Top 10 Madonna Album Covers

Madonna Album Covers

Feature Photo: Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com

Our Top 10 Madonna Albums Covers list will look at a legendary singer who was labeled the “Queen of Pop.” Madonna is one of the most famous mononymous singers. In case you don’t know what that means, it means she is a one name singer. Madonna knows how to push the envelope when it concerns her music and style. No one could ever call her boring because she is always doing something different. She always reinvents herself in one way or another. She rarely has the same look twice. She has sold over a whopping 300 million records worldwide. Madonna is one of the best-selling female artists of all time. She has won numerous awards throughout her illustrious career. She is one of the most influential artists in music. People often imitate her style of music as well as fashion.

It is no surprise that Madonna’s album covers would be just as influential as the “Like a Virgin” singer. Madonna always stands out on her album covers. The photographers always presented Madonna in a sexy way. Madonna can be sexy and scandalous as well as classy and demure. She has a flair for visual presentation. She always knows how to create the right look.  Madonna is flexible with her body and it shows throughout her album covers. Madonna has a lot of album covers that could have easily made our list. She has different looks on every cover. You can see how her looks have evolved on our Top 10 Madonna Album Covers list.

# 10 – I’m Breathless

The first pick on our Top 10 Madonna Album Covers list is I’m Breathless. I’m Breathless is the soundtrack to the movie Dick Tracy in which Madonna played Breathless Mahoney. The songs on the album were based on the movie. This album was a change for Madonna because she was known for doing pop and dance songs. This album gave her a chance to record jazz and swing music. The album cover features a picture of Madonna and Warren Beatty sitting inside of a car. He is looking at her while she is looking into the camera. Madonnaa is wearing a black fur coat that is hanging off her shoulders. Her hair is short and curly. She has her mouth open slightly. The shot is taken from her left side. Warren Beatty is wearing a yellow trench coat and fedora. You can tell he is wearing a suit underneath the coat.

Photographer Patrick Demarchelier captured the look from the Dick Tracy era. The picture makes them look sophisticated and classy. He captured the chemistry between the two stars brilliantly. Warren Beatty looks as if he is in love with Madonna while she looks as if she has a secret. Patrick Demarchelier used a great blend of dark and light colors to create the photo. It looks as if the pose is challenging because they are both sitting in the driver seat together. They are allowed room to shine in the picture. They also manage not to look uncomfortable sharing the same seat. She doesn’t usually share covers with other people, but she shared the spotlight with him. Patrick Demarchelier was a fashion photographer. He has worked with Otis Redding, Melba Moore, Billy Joel, Whitney Houston, Elton John, Janet Jackson, CeCe Peniston, Dolly Parton, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Beyonce, as well as others. I’m Breathless was released in May 1990. The album peaked at number two on Billboard 200. I’m Breathless features the singles “Vogue” and “Hanky Panky.” The album sold over seven million copies.

 # 9 – Something To Remember

The next pick on our Top 10 Madonna Album Covers list is Something to Remember. Something to Remember is Madonna’s third compilation album. This album was done when people thought her career was waning. This album proved them wrong. It features her greatest hits as well as new material. This album proved why people fell in love with the “Material Girl.” The album cover features a picture of Madonna leaning against a wall. She is wearing a white cocktail dress. Her hair is straight. She is looking down with her eyes closed. The picture looks romantic and seductive. Madonna looks like a fashion model in the picture. The picture is taken from her left side. She is never one to shy away from the camera so it is a surprise to see her look away from it.

Photographer Mario Testino took an elegant picture of Madonna. She looks sexy without being exotic. He gave her a classic look. She proved you can be sexy and glamorous at the same time. He didn’t have her dress flashy in the picture. She looked stylish and elegant. She took her nose ring out for the shot so she could be taken seriously. She wanted the music to speak for itself. She didn’t want to take away from the album by being dressed inappropriately. Mario Testino used a lot of light colors in the picture. The only dark color used in the picture is the lettering for her name. He created a look that would fit for a magazine cover. Mario Testino is a fashion photographer. He has worked for magazines such as Vogue, Allure, Vanity Fair, GQ, Harper’s Bizarre, V Magazine, as well as others. Something to Remember was released in November 1995. The album peaked at number six on Billboard 200. Something to Remember features the singles “You’ll See,” “Oh Father,” “One More Chance” and “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore.” The album sold over two million copies.

