04 April 2024

3AD: Vaughan Oliver's Favorite Cover Art

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...

 

Clan of Xymox - Clan of Xymox, 4AD CAD503, 1985
all decryption codes in comments


Tracklist Side -
A Day
No Words
Stumble & Fall
Cry in the Wind


Info Side -
Stranger
Equal Ways
7th Time
No Human Can Drown

 

 

 

 

Colourbox - Colourbox, 4AD CAD508, 1985.
Side 1 -
Sleepwalker
Just Give ‘em Whiskey
Say You
The Moon is Blue
Inside Informer

Side 2 -
Punch
Suspicion
Manic
You Keep Me Hanging On
Arena
 
 
 
 
Various - Lonely is an Eyesore, 4AD CAD703, 1987.
Side A -
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
 
 
 
 
Throwing Muses - House Tornado, 4AD CAD802, 1988.
side one -
Colder
Mexican Women
River
Juno
Marriage Tree
Run Letter

side two -
Saving Grace
Drive
Downtown
Giant
Walking in the Dark
 
 
 
side one -
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
 
 
 
 
Pixies - Doolittle, 4AD CAD905, 1989.
Monkey Side -
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. 
 
Next up: 3AD part 2

Enjoy,

14 comments:

  1. Clan of Xymox - Clan of Xymox
    CitXRGhH3qln1-DrhD6arlL4KaYi1CoUKcRBkCcM8d0
    Colourbox - Colourbox
    kQf1ZrOFET6fdJHJnHZWVs8JEGCV03cwnaVDd4CPWfU
    Various - Lonely is an Eyesore
    qkjCF324qNAv4l6XRwBzklXFTpOYmTXwVKUoZ5iO9Q8
    Throwing Muses - House Tornado
    oId366ttamJHWPLFBx1VVT8NEQVkbsdKEnjxDyhSniA
    Ultra Vivid Scene - Ultra Vivid Scene
    jMRACKxgRJW80OpMZOFhw9z4tAQoT2Nif4ZX_LcV7Js
    Pixies - Doolittle
    SppLMhbpF1ivj_7Wu9KlloDbGUd3UKzJKSna5FPlNCc

    ReplyDelete
  2. Going to grab the Clan Of Xymax. I've only ever heard their Medusa album so I look forward to this. Many thanks!

    Brian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Brian. Hope you like their self-titled.

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  3. Thanks sooooo much for this great Work. Really enjoy it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 4AD definitely has a lot of fans. More to come.

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  4. Well 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!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the heads-up over at your place & the kind, kind words. More Lush coming soon.

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  5. Thank 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.

    https://www.discogs.com/release/1614386-Various-Shaving-The-Pavement

    ReplyDelete
  6. Never shared the enthusiasm for Throwing Muses tough.
    Smashing art cover anyway.
    Great introduction for newcomers.
    Cheers
    Diego

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, not all the bands are everyone's taste. But agreed the Throwing Muses cover is a winner. Thanks, Diego.

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  7. Vaughan Oliver and Neville Brody (Fetish Records) really elevated the art of the album cover, and gave their labels a distinctive visual identity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As much as Ivo created the 4AD sound, Vaughan created the 4AD look, Thanks, brother.

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  8. Richie Muster4/14/24, 7:27 AM

    Many thanks for the Clan Of Xymox. I'm filling in a lot of holes in my collection today. Nicely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Always seems to be some 4AD we don't have yet. Filling the gaps, yeah.

      Delete