As far as I know, this is a new release on the subject. The Who & Quadrophenia book by Martin Popoff.
Well, it’s new to me. I know we have had books on Quadrophenia in the past. Back in 2019, there was The Making of Quadrophenia by the late and much-missed Simon Wells, as well as the spin-off Quadrophenia novel by Alan Fletcher back in 1979. But this one is slightly different, taking in both the 1973 album and the movie.
Although it looks to be more heavily weighted towards the original album, which celebrates 50 years this year. A likely reason why the book is landing right now. Or at least later this year.
According to the pre-publicity, this is an ‘authoritatively written slipcased edition’ by veteran rock critic Martin Popoff, taking apart The Who’s Quadrophenia, exploring each of the album’s 17 tracks and their themes of identity, anxiety, and mental health. Chapters cover:
The state of The Who as of 1973, including their role in Mod culture
The recording sessions at famed Olympic Studios and the band’s own Battersea location, including techniques used
Song-by-song studies of each album side, including analyses of lyrics and the guitars, drums, keyboards, and synthesisers employed by members Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon
The 1979 motion picture based on the album’s song cycle
The continent-hopping tours that supported the album
The rock group’s trajectory post-Quadrophenia, including notable albums and tours
It also touches on each band member, mod vs rocker culture, the album’s graphic design, manager/producers Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert, Quadrophenia collectables, and more.
All of that is presented in a 10″ × 10″ slipcased book, illustrated with performance and off-stage photography as well as rare memorabilia.
It lands on 5th October 2023, priced at £32.20.
Find out more at the Amazon website
