Basquiat The Offs 1984:
"The Offs: First Record" original first printing, 1984 featuring original offset artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Difficult to find in good condition with all original elements. This is from the original first edition, first printing/pressing produced during Basquiat's lifetime. See last 2 pics for the original double-sided insert (or mail catalog) issued solely with the very first pressing. Back cover displays credit to Basquiat for his cover art (photo 4).

Medium: Offset lithograph on vinyl record jacket, vinyl record.
Dimensions: 12 x 12 inches (30.48 x 30.48 cm).
Cover: Moderate surface & ring wear to front cover; in otherwise good overall vintage condition.
Includes the original record in very good overall vintage condition.
Original double-sided 1984 insert can be found in last two pics.
1st edition, 1st pressing not to be confused with later colored vinyl reissues etc.

The second of only two record covers designed by Basquiat during his lifetime. Originally from San Francsico, The Offs had moved to NY and soon started handing out at The Mudd Club & Max's Kansas City. Basquiat, a fan of the band, created what looks like a hollow skeleton defined by the artist's signature thorn crown. In his classic repetitive style, Basquiat repeats the bands name three times in the composition, finishing off with the album's title at the base.

Literature/References, see:

Glenn O'Brien's The Beat in "Interview Magazine" May, 1985: O'Brien reviews the album and references Basquiat's cover art.
Angela Holm in "NY Arts Magazine" March/April, 2008
Angela Holm & Wu Ziru in "Art Today" February, 2008
Taschen Art Record Covers (pg. 108)
Exhibitions:
LP Show" 2003, New York, NY - MOMA / Exit Art Vinyl - Records and Covers by Artists" in 2005 in Bremen's Neues Museum Weserburg; in 2006 in Barcelona, Spain, and 2007 in Porto, Portugal

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