The work of pioneering photographer Joe Conzo forms the backbone of this crucial documentary journey through Hip Hop's formative years. Curator and writer Johan Kugelberg builds on this foundation by gathering the scattered remains of a movement that had its eye on the future from day one. The energetic flyer artwork of Buddy Esquire provides another aesthetic pillar of the book and is supported by personal contributions from influential creators including Grandmaster Caz, LA Sunshine, JDL, MARE 139 and Grandwizzard Theodore. A foreword by Legendary DJ and Bronx native, Afrika Bambaataa and hip hop timeline by bestselling author, Jeff Chang round out this important collection and add further context to the movement's explosive early period.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 240

Dimensions: 235 x 286 mm

Publication Date: 19-07-2022

From the Beatles to Beck, Sinatra to Sam Smith, a parade of era-defining artists have passed through the doors of the Capitol Records Tower, one of Hollywood's most distinctive landmarks and home to one of the world's most defining labels for the past 75+ years. To commemorate this extraordinary history of recorded music, TASCHEN presents this official account of Capitol Records, from its founding year of 1942 to today. With a foreword by Beck, essays by cultural historians and music and architecture critics, as well as hundreds of images from Capitol's extensive archives, we follow the label's evolution and the making of some of the greatest music of the 20th and 21st centuries. Through pop, rock, country, classical, soul, and jazz, the photographic and musical history includes the label's most successful, cool, hip, and creative stars, as well as the one-hit wonders who had their all-too-brief moments in the spotlight. Along the way, we encounter the likes of Miles Davis, Nat King Cole, the Kingston Trio, and Frank Sinatra in Capitol's first 20 years; the Beach Boys, the Band, and the Beatles in the 1960s; global rock magnets Pink Floyd, Wings, Steve Miller Band, Bob Seger, and Linda Ronstadt in the 1970s; Beastie Boys, Duran Duran, Radiohead, and Bonnie Raitt in the 1980s and 1990s; and such contemporary stars as Coldplay, Katy Perry, and Sam Smith. An unmissable milestone for music lovers, Capitol Records is a live and kicking celebration of the mighty giant of the industry that created the soundtrack to generations past, present, and future.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 488

Dimensions: 300 x 300 mm

Publication Date: 31-03-2021

First advertised as a “mind-stretching experience,” Nicolas Roeg’s 1976 The Man Who Fell to Earth stunned the cinema world. A tour-de-force of science fiction as art form, the movie brought not only hallucinatory visuals and a haunting exploration of contemporary alienation, but also glam-rock legend David Bowie in his lead role debut as paranoid alien Newton. Based on Walter Tevis’s 1963 sci-fi fable of the same title, The Man Who Fell to Earth follows alien Newton from his arrival on earth in search of water; his transition to wealthy entrepreneur, leveraging the advanced technologies of his native planet; his sexual awakening with the young Mary-Lou; and then the discovery of his alien identity, his imprisonment, abandonment, and descent into alcoholism. Throughout, Roeg coaxed a beguiling performance from his cast, presenting not only Bowie in ethereal space-traveler glory, but also pitch-perfect supporting performances from Candy Clark, Rip Torn, and Buck Henry. TASCHEN’s The Man Who Fell to Earth presents a plenitude of stills and behind-the-scenes images by unit photographer David James, including numerous shots of Bowie at his playful and ambiguous best. A fresh introductory essay explores the shooting of the film and its lasting impact, drawing upon an exclusive interview with David James, who brings first-hand insights into the making of this sci-fi masterwork.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 480

Dimensions: 140 x 195 mm

Publication Date: 24-10-2017

Album art is indelibly linked to our collective musical memories; when you think of your favorite albums, you picture the covers. Many photographers, illustrators, and art directors have become celebrities from their album artworks-the best examples of which will go down in history as permanent fixtures in popular culture. Paying tribute to this art form, Rock Covers brings you a compilation of more than 750 remarkable album covers, from legendary to rare record releases. Artists as varied as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Sex Pistols, Pink Floyd, The Cure, Iron Maiden, and Sonic Youth are gathered together in celebration of the cover art that defined their albums and their cult status. Each cover is accompanied by a fact sheet listing the art director, photographer or illustrator, year, label, and more, while nearly 250 records that marked particular turning points for a band, an artist, or the music genre, are highlighted with short descriptions. This far-reaching catalog of visualized rock is contextualized with insider interviews with professionals who shaped the history of rock, and by top-10 record lists from ten leading rock collectors.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 512

