The On Record series is an encyclopedic look at the evolution of popular music from 1978 to 1998.
Colorado Music Experience founding director and author G. Brown covered popular music at The Denver Post for 26 years, interviewing well over 3,200 musicians, including Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, and Kurt Cobain, all of whom recounted their escapades and reminisced about what their time on the charts meant to them personally and musically. Over the decades, G. also amassed an archive of close to 15,000 rare promotional photos.
Each volume of the On Record series presents nearly 200 rare archival images and 100 interviews with an array of performers, from the late Jerry Garcia and Dave Matthews to Bono and Santana. Beautifully crafted, these books belong in the library of every music fan and music institute.
Proceeds from book sales benefit Colorado Music Experience.
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Vol. 1: 1978
Captures classic rockers from Journey to Bruce Springsteen to the Cars, nascent new wavers such as the Police, Talking Heads and the Clash, as well as the year’s greatest releases from rock, R&B, country and jazz stars.
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“It’s always nice when the person interviewing me knows more about music than I do. Every time I’ve spoken to G. Brown over the decades, he has impressed me with his knowledge and, more importantly perhaps, his humor. I enjoy people who make me laugh, and G. does that constantly. Read his On Record books and enjoy his perspective.
–Graham Nash, two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee
Vol. 2: 1984
Reflects on the biggest artists of the MTV era—Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Huey Lewis, and even “Weird Al” Yankovic—in addition to acts from Van Halen to Prince and the year’s top R&B, alternative, country and jazz releases.
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“I’ve always thought that the music journalists from large daily newspapers were more credible than others, if only for the fact that they saw and heard so much more music than anyone else. G. Brown, the Denver Post‘s beat writer for 26 years, proves my point with his On Record books.”
–Huey Lewis, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and actor
Vol. 3: 1991
Mines the grunge phenomenon from Nirvana to Pearl Jam, the explosion of rap (Public Enemy, Ice Cube), superstars from Garth Brooks to Paula Abdul to Metallica, and a full complement of one-hit wonders and underground sensations.
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“For decades, nobody in Colorado had more access to the biggest stars or wrote more insightfully about music than G. Brown. Finally, with the On Record book series, he digs through his notes for exclusive interviews, digs through his garage for a lifetime of photos, and digs through his brain to craft indispensable mini-histories on all your favorite acts.”
–Steve Knopper, Billboard editor at large and author of MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson
Vol. 4: 1981
Chronicles the first stirrings of synth pop writ large (the Human League, Soft Cell), the gated reverb drum sound that became ubiquitous (Phil Collins), superstars from Stevie Nicks to Billy Joel to the Police, and a full complement of one-hit wonders and R&B, country and jazz sensations.
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“Over the years, I’ve had the good fortune of doing many interviews with G. Brown. He has created a wonderfully interesting retrospective about popular music culture as vinyl morphed into multiple formats. I am honored to be part of G.’s On Record book series, which is both a compelling read and a joy to look at.”
–KENNY LOGGINS, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and performer
Vol. 5: 1988
Captures the debuts of seminal female singer-songwriters (from Melissa Etheridge to Tracy Chapman) and the heavy-metal and hard-rock acts dominating the charts (Bon Jovi, Poison, Scorpions, et al.), as well as the year’s greatest releases from pop, R&B, country and jazz stars.
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“G. Brown’s writing is informed, perceptive and incisive, often tinged with his hilariously irreverent sense of humor. He has an abiding respect for music and those who create it. All of these attributes reveal themselves in his On Record collections.”
–BRUCE HORNSBY, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and virtuoso pianist
Vol. 6: 1995
Mines the explosion of alternative rock, ranging from big names (Alanis Morissette, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers) to up-and-comers (Radiohead, the Flaming Lips, Oasis), in addition to the year’s top pop, classic rock, R&B, country, jazz and new age releases.
