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