Armed Forces
Date
1979
Credits
- Elvis Costello & The Attractions Artist
- Barney Bubbles 5 Designer
- Barney Bubbles 5 Illustrator
Format
- Album Art 514
Clients
Printers
Publishers
Techniques
Dimensions
31 × 31 cm
Locations Made
- United Kingdom 164
This is the album cover for Armed Forces (1979) by Elvis Costello & The Attractions, designed by the legendary Barney Bubbles. The cover is a chaotic explosion of pop culture, abstract art, and graphic patterns, reflecting the energy of Costello’s music and the punk/new wave movement of the late 1970s.
The fold-out design of the original UK release transforms the artwork into a cross-shaped layout, making it one of the most visually striking album packages of its time. The vivid patterns, splattered ink, and fragmented shapes give the cover a unique sense of motion and tension, mirroring the album's themes of political unrest and personal conflict.
