Break out the parachute pants, jelly shoes, and Aqua Net and indulge in this nostalgic illustrated trip through the 1980s’ most influential albums across all genres.
In 501 Essential Albums of the ’80s, Gary Graff leads a cast of fellow music journalists in presenting the music of one of the most pivotal decades in the history of recorded music…the decade that gave us some of the most monstrous-selling albums ever and introduced more and more listeners to emergent genres like indie rock and hip-hop.
With lively descriptions of the releases and nearly 600 images, this hefty volume curates 501 albums spanning genres and subgenres—pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B, metal, country, college and indie rock, and more—and features:
- Year-by-year organization
- Knowledgeable rundowns of every album featured
- Album art for each selection
- Artist imagery
- Record label, release date, and producer(s) for each
- Soundtracks and compilation releases
The journalists detail the circumstances of the releases, notable singles from each, their influence on contemporary and later artists…in short, why each is considered one of the best of the decade.
Madonna or Michael, Prince or the Police, Bruce or Black Flag, Men at Work or Mötley Crüe—whatever your tastes, you will relish this ultimate retrospective of the decade’s music.
"
"Sure the titans of the decade are all there...but Graff and his crew go deeper (in some cases, way deeper), with nods of essentialness to releases by artists like Fugazi, Killing Joke, John Hiatt, James Blood Ulmer, the db’s, Branford Marsalis, Cocteau Twins, the Winans and even George Jones."
" - Houston Press
"
"501 Essential Albums of the 80s, edited by Gary Graff, is more than just a book—it’s a time machine for music lovers. Along with a crew of seasoned music journalists, Graff takes readers on a trip into one of the most groundbreaking, genre-bending, and flat-out fun decades in music history. This isn’t just a book—it’s your VIP pass to the ultimate ’80s sound explosion."
" - Sandbox World
