Favorite 4AD album cover

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I don't like any of them! (among those I own)

― Aaron A., Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:39 (twenty years ago)

Philistine.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:42 (twenty years ago)

Fifteen year old me says Doolittle.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:44 (twenty years ago)

The 4AD visual aesthetic is just... too precious. Some might describe much of the label's roster in the same way -- I wouldn't.

― Aaron A., Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:44 (twenty years ago)

Fifteen year old me says Surfer Rosa!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:44 (twenty years ago)

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00006L5PQ.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

A gorgeous Aikea-Guinea poster

http://mc.clintock.com/first_floor/living_room/sun_porch/cabinet_built-in/audio_cds/ICON-images/pixies_-_trompe_le_monde.jpg

But this is only a start...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:44 (twenty years ago)

Lush's Madlove EP.

it's so...silverybluegrey!

― janni (janni), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:44 (twenty years ago)

Fifteen year old me says Surfer Rosa!

I was about to say, given the hormonal impact, no contest!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:45 (twenty years ago)

The Moon and the Melodies

Aaron, nothing personal, but you crazy.

― Ferlin Husky (noodle vague), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:46 (twenty years ago)

Very gothed out but I DON'T CARE:

http://www.indigo.de/img/cover/big/3708.jpg

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:49 (twenty years ago)

Although speaking of goth:

http://www.waste.org/bauhaus/i/b/intheflatfield.jpg

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:50 (twenty years ago)

http://quimby.gnus.org/4ad-pics/RemaRema.WheelInTheRoses.ep.jpg

― donut debonair (donut), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:51 (twenty years ago)

unfairly being thus far ignored from a Pixies POV, surely.

― Lee (fsharp), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:51 (twenty years ago)

Proto Surfer Rosa (the reverse side reveals she is holding a knife)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:51 (twenty years ago)

UK version of House Tornado

― john'n'chicago, Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:56 (twenty years ago)

mmmm. great record, too, often overlooked.

― Lee (fsharp), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:57 (twenty years ago)

I think the Bossanova packaging was nominated for a Grammy.

Other great ones that come to mind:

A.R. Kane - Lolita EP
Lush - Scar EP
va - Lonely is an Eyesore
Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels and Sunburst and Snowlind (the whole 'inky'/'oily' period)
Dif Juz - Out of the Trees
Ultra Vivid Scene - Mercy Seat EP
M/A/R/R/S - Pump Up The Volume (the green one)

many more.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:59 (twenty years ago)

Lee OTM.

And those first two Throwing Muses LP sleeves are both great, in a somewhat atypical way.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:04 (twenty years ago)

Aaron, what covers do you own and not like??

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:06 (twenty years ago)

4AD's design aesthetic is so consistent it makes me wonder if they had an in-house design team.

― darin (darin), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:06 (twenty years ago)

You're kidding right?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:08 (twenty years ago)

darin, i think you must be right. lots of similar motifs and styles. kind of makes me wonder...

TS: 4AD artwork vs Factory artwork

this will take a prolonged leaf through the vinyl before i am prepared to commit myself.

― Lee (fsharp), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:09 (twenty years ago)

Not entirely. I mean this could easily be a Pixies cover:
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc800/c853/c85395hn948.jpg

― darin (darin), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:11 (twenty years ago)

Cocteau Twins' Lullabies EP...I love how people have the upside-down flower girl tattooed onto them, it's the only tattoo I would ever consider getting...

I've noticed that I like more Factory art than 4AD...some of the 4AD stuff is a bit precious, and Factory's more minimal and elegant.

― Ian Riese-Moraine (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:13 (twenty years ago)

http://quimby.gnus.org/4ad-pics/Unrest.PerfectTeeth.cd.jpg

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:14 (twenty years ago)

Although there are bits of Factory craziness like Central Station's psychedelic Happy Mondays covers...and I enjoy those, too.

Ooh, 4AD cover of a lady on Factory...nice compromise!

― Ian Riese-Moraine (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:15 (twenty years ago)

that's sharp. i'm impressed.

― Lee (fsharp), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:16 (twenty years ago)

Information on 4AD artwork, mostly done by Vaughn Oliver: http://www.imasy.or.jp/~mtoyokaw/4ad-faq/art.html

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:17 (twenty years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre500/e577/e5773268nms.jpg

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:17 (twenty years ago)

I'd have to choose one of the early Lush records.

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:18 (twenty years ago)

Geez, I only just now saw the US version of House Tornado. What a shame!

Did v23 have any say in that, fact-checkers?

