Break out the parachute pants, sleeveless t-shirts and hairspray and indulge in this nostalgic musical trip through the 1980s’ most influential albums across all genres.
In 501 Essential Albums of the ’80s, music journalist 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.
As Graff notes, “There was no shortage of albums to pick these 501 essentials, and what a challenging task that was.” He highlights that they considered multiple factors, including “merit, of course, but also impact, both artistic and commercial.” Graff and the contributors aimed to identify albums that defined the decade, selecting “some that put a stamp on the time, others whose imprint has lasted beyond that to stand as essential works in their own right, regardless of when they were released.”
With lively descriptions of the releases and nearly 600 images, this hefty, 448-page 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 album considered is 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.
