Three recent coffee table books spotlight rock and R&B music legends who all released blockbuster albums 40 years ago.
Title: Bruce Springsteen @75
Author: Gillian G. Gaar
(Motorbooks/The Quarto Group)
The Boss celebrated his 75th birthday this week. So, it’s a perfect time to detail Gillian G. Gaar’s engaging 200-page book about Bruce Springsteen. From growing up in Freehold, New Jersey, initial success with Born to Run and the mega-stardom of 1984’s Born in the U.S.A. to solo ventures, the E Street Band reunion, subsequent music releases and the current post-COVID world tour, the author explores the musician’s life and career through 75 important moments.
These are divided into five sections: Building the Dream, 1949-1974; Catching Fire, 1974-1982; Swinging for the Fences, 1983-1994; Regrouping, 1995-2007 and No Surrender, 2008-2023. E Street members Steven Van Zandt and Springsteen’s wife Patti Scialfa get a few pages devoted to their outside musical pursuits too. The book comes housed in a hardbound slipcase, sports 400 photos (concerts, album/singles art, memorabilia), two gatefolds (a timeline, illustration), plus an exclusive pullout poster from a 1977 New York show and an 8x10 live glossy color print.
Title: Van Halen at 50
Author: Martin Popoff
(Motorbooks/The Quarto Group)
During the introduction to Van Halen at 50, Martin Popoff writes that his goal was to accentuate the group’s experience, including “all the giddiness, the creative madness and the tragedy.” He doesn’t pull any punches while describing 50 significant milestones or highlights from Van Halen’s career. The 1974 formation in Pasadena, Calif., rising in the Sunset Strip ranks, achieving a career apex with the 1984 album (featuring AOR radio staples “Jump,” “Panama” and “I’ll Wait”), replicating success with new lead singer Sammy Hagar, reunions, the death of guitar virtuoso Edward Van Halen in 2020 and more are all covered here.
The author balances descriptions about the fun times with ones pointing out shortcomings (brief LP running times, excess instrumentals). Also nestled among the 192 pages and multiple large photos are sidebars on Eddie’s finger-tapping technique, album art, a dream album scenario of rarities, a gatefold VH timeline, discography and more.
Title: Prince + Purple Rain – 40 Years
Author: Andrea Swensson
(Motorbooks/The Quarto Group)
The Summer of ’84 saw the release of Prince’s Purple Rain and his movie debut of the same name. Minneapolis author/journalist/podcast host Andrea Swensson describes her 176-page book a “love letter” to the eclectic artist’s career-defining, sixth studio album.
Indeed, this account is more personal and authoritative than most, drawing from her interviews with members of Prince’s band The Revolution, his collaborators, and friends, not to mention Swensson’s visits to Paisley Park, where she once met Prince. The impressive visuals (including 200+ live, candid and memorabilia photos) are courtesy of local veteran photographers and Prince collectors worldwide. Actress Maya Rudolph (“SNL”) contributed the forward. Prince enthusiasts will marvel at all the details, especially the purple velvet hardbound slipcase.
Information: quarto.com
George Paul
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