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It'll End in Tears

Record Sleeve
1986 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

One of a group of 19 record sleeves together with inner sleeves and vinyl, E.255- E.314-1989, and other graphic material, by the design group 23 Envelope (E.316-335, E.336-349. E.350-352, E.353-356-1989), acquired by the Department of Prints, Drawings and Paintings (now Word & Image) to strengthen the holdings of 20th century commercial graphics and for display in 'The Art of Selling Songs: 1690-1990' a display focusing on graphic design in the music business, held in the museum in 1990. 23 Envelope were one of the most admired graphic design companies working in the 1980s. The record publishers 4AD employed them almost exclusively throughout the 1980s.

The founder of 4AD, Ivo Watts-Russell, devised the concept of This Mortal Coil, a title under which musicians who were signed to 4AD and some who were not, recorded together in various permutations, giving those who took part greater creative freedom than they would have working more conventionally within their own band The idea led to innovative cover versions of Ivo's own songs.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleIt'll End in Tears (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Colour offset lithograph on card
Brief description
Cover sleeve for the 12" long-playing vinyl record 'It'll End In Tears' recorded by the group This Mortal Coil. Designed by 23 Envelope. Published by 4AD, Great Britain, 1983.
Physical description
Cover sleeve for the 12" long-playing vinyl record 'It'll End In Tears' recorded by the group This Mortal Coil for 4AD. The front cover design is a sepia, misty-toned photographic image of a young woman with her eyes closed and her arms crossed over chest. The back of the sleeve shows the same woman standing, viewed in profile.
Dimensions
  • Height: 31.4cm
  • Width: 31.5cm
Measured by DH 21/02/2011
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'this mortal coil' (Lettered along the bottom edge of the front of the sleeve.)
  • The back of the sleeve is lettered with the album title along the bottom-edge, the tracklisting, the 4AD logo and catalogue number 'CAD 411' and 'SLEEVES BY 23 ENVELOPE'.
Credit line
Given by Vaughan Oliver of 23 Envelope
Subjects depicted
Summary
One of a group of 19 record sleeves together with inner sleeves and vinyl, E.255- E.314-1989, and other graphic material, by the design group 23 Envelope (E.316-335, E.336-349. E.350-352, E.353-356-1989), acquired by the Department of Prints, Drawings and Paintings (now Word & Image) to strengthen the holdings of 20th century commercial graphics and for display in 'The Art of Selling Songs: 1690-1990' a display focusing on graphic design in the music business, held in the museum in 1990. 23 Envelope were one of the most admired graphic design companies working in the 1980s. The record publishers 4AD employed them almost exclusively throughout the 1980s.

The founder of 4AD, Ivo Watts-Russell, devised the concept of This Mortal Coil, a title under which musicians who were signed to 4AD and some who were not, recorded together in various permutations, giving those who took part greater creative freedom than they would have working more conventionally within their own band The idea led to innovative cover versions of Ivo's own songs.
Associated objects
Other number
CAD 411 - Record label's number
Collection
Accession number
E.266-1989

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Record createdMarch 30, 2007
Record URL
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