One of the unique features of the 4AD catalogue was the beautiful cover artwork on their releases. If the 4AD sound was instantlt recognisable, so was the cover art of their line of output.
Many of the best covers were the works of 23 Envelope. This is the name given to the partnership between graphic designer Vaughan Oliver (v23) & photographer/filmmaker Nigel Grierson from 1983-1988 although Vaughan contributed artwork much later. They artistically created a distinct visual identity for the label 4AD through their record sleeve designs for bands on the 4AD roster.
In an article, Vaughan named these as some of his favorites...
Tracklist Side -
A Day
No Words
Stumble & Fall
Cry in the Wind
Info Side -
Stranger
Equal Ways
7th Time
No Human Can Drown
Sleepwalker
Just Give ‘em Whiskey
Say You
The Moon is Blue
Inside Informer
Side 2 -
Punch
Suspicion
Manic
You Keep Me Hanging On
Arena
Hot Doggie - Colourbox
Acid, Bitter, & Sad - This Mortal Coil
Cut the Tree - The Wolfgang Press
Fish - Throwing Muses
Frontier - Dead Can Dance
Side B -
Crushed - Cocteau Twins
No Motion - Dif Juz
Muscoviet Mosquito - Clan of Xymox
The Protagonist - Dead Can Dance
Colder
Mexican Women
River
Juno
Marriage Tree
Run Letter
side two -
Saving Grace
Drive
Downtown
Giant
Walking in the Dark
She Screamed
Crash
You Didn’t Say Please
Lynn-Marie #2
Nausea
Mercy Seat
A Dream of Love
side two -
Lynn-Marie #1
This isn’t Real
The Whore of God
Bloodline
A Kiss & a Slap
How Did it Feel
Hail Mary
Debaser
Tame
Wave of Mutilation
I Bleed
Here Comes Your Man
Dead
Monkey Gone to Heaven
Other Side -
Mr. Grieves
Crackity Jones
La La Love You
Number 13 Baby
There Goes My Gun
Hey
Silver
Gouge Away
note: Because of the depth of the 4AD label & the length of time they have been around, I would like readers to chime in with any request they might have for anything I have not shared. If I have it I will share it in a final 4AD Requests post.
Enjoy,
NØ
Clan of Xymox - Clan of Xymox
ReplyDeleteCitXRGhH3qln1-DrhD6arlL4KaYi1CoUKcRBkCcM8d0
Colourbox - Colourbox
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Various - Lonely is an Eyesore
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Throwing Muses - House Tornado
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Ultra Vivid Scene - Ultra Vivid Scene
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Pixies - Doolittle
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Going to grab the Clan Of Xymax. I've only ever heard their Medusa album so I look forward to this. Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteBrian
Thanks, Brian. Hope you like their self-titled.
DeleteThanks sooooo much for this great Work. Really enjoy it.
ReplyDelete4AD definitely has a lot of fans. More to come.
DeleteWell the 4AD label put out the LUSH CD I have been reposting a few times due to it's popularity as many may remember their stuff from 90's alternative radio so if you can add to that that would be my request. BTW brother, I added comments to the main post this week of Juluka to steer peop's over here to search on the word "Haiti" to get the real roots of that music on your enlightened historic post(s) and had to tell them about these AWESOME 4AD post series, Cheers Brother!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads-up over at your place & the kind, kind words. More Lush coming soon.
DeleteThank you for this series, some fun memories with all these albums. If you have it, I'd love to see a copy of their compilation "Shaving the Pavement." I had it on cassette many years ago and recall there are just a couple exclusive versions on it.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.discogs.com/release/1614386-Various-Shaving-The-Pavement
Never shared the enthusiasm for Throwing Muses tough.
ReplyDeleteSmashing art cover anyway.
Great introduction for newcomers.
Cheers
Diego
Yeah, not all the bands are everyone's taste. But agreed the Throwing Muses cover is a winner. Thanks, Diego.
DeleteVaughan Oliver and Neville Brody (Fetish Records) really elevated the art of the album cover, and gave their labels a distinctive visual identity.
ReplyDeleteAs much as Ivo created the 4AD sound, Vaughan created the 4AD look, Thanks, brother.
DeleteMany thanks for the Clan Of Xymox. I'm filling in a lot of holes in my collection today. Nicely.
ReplyDeleteAlways seems to be some 4AD we don't have yet. Filling the gaps, yeah.
Delete