our Top 10 Lady Gaga Album Covers list to see the different covers she has used throughout her career. You will be amazed at her creativity on the album covers.
# 10 – Love for Sale ft. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
The first pick on our Top 10 Lady Gaga Album Covers is Love for Sale. This is the second album Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded together. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga’s styles couldn’t be more different, but they made it work. The cover of the album is eye popping. It is a throwback to classical music. It features the artists dressed in classy clothes. She is wearing a white evening gown with her hair pinned up. It accentuates her high cheekbones. She isn’t wearing too much makeup which gives her face a fresh look. He is wearing a black tuxedo. She is leaning over fixing his bowtie. He is holding a sketchbook with her picture drawn on it.
If you notice the cover, you will see that there is sketch work behind them. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga’s pictures are black and white, but there is a splash of color painted on the cover. This is one of the understated album covers we mentioned earlier. Lady Gaga doesn’t go for flash for this cover. She chose to look classy and elegant. You can get lost looking in their eyes. They look like they are staring directly at you. Love for Sale was released in September 2021. The album peaked at number one on the jazz charts and number eight on Billboard 200. The album features the singles “Get a Kick Out of You,” “Love for Sale” and “Night and Day.”
# 9 – A Star Is Born Soundtrack
The next pick on our Top 10 Lady Gaga Album Covers list is A Star Is Born soundtrack. Lady Gaga starred in this movie with Bradley Cooper. This is the movie that made people take notice of her as an actress. This is another understated album cover. It is mostly black and white. There is gold lettering to help give the picture some color. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper are looking lovingly at each other. She is holding a book of songs while he is playing a guitar. Unlike the first album cover pick, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper are wearing casual clothes. They are dressed the way people dress every day. She has a gorgeous smile on her face.
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper are in a profile picture. They are looking at each other as if they are the only two people in the world. The picture is romantic and sensual. They look like a couple in love, and you can forget that they are acting in a movie together. The cover looks like something a couple would have on their wall. The photographer didn’t go for a splashy picture which was a good choice. The love is shown with just the way they look at each other. A Star Is Born soundtrack was released in October 2018. The album peaked at number one on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Shallow,” “Always Remember Us This Way” and “I’ll Never Love Again.” The album sold over six million copies.
# 8 – Joanne
This is Lady Gaga’s fourth studio album. Lady Gaga was changing her image. She wanted to downplay her eccentric image. Lady Gaga wanted a subdued image. The album cover is subtle. Her previous album covers were bigger and attention grabbing. This album cover is simple. It is a profile picture of the artist. She looks stunning in the picture. It has a solid blue background that will relax you. She is wearing a pink cowboy hat. The cowboy hat matches the new musical style for this album. She was going for a country theme album, so it fits that she chose to wear a cowboy hat. There is also a shot of her tattoo on her back.
The subtle cover gives you more to talk about. The picture makes you wonder what is going through Lady Gaga’s mind as she poses for it. She looks like she is deep in thought. This cover is her way of being taken seriously as an artist. She demands respect and you must give it to her. Lady Gaga wanted a simpler style compared to her previous studio albums. The cover is carefully crafted to match the serious tone of the album. She dedicated this album to her late aunt who died. Joanne was released in October 2016. The album peaked at number one on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Perfect Illusion,” “Million Reasons” and “Joanne.” The album sold over one million copies.
# 7 – A Very Gaga Holiday
Lady Gaga threw her hat in the ring by releasing a Christmas album. Lady Gaga showed that she can sing about anything. She changed her style by doing jazz and pop music on the album. This album cover is graceful. It shows off Lady Gaga’s soft side. She is dressed in a classy outfit. She looks beautiful in the white clothes. Lady Gaga is wearing winter clothes to match the holiday theme of the album. It is a colorful picture that brings out the golden hue of her skin. She is wearing gold makeup to match the atmosphere and the lettering on the cover. Her bright clothes are a contrast to the dark background. It helps the album cover stand out.
Lady Gaga did a beautiful pose for the picture. She has her eyes closed and a smile on her face. You can’t help smiling while looking at the picture. She did the type of pose that models do on magazine covers. It may have taken a lot to capture this photo, but she makes it look effortless. This may not be one of her big album covers, but it makes a beautiful statement. A Very Gaga Holiday was released in November 2011. It peaked at number nine on the Holiday albums charts and number 52 on Billboard 200. It features the single “White Christmas.” The album sold over 44,000 copies.
# 6 – Cheek to Cheek ft. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
This is the first album Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga did together. This album proved Lady Gaga has an eclectic style. She was known for singing dance and pop music. This album helped her step out of her comfort zone. This is a unique picture. The artists are on the cover of a New York newspaper. Newspapers usually have black and white photos, but this one is colorful. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga are holding each other as if they are dancing together. They are holding hands. Lady Gaga shocked fans with her new look. She did a complete makeover with this album. She looks unrecognizable in the picture. She has dark curly hair instead of her blonde locks. People compared her to Cher because of her new look. She is wearing an elegant dress. Tony Bennett looks like his normal regal self. He is dressed in a stylish suit.
Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga look as if they were caught by surprise in the picture. Photographer Steven Klein saw the singers talking and took their picture. You would never know that they didn’t pose for this picture because it looks natural. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga working together was shocking news, so it made sense that they are on a newspaper for the album cover. The newspaper background makes you feel as if you are reading a paper. The artists look like they are having fun with each other. Cheek to Cheek was released in September 2014. It peaked at number one on Billboard 200. The album features the singles “Anything Goes” and “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love.” The album sold over 700,000 copies.