# 8 – Confessions On A Dance Floor

The eighth pick on our Top 10 Madonna Album Covers list is Confessions on a Dance Floor. Confessions on a Dance Floor is Madonna’s 10th studio album. This album was a return to her 80s dance music. She wanted the album to have a club feel to it. The album cover features Madonna on her knees. She is wearing a pink leotard. She is leaning her head back with her eyes closed. Her hair is fiery red. She is balancing herself on her right hand. Her right hand is on the floor while her left hand is on the wall. She is wearing high heeled shoes. The wall is black with purple dots on it. The picture has a psychedelic look reminiscent of the 70s and early 80s. It was the perfect choice because it was the sound she wanted for her album.

Photographer Steven Klein took a challenging photo of Madonna. He took a backwards shot of her. This photo showcased how flexible Madonna is. She was able to support her weight on one hand. This is a pose that most of us would never be able to do. He captured the look she wanted for album. There is a great blend of dark and light colors. Her name is bright and stands out on the album cover. There is no mistaking who she is. He wanted her name to sell the cover more than the album title. It is not a close shot of her face, so he made her name stand out in the picture. She isn’t a blonde in this picture, so this is an example of her evolving style. Steven Klein is a photographer who has worked with Madonna, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Lisa Stansfield, Kelis, Moby, Tim McGraw, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Ricky Martin, The Rolling Stones, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, as well as others. Confessions on a Dance Floor was released in November 2005. The album peaked at number one on Billboard 200.

# 7 – Music

Coming in at number seven on our list is Music. Music is Madonna’s eighth studio album. Madonna wanted to change her musical style to electronic and dance music. She wanted to experiment with different ideas. Some of her songs have country and folk beats. The album cover features Madonna wearing a blue cowboy outfit. She is wearing a blue shirt. She completes the look with a blue cowboy hat. Her hair is blonde, curly and shoulder length. Madonna is staring into the camera with her breathtakingly blue eyes. Her eyes stand out in the picture. They look like pools of water. Madonna is standing in front of cars. She appears to be standing in a yard. If you look in the back, it looks as if the picture was taken at night. There is a shot of a belt buckle used as a logo to display her name and the album title.

Photographer Jean Baptiste-Mondino wanted to give Madonna a country look. Some of the songs on the album have a country and folk sound so he wanted to play up that part of the album with the cover. He took a great shot of Madonna. She looks nice in the picture. She tones down her sexuality by being covered up. You can see her natural beauty because she isn’t wearing a lot of makeup. The picture has a lot of appealing colors that stand out. It is hard to take your eyes off this photo. Her eye color may put you in a trance. Jean Baptiste-Mondino is a fashion photographer and music director. He has worked with Madonna, David Bowie, Sting, Axel Bauer, Don Henley, Chris Isaak, Boy George, Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Neneh Cherry, Bjork, as well as others. Music was released in September 2000. The album peaked at number one on Billboard 200. Music features the singles “Music,” “Don’t Tell Me” and “What It Feels Like for a Girl.” Music sold over three million copies.

# 6 – You Can Dance

You Can Dance is Madonna’s first remix and compilation album. This album is a remix of her first three albums. The album also features a new track. Madonna became a fan of Latin culture and wanted it to reflect on her album cover. The album cover features Madonna standing in front of a red background. She is wearing a mostly black female toreador outfit with a bustier. She has a hat tied behind her neck. The star has her hands crossed on her chest. She has short platinum blonde hair. Her nails are painted red to match the background and her outfit. She is wearing a lot of makeup in the picture. The album cover has white lettering to bring out some of the red.