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:19 (twenty years ago)

xpost, Sorry, as a designer, I forget that not everyone automatically knows about 23 Envelope/v23.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:20 (twenty years ago)

Vaughan Oliver's V23 studio was responsible for the 4AD design aesthetic and V23 designed most (if not all) of the covers in this thread. However, I think the label now works with different designers as well.

― jefferymac, Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:23 (twenty years ago)

My favorite piece is the This Mortal Coil box set. Although my copy has almost completely disintegrated over the past 10 years.

― jefferymac, Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:25 (twenty years ago)

hmmm...

http://quimby.gnus.org/4ad-pics/Colourbox.Colourbox.CAD508.jpg

or is it

http://quimby.gnus.org/4ad-pics/UltraVividScene.StaringAtTheSun.ep.jpg

or maybe

http://quimby.gnus.org/4ad-pics/DeadCanDance.WithinTheRealmOfADyingSun.lp.jpg

so many great sleeves, i could never pick just one

― rentboy (rentboy), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:25 (twenty years ago)

xpost, Sorry, as a designer, I forget that not everyone automatically knows about 23 Envelope/v23.

The sad thing is I'm a designer and I didn't know! Thanks for the link!

― darin (darin), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:26 (twenty years ago)

My favorite piece is the This Mortal Coil box set. Although my copy has almost completely disintegrated over the past 10 years.

i've had this same trouble with mine... but you're right. it's beautiful

― rentboy (rentboy), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:26 (twenty years ago)

23 Envelope/V23 is one of the reasons I *became* a designer!

― jefferymac, Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:28 (twenty years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00002SWSX.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:34 (twenty years ago)

I second the Aikea-Guinea cover. I bought a book of some Vaugh Oliver exhibition once someplace used for a few dollars and it is really stricking seeing it in there. I think it is this one http://www.artbooks.de/v23/exhibition90.html . Funny thing is I don't like most of v23s stuff anymore.

― svend (svend), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:44 (twenty years ago)

Surfer Rosa still has it for me, whether I be 15 or 24.

Is that RHP sleeve a v23 design? I like 'Limbo' by Throwing Muses, which a couple of the band did, but I can't think of any other obvious non-v23 ones right now

― DJ Mencap0))), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:53 (twenty years ago)

the painters covers are v23 although not vaughn oliver, I believe, they're chris biggs (down colourful hill was simon larbelastair, who also did the pixies covers).

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:56 (twenty years ago)

the most recent "classic" looking cover:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00006642R.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 24 February 2005 23:58 (twenty years ago)

NCome on Pilgrim.

― ffirehorse, Friday, 25 February 2005 00:09 (twenty years ago)

from the http://ilx.wh3rd.net/thread.php?msgid=5493339&showall=true thread

i personally had my life changed by looking at Vaughn Oliver 4ad covers. i never really got into the bands on the label besides the pixies, but i loved the idea of doing graphic design. i had always been into art, but these covers showed me you could make a living doing it and i changed professions from record store employee to fancy pants web designe. and now after all these years doing it, i realized designing cds sleeves is probably the least lucrative way to make money in design

-- Tito JaXoN (jaso...), February 16th, 2005. (JasonD)

― LaToya JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 25 February 2005 00:11 (twenty years ago)

that should say: from the Album Covers that CHANGED YOUR LIFE! thread

― LaToya JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 25 February 2005 00:12 (twenty years ago)

http://quimby.gnus.org/4ad-pics/PaleSaints.TheComfortsOfMadness.cd.jpg

― Si Carter (Si Carter), Friday, 25 February 2005 00:46 (twenty years ago)

Wait, hold on Darin, you really didn't know? I'm amazed!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 25 February 2005 00:48 (twenty years ago)

i do love that piano magic cover, even if the album is rubbish.

i also love the cover to the 'facing the wrong way' comp.

http://www.4adweb.freeserve.co.uk/backupfiles/images/cd/ftwwa1.jpg

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Friday, 25 February 2005 00:54 (twenty years ago)

Wait, hold on Darin, you really didn't know? I'm amazed!

Yeah, I've always admired the label's covers, but never took the time to find out who was responsible for all of this lovely work. Now I know. I should hunt down one of those two books that collect these designs.

― darin (darin), Friday, 25 February 2005 00:57 (twenty years ago)

who's this rentboy that can post gigantic images? i thought that was turned off?

― LaToya JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 25 February 2005 00:58 (twenty years ago)

yeah sorry about that... they didn't look so big in my browser initially

:eeeK:

― rentboy (rentboy), Friday, 25 February 2005 01:57 (twenty years ago)

no votes for 'livonia'?

