You’re more than likely already aware of Andy Warhol’s connections to the music world, after all he created two of music’s most iconic record sleeves in work for the Velvet Underground and the Rolling Stones (hint: they both contain a banana in one form or another), but did you know about his earliest album artwork?
Before he became a household name as the father figure of the pop art movement of the 60s, Warhol was an ink illustrator making ends meet in 1950s New York, which eventually led him to becoming involved with a number of record labels and the then-booming expansion of the Hi-Fi vinyl format.
With the 12” record sleeve forming his canvas, Warhol’s loose, blotted-ink style was employed by RCA Records to design album covers and promotional material for their roster of jazz artists, then later for famed label Blue Note, often working with designer Reid Miles.
In most of these early works, Warhol was responsible just for the illustrations as opposed to the overall design and layout, but from the very late 40s through to the late 50s, he branded a distinctive style.
This early body of work may not be as famous or influential as his screen prints and pop art equality of the 60s that made his name, certainly offer a fascinating insight into Warhol’s own artistic development and fledgling connections that would lead him to his immortal collaborations with rock stars further into his career.
Take a guided tour through 15 of Warhol’s earliest album covers and for an exhaustive look at his body of work, check out Rate Your Music user rockdoc’s comprehensive list.