Photographer Herb Ritts was aware of her fascination with Latin culture and wanted to pay homage to it. This was Madonna’s style at the time, and he wanted to capture it in the photo. Madonna looks full of life in the picture. She looks as if she is ready to take on the world. This picture commands your attention. She looks as if she is staring at you. He didn’t feature anything in the background to take away from the iconic singer. The vibrant red background makes the picture stand out. Herb Ritts was known for his pictures of celebrities, models and cultural figures. He has worked with Madonna, Tina Turner, Olivia Newton-John, Richard Gere, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Janet Jackson, Chris Isaak, Michael Jackson, Jon Bon Jovi, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Tracy Chapman, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, NSYNC, as well as others. You Can Dance was released in November 1987. The album peaked at number 14 on Billboard 200 and number one on the dance charts. You Can Dance features the single “Spotlight.” The album sold over one million copies.

# 5 – Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones

The next pick on our Top 10 Madonna Album Covers list is Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones. This is Madonna’s seventh compilation album. This album celebrates her 50 number one singles. The album cover is a throwback to Madonna’s 80s look. She is standing in front of a wall of her album covers and singles. She is wearing a black shirt. She is touching her sunglasses as if she is putting them on or taking them off. Her album covers are reflected on her mirrored sunglasses. She has 80s jewelry on her neck and wrists. Her hair is platinum blonde. The lettering on the album cover is white and red.

Photographer Gary Heery came up with an imaginative way to celebrate Madonna’s 50 number ones. He created a throwback look to the look that made her famous. You get to see the list of the hits that she has in her catalog. You also get a chance to go down memory lane by looking at some of her album covers. The album cover is very busy and gives you something to look at while you are admiring it. He did an amazing job photoshopping Madonna into the picture. She looks as if she is standing in front of a wall of her hits. You don’t get a chance to see her hypnotic eyes in this shot, but you can still admire her beauty. She looks just as stylish as ever on this album cover.

Gary Heery is a photographer who has worked with Madonna, Jennifer Warnes, New Birth, Donny Gerrard, Debby Boone, Air Supply, Hank Williams, Jr., Eddie Money, Ray Charles, Andy Gibb, Average White Band, Patrice Rushen, Joe Cocker, Pat Boone, America, Chicago, Roy Orbison, Rick James, Alicia Myers, as well as others. Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones was released in August 2022. It peaked at number eight on Billboard 200 and number one on the dance charts

# 4 – Like A Prayer

Like a Prayer is Madonna’s fourth studio album. This is one of Madonna’s personal albums. The songs are about her childhood. She talks about the importance of family and empowerment. This is a rare album cover for the legendary singer. Madonna’s face isn’t featured on the cover. It is a close shot of her midsection. She wanted a 60s vibe as well as a religious statement. Madonna is wearing blue jeans with the button open. She is wearing a lot of rings on her fingers. She is wearing a long necklace that reaches down to her jeans. Madonna didn’t lose her sex appeal in the picture. If you look at the picture you will notice where her hands are placed. Her fingers are close to her lower region.

Herb Ritts created a bright picture that is eye catching. It fit the style that she was going for at the time. At the time she was a brunette and she wanted to embrace her Italian culture. Madonna was a popular singer at the time, so Herb Ritts took a chance by not featuring her face on the cover. He took a chance of fans not knowing who she was on the album cover. He didn’t disappoint fans because he found a way to get her name to stand out in the picture. Her name is placed in the middle of the picture. There are blue rays around her name. Her name and album title are written in black letters. Like a Prayer was released in March 1989. The album peaked at number one on Billboard 200. Like a Prayer features the singles “Like a Prayer,” “Express Yourself,” “Cherish,” “Oh Father,” “Dear Jessie” and “Keep It Together.” Like a Prayer sold over five million copies.

