An extremely rare alternate album cover proof for Jimi Hendrix’s 1968 masterpiece, Electric Ladyland.  Proofs like this were made in very small numbers for review by senior record label executives, artists and managers to approve, before final album covers were manufactured.  Typically fewer than 10 were made, and they were discarded after an album’s release.

This was designed by the Warner Bros. Records art department in 1968 as the proposed front cover for Hendrix’s classic double album, but ultimately it was decided to go with the iconic close-up of Hendrix’s head, from a live photo, without his name or the album’s title (only the Warner/Reprise logo and catalog number.) The photo of Hendrix and his bandmates on this proof was ultimately used for the back cover, with completely different (and much less psychedelic) type.

We acquired this from a former senior executive of Warner Bros. Records, who had it in his collection since the 1970’s.  We know of only one other uncut example of this proof, which has been in a private collection for 25 years (we’ve seen photos of a severely trimmed copy which has a few inches cut from each side, dramatically reducing its collectibility.)  A museum quality Hendrix collectible.

Slick 12.25″ square; framed to 18.25″ square.  Photos below of the front (Hendrix’s head) and back covers (Hendrix with Noel Redding & Mitch Mitchell) of the released album as well.