Dimensions: 156 x 217 mm

Publication Date: 01-08-2020

The first major work dedicated entirely to the discography of the maestro Ennio Morricone. Unique in its genre, Ennio Morricone: Master of the Soundtrack originates from the idea of the collector, author, and cinema expert Maurizio Baroni. Baroni draws on his own archive to give life to a rich selection highlighting over fifty years of a prestigious career, largely unseen before, which includes handwritten scores by the maestro himself, the original album and single cover sleeves from his soundtracks, and much more. This book is a definite homage to this great Italian composer of film soundtracks, probably the most famous in the world. Texts included by: Dario Argento, Bernardo Bertolucci, Liliana Cavani, Lisa Gastoni, Franco Nero, Quentin Tarantino, and many more.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 352

Dimensions: 226 x 310 mm

Publication Date: 01-07-2020

Charting the history of the blues from its rural roots in the American South, and focusing on the key musicians and singers who brought it recognition worldwide, The Blues: A Visual History is a unique and fully illustrated account of the development of the blues. This deceptively simple, 12-bar musical form has become the common denominator that has driven the popular music of the last hundred years. As John Lee Hooker put it: "The music we play . . . that music is the roots. Rock music, everything else, is like a branch on the same tree. It all comes from the Blues."

Bind: hardback

Pages: 272

Dimensions: 254 x 279 mm

Publication Date: 28-07-2020

While the golden age of records may never be recreated, the importance of album art has never diminished. Capturing a musician's talent visually is an essential part of their branding success. Behind the Album features 18 designers and their process for creating covers, posters, lyric books, and all the packaging essentials for top musicians. Each designer discusses their sources of inspiration, their interaction with the musicians and producers, and how their own love of music influenced their art.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 224

Dimensions: 190 x 250 mm

Publication Date: 20-06-2020

Back by popular demand in a new paperback edition, Punk is Dead exposes the lasting impact of punk on visual culture worldwide. Hundreds of flyers, photos, set lists, vintage fashions and other ephemera from all of your favorite bands are jammed into this menacing volume. Punk is Dead is massive, featuring a wide spectrum of bands that initially ignited the scene, and later fueled its global expansion. Contributing writers such as Wayne Kramer, Arturo Vega, Kid Congo, David Yow, Annie Anxiety, Duane Peters, Marc McCoy, Tony Alva, Don Bolles, Trudie and Pat Smear flesh out the visual assault. It also features hard hitting interviews with Ian Mackaye, one of the most respected voices of the DIY music underground, and Malcolm McLaren, likely the most impactful promoter of the early punk movement.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 288

Dimensions: 235 x 290 mm

Publication Date: 27-08-2020

Set amongst the reggae scene of late 70s Jamaica, the film Rockers achieved instant cult status among music and cinema fans. Rockers' director, Ted Bafaloukos has received many accolades for his work on the film, but the fact that he was also a fine writer and undercover photographer is often overlooked. In 2005, just before his death, Bafaloukos penned this vivid and never-before-published autobiography. Beyond Bafaloukos' fascinating story of the "making-of" Rockers, it tells the tale of a Greek immigrant from a family of sailors and his move to New York, eventually rubbing shoulders with the likes of The Velvet Underground, Robert Frank, Jessica Lange and Philippe "Man on Wire" Petit. But there's a twist to this 1970s' New York story: Bafaloukos fell in love with reggae when it was still just an underground facet of Jamaican culture in the City. His experiences in New York eventually led him to shoot Rockers, praised for the portrait it paints of Kingston's late 70s music scene along with its unique style, mentality and fashion. The director's intense experiences in Jamaica and New York between '75 - '78 provide the substance of the scorching stories within, including; gunshots at his first ever reggae concert in Brooklyn, the director's bizarre arrest for suspicion of being a CIA operative, paranoia at the Bob Marley compound, musicians-turned actors' "rude boy" antics, and naturally, sympathetic, highly descriptive recollections of the music that first drew Bafaloukos into Jamaica's music and culture. An invaluable collection of photographs taken during the conception, writing and production of the film captures the zeitgeist and breathes life into the book. Production stills and photos taken during the era by Bafaloukos form the visual, cinematic backbone of the tome, faithfully rendering the amazing people, styles, and locations in living, breathing color. Taken all together, the text and images within Rockers will uncover new facets of this all-important era in Reggae music for even the most seasoned reggae aficionados. Beyond reggae circles, this new anthology offers an unparalleled snapshot of a highly fantasized and sought after je-ne sais-quoi the all-time Jamaican cool.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 320

Dimensions: 229 x 304 mm

Publication Date: 16-06-2020

The benefits of music are monumental! Ukuleles are the perfect first instrument for kids to learn to play, and this book will show them why and how. Filled with basic instructions for holding positions, tuning, basic chords, and more, children will then learn and practice 25 songs, games, and activities. From songs about counting to songs about yoga, each exciting musical activity provides a rich and playful learning experience kids will love! Kid's Guide to Learning the Ukulele is a must-have musical journey for children and parents or teachers alike - no prior experience or knowledge needed!

Bind: paperback

Pages: 96

Dimensions: 203 x 254 mm

Publication Date: 07-04-2020