― keith m (keithmcl), Friday, 25 February 2005 02:08 (twenty years ago)

ihttp://quimby.gnus.org/4ad-pics/Pixies.HereComesYourMan.ep.jpg

― jed_ (jed), Friday, 25 February 2005 02:13 (twenty years ago)

I'm speechless that I have now observed the Rema Rema EP sleeve so largely on the screen of ILM. I'm glad Ned posted the Bauhaus one too because that one had actually occured to me maybe a few weeks ago for some reason. It hurts to see the Colourbox sleeve because I don't think I have that with me on vinyl, even though I have a few songs from it on tape. :( Oh well. I must deal.

Dead Can Dance one is good to see here as well. Fabulous stuff. Pale Saints too. Red House Painters I loved their records more than their sleeves.

Donut do you know I tried to sell that Rema Rema record back to Jive Time (because I got a copy of the CD reissue) and Jive Time offered me a ridiculously low price for it and I was like "no way you are not even giving me less than $20 for it". Obviously the guy didn't know it. When I told him Big Black covered a song from it, he seemed so sorry. But then who knows if he even knew who Big Black were? The guy just got on my nerves, I'm sorry. He seemed to be trying so hard to follow this post-punk trend or something with the things he mentioned and the things he said. Anyway.

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Friday, 25 February 2005 06:20 (twenty years ago)

So anyway, the moral of the story is of course, that due to his ignorance, I still have Rema Rema on vinyl!!!

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Friday, 25 February 2005 06:23 (twenty years ago)

Wow how did I miss this thread!

23 Envelope/v23 are great loves of mine.

I think this is my fave cover:

http://www.cocteautwins.com/images/sleeve_peppermintpig.jpg

There's something strange and otherworldly about it in a way other Coc's stuff wasn't, somehow. Which is much like the single it contains (their only one produced by an outsider).

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 25 February 2005 06:34 (twenty years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000I2UW.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

― late adopter, Friday, 25 February 2005 07:10 (twenty years ago)

http://www.gothpunk.com/formaldihyde/pp/meshcover.jpg

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Friday, 25 February 2005 07:29 (twenty years ago)

When my band signed to 4AD Ivo took me to see Vaughn Oliver in his house, hoping we'd bond and Vaughn would do our sleeves. But it wasn't compulsory, and I was so excited by the idea of making my own (with the help of the keyboard-player's girlfriend) that I turned the chance of a v23 sleeve down. In retrospect it's one of the biggest mistakes of my career. And the sleeve we went with in the end was not only an eyesore, it was expensive (due to some silly library photo of the earth from space... not that we had to pay for the rocket launch or anything).

― Momus (Momus), Friday, 25 February 2005 09:23 (twenty years ago)

I saw that Rema Rema 12" for sale in Bristol at an insanely low price - again, they obv had no idea about it - and completely failed to buy it. What a mong :(

― DJ Mencap0))), Friday, 25 February 2005 11:30 (twenty years ago)

http://quimby.gnus.org/4ad-pics/TheBirthdayParty.Junkyard.lp.jpg

― NickB (NickB), Friday, 25 February 2005 11:39 (twenty years ago)

(whoops!)

― NickB (NickB), Friday, 25 February 2005 11:40 (twenty years ago)

http://www.fedge.net/~desiderata/4ad20/1984/05.jpg

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Friday, 25 February 2005 12:05 (twenty years ago)

From one extreme to the other! In more ways than one! Like it, like it...

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 25 February 2005 12:06 (twenty years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000AGBL.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

― a banana (alanbanana), Friday, 25 February 2005 12:42 (twenty years ago)

that didn't come out on 4ad though

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 25 February 2005 18:10 (twenty years ago)

Damnit Jerry The Nipper! I should have chosen that one! I was even thinking of Cocteaus 12"es too and arrrrrghhh

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Friday, 25 February 2005 18:13 (twenty years ago)

In retrospect it's one of the biggest mistakes of my career. And the sleeve we went with in the end was not only an eyesore, it was expensive (due to some silly library photo of the earth from space... not that we had to pay for the rocket launch or anything).

Yes, that sleeve was a bit different, now that I think about it! I've never given it any thought before. I don't know that I'd say it was an eyesore, just a bit boring.

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Friday, 25 February 2005 18:22 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

http://annirossi.com/images/rockwell.jpg

This has to be the worst art to ever bear the 4AD logo, right?

