In 1985, Isaak signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records, and released his first album, "Silvertone", to critical acclaim, including from John Fogerty. The name was taken from the band he formed after graduating college; a reference to the Silvertone guitar brand popularized during the 1950s. The album's sound was raw and diverse, mingling country blues with conventional folk ballads. Although the album was a critical success, it failed to sell respectably. Two tracks from the album, "Gone Ridin'" and "Livin' for Your Lover," featured in David Lynch's "Blue Velvet".