Description

Annie Leibovitz photographed Cyndi Lauper for her debut in the summer of 1983 on Henderson Walk in Coney Island, in front of a shuttered attraction called The World in Wax Musee. Lauper is caught mid-twirl, and almost everything she wears tells a story about her. The vintage red prom-style dress came from Screaming Mimi's, the New York vintage shop where she worked. The bouquet in her hand was bought from a boardwalk vendor during the shoot.

The details add up to a portrait of a personality. Heavy costume jewellery hangs from her ears, arms, neck and right ankle. She is barefoot apart from fishnet stockings, and her red high heels lie tipped over on the pavement in front of her, as if she has kicked them off to dance. The wax museum's name was airbrushed off the awning in the final image, so the faded seaside building becomes a plain backdrop for her colour and movement.

The cover fit the album's spirit exactly. She's So Unusual was released on 13 October 1983 and produced "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "Time After Time", and its sleeve won art director Janet Perr the Grammy for Best Album Package in 1985. Billboard later placed it seventh on its list of the greatest album covers of all time, a rare top ten spot for a pop debut.

Credit

Photography by Annie Leibovitz; art direction by Janet Perr