Editing Diamond Dogs (section)

==Artwork and packaging==
{{quote box|quote=[Bowie] tricked me into doing the cover artwork. It was only when we were at the session that he finally asked me if I would do a painting for him. The idea was so interesting I couldn't resist.{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=323–325}}|source=—Guy Peellaert on doing the cover artwork, 2000|width=20%|align=left|style=padding:8px;}}
The cover artwork depicts Bowie as a striking half-man, half-dog [[grotesque]]. He sports his Ziggy Stardust haircut and two "freak-show" dogs  surround him shown against a backdrop of New York City.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=367–372}}{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=323–325}} The artwork originated from a photo session with the photographer [[Terry O'Neill (photographer)|Terry O'Neill]]. Bowie opted not to use any of his previous cover artwork photographers and instead requested the services of the Belgian artist [[Guy Peellaert]], whose recently published ''Rock Dreams'' catalogue, featuring numerous airbrushed and exploited photographs, was growing in popularity. Bowie invited Peellaert to the photoshoot where he posed as a dog and with a [[Great Dane]] brought to the session.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=367–372}}{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=323–325}} Bowie asked Peellaert if he would like to develop a painting for the artwork, based on a storyboard idea where he appeared as a half-man, half-dog, stylistically similar to Peelleart's artwork for the Rolling Stones' ''It's Only Rock 'n Roll''. Peellaert agreed, basing the backdrop on a book he owned about [[Coney Island]]'s Pleasure Park. The two dogs behind Bowie were based on the Island's Cavalcade Variety Show performers Alzoria Lewis (known as "the Turtle Girl") and Johanna Dickens (known as "the Bear Girl").{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=367–372}}{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=323–325}}

The artwork was controversial as the full image on the [[gatefold]] sleeve showed the hybrid's genitalia. RCA had the genitalia [[airbrush]]ed from the sleeve used for most releases. Some original uncensored copies made their way into circulation at the time of the album's release.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=367–372}}{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=323–325}} According to the record-collector publication ''[[Goldmine (magazine)|Goldmine]]'' price guides, these albums have been among the most expensive record collectibles of all time, selling for thousands of US dollars for a single copy.{{sfn|Thompson|2015|p=69}} Other changes to the artwork included the substitution of the freak show badge "Alive" with the word "Bowie"; Bowie was credited simply as "Bowie", continuing the convention established with ''Pin Ups''.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=367–372}}{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=323–325}} [[Rykodisc]]/[[EMI]] restored Peelaert's original uncensored artwork for the album's re-release in 1990. Subsequent reissues have included a rejected inner gatefold image featuring Bowie in a [[sombrero cordobés]] holding onto a ravenous dog with a copy of Walter Ross's novel ''The Immortal'' at his feet.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=367–372}}{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=323–325}} ''Rolling Stone'' ranked the cover the 51st best album cover of all time in 2024.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The 100 Best Album Covers of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-album-covers-1235035232/david-bowie-diamond-dogs-1235039254/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=7 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728210840/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-album-covers-1235035232/david-bowie-diamond-dogs-1235039254/ |archive-date=28 July 2024 |date=18 July 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>