So for the cover of their 1975 album, the band sought a literal depiction of that with a stuntman who — in an era before digital effects — actually had to be set on fire for multiple takes.

The first cover he posted was Kenny Loggins’ 1979 album Keep the Fire, its most well-known single, the Grammy-winning “This Is It,” which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In the early days of vinyl records, album covers were nothing more than a safety feature, blank paper jackets meant to protect the fragile content inside. That is, until, designer Alex Steinweiss ...