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 13 February 2009 07:49 (sixteen years ago)

one year passes...

Have we gotten this link

Really fun going through memory lane via this site. Always loved this cover, and the record too!

http://www.fedge.net/~desiderata/4ad20/1989/bad902.jpg

― how about "shut the fuck up" then (u s steel), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 14:48 (fourteen years ago)

Quite fond of:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a344/artgf/rey%20charro/xtocsin.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51fU60LX5BL.jpg

― Pauper Management Improved (Sanpaku), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 16:21 (fourteen years ago)

^ That Unrest one blows, what do people see in it? Personal vote goes to Surfer Rosa. B00bz aside, I would've thought it compelling had the chick just been wearing a dress or whatever. the minimalism is nice.

― The previous message has been brought to you by (kelpolaris), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 20:15 (fourteen years ago)

http://cdn.hmvdigital.com/static/img/sleeveart/00/003/188/0000318823_500.jpg

― beer, beer, beer (Pillbox), Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:27 (fourteen years ago)

one year passes...

This site has collected all of the covers: http://www.fedge.net/~desiderata/4ad20.html

My favorites were released in 1990: The Comforts of Madness / Pod / Aion / Bossanova / Heaven or Las Vegas

― C.A.H.OOTS, Thursday, 28 June 2012 09:23 (thirteen years ago)

seven years pass...

RIP, Vaughan Oliver

― Alba, Sunday, 29 December 2019 14:39 (five years ago)

Wow, really? That's too bad. He was apparently quite a character.

― henry s, Sunday, 29 December 2019 15:43 (five years ago)

Yeah, word confirmed from various sources. A real tragedy. Lovely thoughts from Simon Raymonde here:

https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr&hc_location=ufi#!/story.php?story_fbid=10158151851003714&id=502913713

And from J0hn D:

this is hard news. I will tell you a story https://t.co/4vdrQzvEro
— The Mountain Goats (@mountain_goats) December 29, 2019

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 29 December 2019 17:10 (five years ago)

In Memoriam, our friend Vaughan Oliver, 12 Sept, 1957-29 Dec, 2019. “Man’s testicle alone (pushed through a piece of card to ensure it’s loneliness).” You will be missed. @4AD_Official @beggarsgroup #vaughanoliver pic.twitter.com/7mGoHJPnPo
— theBreeders (@thebreeders) December 29, 2019

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 29 December 2019 17:43 (five years ago)

aw RIP and thank you for providing beautiful otherworldly visuals to go with the aural worlds I escaped to as a teen

― a passing spacecadet, Sunday, 29 December 2019 18:19 (five years ago)

RIP Vaughan Oliver, one of the greatest LP cover artists/designers. Quote is from Interview, 2015. https://t.co/wrXTFEUhRd pic.twitter.com/D36DMrgIIe
— Bowiesongs (@bowiesongs) December 29, 2019

― Fizzles, Sunday, 29 December 2019 19:00 (five years ago)

and RIP. loved his covers. captured a mixture of design, sex and other worldliness which was relevant to but also different from the pixies. great intersection. perfect covers that contributed to the music.

― Fizzles, Sunday, 29 December 2019 19:01 (five years ago)

Love that Breeders kept that fax.

― djh, Sunday, 29 December 2019 20:17 (five years ago)

not on 4ad but I do have a copy of this...

https://img.discogs.com/nFtFH8nBedqLxunj9M-FGpOtab0=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-4004733-1352040178-3989.jpeg.jpg

https://www.discogs.com/Sunderland-AFC-FA-Cup-Final-Squad-1992-Roker-Rave-Aint-No-Stopping-Us-Now/release/4004733

(50p in hmv sale, never played)

― koogs, Sunday, 29 December 2019 21:36 (five years ago)

Vaughan Oliver, you were a great man pic.twitter.com/U2L6W4k0MY
— Phil Hebblethwaite (@phil_hebble) December 29, 2019

― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Sunday, 29 December 2019 21:55 (five years ago)

ah Spirea X, big Jim Navaho's boys; they were gone too soon.

― fetter, Sunday, 29 December 2019 22:52 (five years ago)

Ivo Watts-Russell's statement is a beautiful thing.

https://4ad.com/news/29/12/2019/vaughanoliverrememberedbyivowattsrussell

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 30 December 2019 01:58 (five years ago)

Started posting sleeves/songs on Facebook but it didn't like the Pixies sleeve with *nipples*, even upon appeal.

― djh, Tuesday, 7 January 2020 23:06 (five years ago)

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