How one album branched out into a variety of pressings – from lilac to deep red, from split-colour to sunset orange – and which coloured vinyl is actually worth crate digging for.
There is a type of album that a collector immediately recognizes by the number of variants that appear around it. Not because the label was coincidentally busy, but because a record makes such a big impact that every record store, every streaming service, and every webstore wants its own color. Olivia Dean - The Art Of Loving is such an album.
It was released on September 26, 2025, via Capitol and Polydor, immediately debuted at number 1 on the British album charts, and made Dean the first British female solo artist since Adele (in 2021) to simultaneously top both the singles and album charts — Man I Need was number 1 that same week. The album later went double platinum in the UK and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 in the US. But for record enthusiasts, something else began at that moment: the hunt for the right pressing.
First, the album itself
Before we dive into the colors, let's talk about what it's all about. The Art of Loving is Dean's second studio album, the successor to the Mercury-nominated Olivia Dean - Messy from 2023. The title and spirit of the record are borrowed from bell hooks' book of the same name — and from an exhibition by artist Mickalene Thomas inspired by it. It's an album about love in all its forms: romantic, platonic, and especially self-love.
Dean wrote and recorded it in a house in East London that she converted into a live-work studio for eight weeks, surrounded by a small, fixed group of collaborators. She co-produced it, with Julian Bunetta, Zach Nahome, Matt Hales, Bastian Langebæk, and Leon Michels by her side, among others. That enclosed feel is reflected in the sound: where her debut was a patchwork, The Art of Loving sounds like one cohesive room. The press praised how she traded the neo-soul clichés of her debut for a warmer, 1970s-esque pop and soft rock — although soul is never far away.
The tracklist comprises twelve songs: Art of Loving (Intro), Nice to Each Other, Lady Lady, Close Up, So Easy (To Fall in Love), Let Alone the One You Love, Man I Need, Something Inbetween, Loud, Baby Steps, A Couple Minutes and the intimate acoustic closer I've Seen It. With Man I Need as its beating heart — that single held the number 1 spot for a record-breaking time.
And then came the colors
This is where it gets interesting for the collector. The Art of Loving has been released in a remarkably wide range of colored vinyl variants, distributed across the official store, streaming services, and independent record stores. Each color has its own story — and its own scarcity.
Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving (Black)
The standard black pressing with a printed inner sleeve. Widely available, the basic edition. Good to know: in collector circles, this pressing is sometimes advised against in favor of the colored ones, as some listeners reported some compression on side B of the black edition. A detail that will mainly interest audiophiles; for most listeners, it sounds perfectly fine.
Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving (Lilac)
The big crowd favorite. A semi-transparent lilac pressing with subtle dark purple flecks — one of those variants that collectors say not only looks better but also sounds better than the black one. This is the indie-exclusive colored vinyl, sold through independent record stores. Moreover, an entire sub-world of special editions arose around this lilac pressing: Assai Records released a numbered edition with an OBI — a signed edition with a Japanese OBI strip, plus a separate "Album of the Year" OBI — and other stores added signed art cards. Whoever finds the lilac has secured the most sought-after regular color.
Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving (Black & White Split)
A split-color pressing, half black and half white. Released as a store exclusive and as a Spotify edition, often accompanied by a signed art card. Visually one of the most striking variants — that sharp contrast between the two halves makes it popular with those who like a statement on their turntable. A limited edition, so it sold out quickly.
Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving (Deep Red)
A deep red pressing, released through official channels and often with extras: a booklet, photos, and a personal message from Olivia in the inner sleeve. For those who seek not only a color but also tangible extras, this is one of the most richly produced editions.
Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving (Sunset Orange / Alt Cover)
A sunset orange pressing, and not just any: this one comes with an alternative cover. Webstore exclusive, meaning only available through the official online store. The combination of the different cover and warm orange color makes it a true outlier edition in the series — precisely the kind of variant collectors will go crate digging for.
Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving (Pink & White Swirl)
A pink-and-white swirl, exclusively released via Blood Records. The kind of marbled effect where no two copies are exactly alike. One of the scarcer variants in this limited edition, and beloved for its unique, swirling appearance.
Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving (D2C Alt Art)
A direct-to-consumer release with alternative artwork, where each copy can look slightly different in color. Intended for those who buy through official channels and want the most homely, direct-from-the-artist version.
Which one should you get?
That depends on what kind of collector you are. If you purely want the best listening experience, many collectors point to the Lilac — beautiful and, according to many, sonically superior to the black. And often not even that much more expensive than the Black vinyl. If you're looking for the most visual statement, the Black & White Split and the Pink & White Swirl are hard to beat. The price will then increase accordingly. Collectors sell the Pink & White Swirl for more than 200 euros. If you're a completist who wants extras, the Deep Red with its booklet and photos offers the most. And the true hunters go after the numbered edition with OBI, some of which are limited to a few hundred copies.
What all these variants have in common is precisely what the album itself radiates: attention, warmth, and the will to make something tangible out of a feeling. The Art of Loving is a record about the many forms of love — and the many forms it exists in on vinyl feel almost like an extension of that idea.
Which variant do you have on your shelf? Or are you still hunting for that one color that just won't show up? Let us know in the comments.
Luister
1 comment
Gaaf!