Here's some of my favorite album covers from the 1980's:  8)

Based on the artwork, not the band nor songs, IMO.

(In no special order)

15. ABC "How To Be A Zillioniare"
14. Debbie Gibson "Out Of The Blue"
13. Quiet Riot "Metal Health"
12. Depeche Mode "Black Celebration"
11. Prince "Purple Rain"
10. The Cars "Heatbeat City"
9. Cyndi Lauper "She's So Unsual"
8. Motley Crue "Theater Of Pain"
7. Red Hot Chili Peppers "Mother's Milk"
6. The Police "Sychronicity"
5. INXS "Kick"
4. Madonna "Like A Virgin"
3. Def Leppard "Pyromania"
2. Duran Duran "Rio"
1. The Go Go's "Vacation" (Picture of the band as water skiers)

Any album covers (also single) by the Smiths.

iron maiden had awesome artwork done on their album covers.

http://rateyourmusic.com/album_images/s3610.jpg

Prince



Howard

Cyndi Lauper-She's so unusual

http://www.cyndilauper.com/pictures/pa_ssu1s.gif

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002L9S.01._PE_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Madonna-True Blue

a couple that come to mind are...                                                                                                   fair warning- Van Halen
brothers in arms-Dire Straits

This one was cool too.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002PH1.01._PE8_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Speaking of Belinda....I also like this one!

http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Contrib/music/go-gos/mini-belinda.gif

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf700/f765/f76522orp6x.jpg

http://www.benatarfanclub.com/albums/crimes/crimest.jpg

http://www.benatarfanclub.com/albums/nervous/nervoust.jpg

G&R - Apitite for Distruction (sp)

How in the H*LL did I forget this one!!!!

http://www.songlyricscollection.com/lyrics/0/38-Special/Wild-Eyed-Southern-Boys/38-Special-Wild-Eyed-Southern-Boys-cover.jpg

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000025U2Z.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Floodland - The Sisters Of Mercy (1987)

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00002DE4E.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Closer - Joy Division (1980)

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000025JXO.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Power Corruption & Lies - New Order (1983)

http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/music/large/e7/43/e743101339a.jpg
Phantasmagoria - The D*a*m*n*e*d (1985)

http://british.nerp.net/music/ebnozn.jpeg


EBN-OZN


Howard

This was always one of my favorites.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000006L9G.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

I almost forgot about "Little Creatures" from The Talking Heads.

Honorable mentions:

Duran Duran "Seven & The Ragged Tiger"
Janet Jackson "Control"

And the mentioned

Dire Straits  "Brothers In Arms" & Guns & Roses "Appetite For Destruction"  8)

Line of Fire by The Headpins.  This album was always eye catching to me.  The black and white gives off that hard rock feel 8)

http://www.sleazeroxx.com/bands/headpins/lineoffire.jpg

black sabbath  heaven and hell...remember the angels smoking and playing cards ? to me they looked like nuns with wings but  whatever...

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd100/d129/d12932y85n3.jpghttp://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d603/d60355q2f2u.jpg
Husker Du - Warehouse: Songs and Stories, Zen Arcade

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf500/f594/f59449shzka.jpg
Debbie Gibson - Electric Youth.  I kind of prefer this one to OOTB.  She looks absolutely gorgeous in this one.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d684/d68483946b9.jpg
Gonna agree with Black Celebration.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d686/d68630e36l6.jpg
Prince - Sign 'O' The Times.  Not personally a fan of the Dirty Mind or Lovesexy covers, but that's just me.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf600/f602/f60254hbo58.jpghttp://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc000/c002/c002269m84g.jpg
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd700/d719/d7194338sx5.jpghttp://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd700/d719/d7195303724.jpg
R.E.M.'s first three albums, plus Document.  Kudzu, snakes, a box with an ear, and Stipe playing with a bird feeder or camera or something.  One of the best bands for album covers until they signed with Warner.  These were all great albums too.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf900/f914/f91430k0x9d.jpg
Midnight Oil - Red Sails In The Sunset.  Awesome cover for an awesome album.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre700/e766/e76674xby0s.jpg
dB's - Repercussion.  Very simple yet striking.

Also going to agree with whoever mentioned the Belinda covers.

From 1988

http://eil.com/newgallery/Five-Star-Rock-The-World-245931.jpg

Sorry for double post... adding this classic from 1985. Really showcases the vibrancy of the mid 80s! In fact this cover is the 80s for me.

http://www.securecrazydiamond.com/dizq/31849.jpg

A clear winner for me - Roxy Music's 'Avalon'.

The picture was taken at daybreak on Bryan Ferry's ex wife's ranch in the Scottish Highlands, with his wife posing as the figure.

Tragically though the ranch was later destroyed by fire, during which i think one of her parents may have died  :o