Something to Believe In

This album cover for Curtis Mayfield’s “Something to Believe In” in 1980 is one of many albums that feature a painting from African American artist, Ernie Barnes. This cover features Barnes painting “Late Night DJ” depicting a spotlight shining on an African American DJ speaking into a microphone, holding a record vinyl and wearing an eye capturing red colored dress. The album cover has this illustration in the center with the title of the album above it, while the record sleeve’s color matches DJ’s bright red dress. Barnes has mentioned the story behind the painting when he was listening to the radio on a very rainy night in Atlanta. He mentioned thinking about how many late-night romantic plans were ruined due to the weather that night, and that a woman’s voice would better sooth listeners on the radio. Curtis Mayfield would choose this painting in his album cover design to mark his period of maturing and continuing to evolve his sound within this album’s music using Barnes' strong and expressive realism.