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“In his On Record series, G. Brown makes stories of recorded music come alive by digging into the experiences of the artists—and through his writing, he reveals their humanity. What a gift these books are to music lovers.”
–JESSE COLIN YOUNG, singer, songwriter and founding member of the Youngbloods
Vol. 7: 1979
Captures the resurgence of rock (“My Sharona” by the Knack; Pink Floyd’s release of The Wall), the reign of disco on the pop charts (Bee Gees, Donna Summer) and the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit (the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight”), as well as the year’s greatest releases from pop, R&B, country and jazz stars.
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“I’ve known G. Brown since he rode the bus with Journey for a short stint, and I love the way this guy writes! Each entry is loaded with information and humor that makes you want to go on to the next one and the next and to every book in the series.”
–GREGG ROLIE, two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee
Vol. 8: 1986
Captures the British synth-pop duos (Pet Shop Boys) and bombastic hard-rock acts (Europe’s “The Final Countdown”) on the charts, the sexiness of Madonna and Berlin, and seminal videos (Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al”), as well as the year’s greatest releases from pop, R&B, country and jazz stars.
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“G. Brown has created one of the most substantive and engaging historical book series on popular music that I have ever seen. He really is a dean of musicologists—he knows book, chapter and verse about my guitar work with Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers and way too many studio albums, including mine!”
–JEFF “SKUNK” BAXTER, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee
Vol. 9: 1992
Witnesses the rise of the grunge movement and the release of Nirvana’s Nevermind along with the continued emergence of hip-hop. Controversial recordings like Ice-T’s “Cop Killer,” Madonna’s “Erotica” and performances on MTV’s Unplugged also punctuated the year.
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“My friend G. Brown is one of the premier historians and writers of our generation. His On Record books give readers insight and access to those who have made history in the world of rock music, and you get a glimpse into his unique and personal style of interviewing. This great series belongs in everyone’s music library!”
–RICHIE FURAY, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee
Vol. 10: 1983
Covers bands at their commercial peak (Genesis, the Police), U2’s first international hit (“War”) and David Bowie’s biggest success (“Let’s Dance”). It also includes Prince, Bryan Adams and Def Leppard—acts that finally start to make it big in 1983. In this year, Kiss appeared without makeup (Lick It Up), Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All broke ground for the trash-metal genre, and Quiet Riot’s Metal Health became the first heavy-metal album to hit No. 1. The second British Invasion, plus the year in country, hip-hop and jazz are also covered.
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“G. Brown’s passion for and knowledge of all things music have always made interviews and conversations with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band a distinct pleasure. Do yourself a favor and check out his On Record book series.”
–JEFF HANNA, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist
Vol. 11: 1989
Rounds up the year’s major releases, from Tom Petty’s first solo album to Roy Orbison’s final effort, even the first recording of a Russian rock musician with a Western label, as well as ascending pop-metal bands (from Mötley Crüe to Warrant) and alternative-rock acts (the Cure, Pixies), plus the best in jazz, blues, adult contemporary and other genres.
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“When G. Brown writes about you, his readers give you a chance. They listen. G.’s trusted voice is a big reason my audience grew. I’m grateful to him for including me in his writing over the years and to be part of his On Record series.”
–LYLE LOVETT, Grammy-winning singer and songwriter and actor
Vol. 12: 1996
Chronicles the biggest artists in pop music (Celine Dion, Kenny G, the Artist Formerly Known as Prince), legacy-defining records from alternative rockers (Beck, Weezer, Sublime, Rage Against the Machine) and a wealth of up-and comers (Dave Matthews Band, the Roots, Wilco), in addition to the year’s top releases in hip-hop, classic rock, country, jazz and new age genres.
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“The great spiritual teachers say music is a healing force that connects us all. If so, then learning about musicians, their needs and motivations, enriches our bond. G. Brown, in his On Record books, reveals the magic of music and the talented artists who make it.”
–JON ANDERSON, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, musician and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee
