By: Ivan Munoz

The great Andy Warhol…we’ve all heard of him in one form or another; after all, how could you not? He’s one of the most renowned and appreciated American artists of the 20th century and has had an immeasurable impact on both modern art and today’s culture. Iconic as his works of art was his look - an expressive face adorned with Moscot glasses frames perfectly offset by his long and choppy silver side-swept fringe which immediately indicated that he had something important to say; and he always did. You probably know him as the artist who did the famous Campbell’s Soup and Marilyn Monroe silkscreen prints.

View of the Campbell’s Soup Plant, Camden NJ (1936) from the Victor Plant.

Andy’s early days in commercial art are significant to the music industry in that he spent many days traveling back and forth between offices in New York City and Camden, NJ (the famous headquarters for the art department of the Victor Records division since the old Victor Talking Machine Co. days.) While in Camden, Warhol would submit his groundbreaking album artwork for approval at Victor Building #2 (201 North Front St., Camden, NJ) and receive his pay and next assignments. In those days, album artwork wasn’t necessarily new - but it was evolving to the art form we know today. The Victor Division album and record art department windows gazed out onto the mighty plant of RCA/Victor - where the young artist could view the large ‘Campbell’s Soup’ Water Towers atop the neighboring Campbell’s Soup plant. One can’t help but feel that this direct connection heavily contributed to one of his most famous pieces - the iconic ‘Campbell’s Soup’ can print so associated with the high water mark of pop art styling.

Warhol’s most famous album art, The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967), was hardly his first; he cut his teeth and got the needed experience working at Victor. — Warhol’s most famous album art, *The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)*, was hardly his first; he cut his teeth and got the needed experience working at Victor.

With Victor’s rapid uptick of music sales and ever continuing expansion during the early to mid 1950’s, they needed many more visual artists and creators to meet and fulfill the ever-expanding demand for bolder and better album cover art. Warhol was brought into the Victor fold by art director Robert M. Jones, who moved from Columbia Records to Victor’s Music Department during the 1940s. Thus, the humble beginnings of a budding artist’s career began - and in about ten short years, he would become one of the worlds most respected names in art.

Later in his career, whether he was hanging out with Lou Reed at Studio 54, contributing to the counter-cultural movements of the 60’s, or working on his next big piece at his New York Studio, “The Factory”, this eccentric and eclectic individual was always on the cutting edge and ahead of his time. He would later recall his early music industry work while designing album covers for his friends in The Velvet Underground & Nico, John Lennon, The Rolling Stones, John Cale, Paul Anka, Liza Minnelli, Billy Squire, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and many many more.

We’ve compiled some of Andy Warhol’s most groundbreaking album artwork created during his tenure at Victor (and subsidiary labels ‘Groove’, and ‘Camden’), take a look below and let us know which one’s your favorite!

Something a little different: A Record Divider Card & EP - Latin Rhythms By The Boston Pops (1950s) — Something a little different: A Record Divider Card & EP - *Latin Rhythms By The Boston Pops (1950s)*

Special thanks to warholcoverart.com and warholstars.org for providing information and photos in the research of this article.

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About The Author

Ivan Munoz is a musician, bassist, singer, musicians advocate, and member of the Victor Talking Machine Company. Along with this Ivan can be found devoting his time to various musical projects, compositions, and working on musical instruments. Click the photo for more!

Andy Warhol & Victor Records - a Camden Connection

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