Put the Needle on the Record: The 1980s at 45 Revolutions Per Minute

In the 1980s, music defined the moment - "Video Killed the Radio Star" ushered in MTV, "Don't You (Forget about Me)" ruled The Breakfast Club, and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" became the anthem of a generation.  But the era was not just about its distinctive music; it was also the most visually provocative era of the last millennium. Every new vinyl single hit the stands wrapped in eye-catching sleeves that reflected the latest trends.  Put the Needle on the Record is pop culture historian Matthew Chojnacki's definitive guide to 7- and 12-inch vinyl single artwork from the '80s. 

From a dream of a vinyl collection, Chojnacki presents and compares more than 250 vinyl single covers that represent nearly every prominent '80s musician. However, this is not just a pop-cultural feast for the eyes.  From hundreds of hours of interviews, Chojnacki allows the designers and visual talent behind Madonna, Prince, Adam Ant, Pink Floyd, Queen, The Clash, Pet Shop Boys, Kate Bush, and more to tell the unheard stories behind the decade's most iconic images.  Coupled with exclusive commentary from more than 100 of the '80s biggest musicians, including Annie Lennox, Duran Duran, Run-DMC, Gary Numan, The B-52's, Erasure, OMD, Scorpions, The Knack, and Yoko Ono, this is an authoritative journey back to the songs and images that continue to influence our culture.

Two prominent pop musicians bookend these musical stories: Scissor Sisters' lead singer Jake Shears introduces Chojnacki's work, and Nick Rhodes, keyboardist for seminal '80s pop band Duran Duran, rounds out the collection with the afterword.

The book trailer features stop-motion animated scenes inspired by select single covers from the book and is an homage to the vinyl singles era. The clip is directed and created by Lapantafilm (Bo Nordin, Björn Skallström and Danilo Giannini), and the music is from the '80s-flirting 2011 single History of Modern (Part I), courtesy of OMD.

Put the Needle on the Record is now available!  Please go to http://www.matthewchojnacki.com for additional details.


"1980s single cover art was cheeky, sexy, punchy, and glam.  Matthew Chojnacki vividly chronicles the best of the bunch, illuminating the way music looked via comments from rock stars and art directors with a strong eye for the visual."  - Michael Musto, The Village Voice

"Put the Needle on the Record proves that the '80s wasn't the decade that taste forgot - but rather the era where single cover artwork came of age and caught up with its LP predecessor...before CDs changed the landscape for good." - Jason Draper, Record Collector Magazine

"The 1980s.  The spin point of a time where the collision of art, culture, class, nation, and government was fueled by the steroids of technology.  Put the Needle on the Record is a great read on an era that many consider the new '60s." - Chuck D, Public Enemy

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[freestylesandy]

I love it! So excited for my books arrival--Thank u for writing about the greatest music decade of all time--Sandra in Orlando

[supilangweilig]

well done, bo x

[ramona7609]

Cool.

[AtlasKripton]

With all due respect the video-music lead the way to kill the good music which reached its peak and golden age in the early 70's.

As the 90's unfolded everything went down the hill. Groups like Duran Duran kept the spirit alive. Nowadays there is nothing but garbage except for a few talented musicians such as Adele. Many Kids nowadays love The Beatles, michael jackson, Led Zeppelin and Queen

[moniomd]

Tolles Video und gute Musik von OMD

[rodcencko]

great ! video



[POPINCORPORATED]

This is bloody brilliant! WE LOVE!

<3!!!