# 5 – The Fame
The next pick on our Top 10 Lady Gaga Album Covers list is The Fame. This is Lady Gaga’s first album. This is the album that introduced the world to the talented singer. The album cover is mysterious because you don’t get to see much of her face. Her face is shown, but it appears as if she is hiding it. She looks as if she is hiding who she is from the world. You can catch a glimpse of her flawless skin in the picture. She is wearing a black hood. You can see some of her signature blonde hair showing. She is hiding behind dark sunglasses with the title of the album on them. Her glasses are made of glass and mirrors to resemble a disco ball. She wanted to look like someone who was in the music business already.
The concept of the album is to bring back the idea of fame. She was someone who came out of nowhere and took the world by storm. This album cover portrays that look easily. She looks like a person who was on a mission to change music, which is exactly what she did. The album cover resembles a model posing for a magazine. It looks reminiscent of a magazine. The Fame was released in August 2008. The album peaked at number two on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say).” “LoveGame” and “Paparazzi.” The album sold over 18 million copies.
# 4 – Chromatica
This is Lady Gaga’s fifth studio album. Lady Gaga toned her style down for her previous albums. She returned to her dance pop element with Chromatica. This album has dance and house music. The album cover is enigmatic. The concept of the album is she is in a dystopian factory. She is wearing a leather corset and heels. Her nails are incredibly long. She is strapped to a metal grate. She ditched her signature blonde locks for pink hair. The color of her hair matches the light coming from the grate. The picture will give you science fiction vibes. The album cover is intriguing because you don’t know what is going on in the scene.
Lady Gaga looks as if she is a hostage to style. The pose Lady Gaga is doing looks like a challenge. It is hard to know if she is laying down or if the photographer captured her standing up. The visual image is appealing because she could be posing either way. It all depends on your perspective of the picture. The album cover will have you thinking about it. Chromatica was released in May 2020. It peaked at number one on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Stupid Love,” “Rain on Me,” “911” and “Free Woman.” The album sold over 300,000 copies.
# 3 – Telephone ft. Beyonce
“Telephone” is a single from The Fame Monster album. Two of the biggest stars in music teamed up for this single. The alluring cover features the two artists on it. They aren’t in the picture together. Lady Gaga is on the top left while Beyonce is on the bottom right. Lady Gaga is wearing blue telephones on her head. She has her finger pointed in the air as if she is having a conversation with someone. The phones represent people that are in her head. The people are telling her to work harder for her craft. Beyonce is staring into your soul. She is wearing a bright blue coat with gold tassels on her shoulders.
The background has soft red and gold colors. The ladies have shadowy backgrounds. Lady Gaga’s half of the album cover is unique because you don’t see too many women with telephones on their heads. She is one of the few artists who can pull off this look. Lady Gaga and Beyonce are big artists in music. They manage to shine on the album cover in their own way. They both owned this album cover. Your eyes will be drawn to both singers. The single was released in January 2010. It peaked at number three on the Hot 100 charts and number one on the dance charts. The single sold over eight million copies. The Little Monsters and Beyhive got together to buy this gem.
# 2 – The Fame Monster – Standard and Deluxe Edition
This is Lady Gaga’s re-issue of The Fame album. Lady Gaga did two covers of this album. The first cover is a striking photo of the star in a blonde wig. Her blonde hair is short. She is wearing a long black pleather coat. The collar of the coat covers half her face. You can only see her nose and eyes in the picture. Photographer Hedi Slimane tried to replicate The Fame album by obscuring her face. Her eyes look dangerous, and the photographer wanted to capture that for the album cover. Lady Gaga looks like a star who has a lot to say on this cover.
The deluxe edition features the star with brown hair. This is what Stefani Germanotti (Lady Gaga) looks like when she isn’t wearing her blonde wig. She has thick long brown hair. She has dark mascara running down her face. The picture represents her crying. Lady Gaga has a goth look in this picture. She wanted to have a contrast of the two photos. They are supposed to represent how she was before she was famous (brown hair) and after she became famous (blonde hair). Her label didn’t want her to do the cover with the brown hair because they didn’t think it looked pop enough. They thought the album would be too dark. She won the fight and used both photos. The album was released in November 2009. The album peaked at number five on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Bad Romance,” “Telephone,” “Alejandro” and “Dance in the Dark.” The album sold over one million copies.
# 1 – Born This Way
The number one pick on our Top 10 Lady Gaga Album Covers list is Born This Way. This is Lady Gaga’s second studio album. She changed her style for this album. She wanted to talk about freedom, feminism, individuality, religion, and relationships. This is an unusual cover. Lady Gaga is half woman and half motorcycle. She is the front of the motorcycle. The photographer did an amazing job transforming her body into a motorcycle. It is a black and white photo with glaring lights bouncing off the chrome of the bike. Her red lipstick is the only splash of color in the picture. Lady Gaga looks sexy posing in the black background. She looks like she is in control. She looks unrecognizable, but no one else could pull off this look.
The album cover had people talking. They were surprised to see an album cover like this one. The concept of the album is to show everyone that she constantly changes her style. It is an album cover you haven’t seen before. Lady Gaga is probably the only artist who could pull off this futuristic look. She didn’t need her name on the cover to know who she was. She is one of the few artists who is courageous enough to do this cover. Born This Way was released in May 2011. The album peaked at number one on Billboard 200. The album features the singles “Born This Way,” “Judas,” “The Edge of Glory,” “You and I,” “Marry the Night” and “Bloody Mary.” The album sold over six million copies.
Top 10 Lady Gaga Albums Covers article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
