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501 Essential Albums of the '80s - by Gary Graff (Hardcover)

501 Essential Albums of the '80s - by  Gary Graff (Hardcover) - 1 of 1
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About this item

Highlights

  • 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.
  • About the Author: Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist based in Detroit.
  • 448 Pages
  • Music, History & Criticism

Description



About the Book



"501 Essential Albums of '80s is the ultimate curated list detailing dozens of the decade's most influential releases across all genres, featuring descriptions of the releases, album art, and artist imagery"--



Book Synopsis



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.



Review Quotes




"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."

--Bob Ruggiero, 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."

--Tony Medeiros, Sandbox World



About the Author



Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist based in Detroit. He is a regular contributor to Billboard, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Media News Group, Ultimate Classic Rock, Consequence, and other publications, as well as to radio stations in Detroit and Milwaukee. He is the author of Alice Cooper at 75; co-author of Neil Young: Long May You Run, Rock 'n' Roll Myths: The True Stories Behind the Most Famous Legends, and Travelin' Man: On the Road and Behind the Scenes with Bob Seger; and the series editor of the MusicHound Essential Album Guides. He is also co-founder and co-producer of the Emmy Award-winning Detroit Music Awards. Graff lives in Beverly Hills, Michigan.

Dimensions (Overall): 9.2 Inches (H) x 7.1 Inches (W) x 1.5 Inches (D)
Weight: 2.7 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Sub-Genre: History & Criticism
Genre: Music
Number of Pages: 448
Publisher: Motorbooks International
Format: Hardcover
Author: Gary Graff
Language: English
Street Date: May 20, 2025
TCIN: 94329839
UPC: 9780760393369
Item Number (DPCI): 247-51-1948
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.

Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1.5 inches length x 7.1 inches width x 9.2 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 2.7 pounds
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