On Record - Vol. 4: 1981

Remember 1981?

Raiders of the Lost Ark premiered. More than 750 million people tuned in to the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. Donkey Kong arrived in American arcades, and the IBM Personal Computer debuted. The first mission of the Space Shuttle flew, ending a long hiatus in American space flight. AIDS was first officially identified. The first Post-Its appeared.

And through it all, there was the unforgettable music that defined the moment and became the soundtrack to our lives.

MTV launched and revolutionized pop culture, and the stirrings of synth-pop surfaced with UK acts Human League and Soft Cell. Musical peers Rick James (Street Songs) and Prince (Controversy) had an intense rivalry. Rockabilly and ska enjoyed brief revivals with Stray Cats and the Specials, respectively. Simon & Garfunkel reunited for a performance to a crowd of more than 500,000 in New York City's Central Park.

In On Record "Vol. 4: 1981"-the fourth title in his award-winning series-acclaimed music journalist G. Brown transports readers back to one of the most vibrant years in music history. Through vivid storytelling and striking imagery, Brown shares his decades of exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews and an archive of nearly 15,000 rare editorial photographs. Through his incisive writing and historical perspective, On Record "Vol. 4: 1981" captures the energy, innovation and cultural shifts that defined the era.

ExploreOn Record "Vol. 4: 1981" for a comprehensive record of musical legacies:

• Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac and Phil Collins of Genesis breaking from their respective bands to go solo for the first time
• A wealth of top-selling songs such as "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes, "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John, "Endless Love" by Diana Ross & Lionel Ritchie and "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield
• Blondie's "Rapture" introducing many to rap music, with Grandmaster Flash's "The Message" focusing on social commentary
• Classic rockers from Rush to the Rolling Stones to Queen & David Bowie
• The year's top releases in hip-hop, classic rock, country, jazz and new age genres.

On Record "Vol. 4: 1981" brims with visual narratives that inspire, educate and entertain-an essential guide to the extraordinary music of that year.

Meticulously edited and beautifully designed, this oversized edition is printed to the highest standards, making it a stunning gift or centerpiece for your living room, music room, man cave or creative space-wherever the soundtrack to your life plays loudest.