# 3 – True Blue

True Blue is Madonna’s third studio album. This is another personal album by the singer. It was dedicated to her then husband Sean Penn. Madonna wanted to reach out to an older audience for this project because she felt like they didn’t take her seriously as an artist. The album cover features Madonna leaning against a wall with her head tilted back. Her hair is platinum blonde. Her eyes are closed, and her mouth is open. The shot is taken from her left side. The lettering and background are blue. It is hard to tell whether Madonna’s neck is touching the wall or not. It adds to the mystique of the picture. This picture is an homage to Marilyn Monroe.

Herb Ritts captured a phenomenal picture of Madonna. It was originally supposed to be a black and white photo, but he decided to give it color. He made the right choice because he used a beautiful shade of blue for the cover. He uses two shades of blue for the photo. The background is dark blue while the lettering is light blue. This is one of Madonna’s most iconic album covers. She looks sultry on the cover. This is another cover that looks like it would be in the pages of a magazine. This picture proves that she is a photogenic woman who can make any picture look good. True Blue was released in June 1986. The album peaked at number one. True Blue features the singles “Live to Tell,” “Papa Don’t Preach,” “True Blue,” “Open Your Heart” and “La Isla Bonita.” True Blue sold over seven million copies.

# 2- Madonna -1984 debut

 

The self-titled album is Madonna’s debut album. This is the album that introduced the world to the future star. This is a dance/pop album about love and relationships. This is a black and white album cover. It features Madonna in a headshot photo. She is wearing an 80s look. She is wearing a black top with 80s jewelry. She would use this same look on Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones album. She is sporting her famous platinum blonde locks. Madonna is staring into the camera with an aggressive look on her face. She wants to be taken seriously in a male dominated industry. Her right hand is on her face while her left hand is grabbing the necklace. Her name is written in black and white. The left side features her name in white letters while the right side features her name in black letters.

Photographer Gary Heery brought out her beauty in this picture. She looks stunning in black and white as well as color pictures. She was a new artist when she took this shot, but she had star power. You could tell she would be a star even then. Gary Heery thought she posed like a model during the photp shoot because she had her own style when it came to posing for pictures. Madonna could have easily been a model because she has modelesque features. She has a style that most people couldn’t match. True Blue was released in July 1983. The album peaked at number eight on Billboard 200. True Blue features the singles “Everybody,” “Burning Up,” “Holiday,” “Lucky Star” and “Borderline.” The album sold over five million copies.

# 1 – Like A Virgin

The number one pick on our Top 10 Madonna Album Covers list is Like a Virgin. Like a Virgin is Madonna’s second studio album. Madonna felt like the material on this album was stronger than on her debut album. This album cover features Madonna showing more of her sexy side. On her debut album cover, she was covered up. On this album cover, she shows more skin. This is another black and white shot of the star. Madonna is sitting on a bed wearing a provocative wedding dress. The dress looks like lingerie at the top. This is a transformation from her debut album cover. She went from chic to seductive. Her hair is tousled. She has a come hither look in her eyes. The shot is taken from her left side.

Photographer Steven Meisel took a sexy photo of Madonna. Her look is supposed to be a play on her religious name. He wanted to push the envelope with this cover. It may be tame by today’s standards, but this photo was provocative for its time. He used black and white colors in the picture. The colorful part of the picture is the album title. It is written in blue letters. The blue gives the picture some color. Madonna looks breathtaking and seductive on this album cover. Steven Meisel found a way to make Madonna look sexy and glamorous at the same time. This is a look that a lot of females wanted to copy because she made a fashion statement with it.

Madonna made wedding dresses look sexy and fashionable instead of the traditional way wedding dresses looked at the time. Steven Meisel is a photographer who has worked with Madonna, Rod Stewart, Whitney Houston, Jody Watley, Mariah Carey, Megan Rapinoe, as well as others. Like a Virgin was released in November 1984. The album peaked at number one on Billboard 200. Like a Virgin features the singles “Like a Virgin,” “Material Girl,” “Angel,” “Into the Groove” and “Dress You Up.” Like a Virgin sold over 10 million copies.

Top 10 Madonna Album Covers article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023

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