Warning: Some of these connections are a tad tenuous...!
Forever Young (published by Warner, 1985, no ISBN given, reference
number 20403). Features a short (one-page) article on Alphaville, written in
June 1984 (before the album was released), and several rare monochrome photos.
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Afternoons in Utopia (Warner, 1987, ISBN 0 86359 443 3, reference
number 28868). Features two longer articles in German, as well as several
full-page photos (two in colour) and a free poster (A3 size, same as one of
the internal monochrome photos).
Articles from the Afternoons in Utopia music book:
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In 1984 Warner Music published "Big in Japan" as a six-page music sheet (the
first page - the cover - being a monochrome photo of the group, the last page
an ad for other Warner sheet music). The reference number is VS4309.
The song is credited as follows: "Words and Music by Marian Gold, Bernhard
Lloyd, Marc Simon and Frank Mertens"
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Warner also published Laura Brannigan's recording of "Forever Young". Again,
this is a six-page sheet (the front cover is red with a large white "WB"
symbol). Reference number is VS4881. Alphaville are not mentioned, though
Gold, Lloyd and Mertens are credited as writers.
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Songlines Press Book. Published in German, this is
an A4-sized colour booklet designed to promote songlines. It contains
stills and information on each of the films in Songlines, as well as
information about the project and short interviews with the directors
and credits for all of the films. It was accompanied by an English translation
of the text.
· · ·
The Dreamscapes box set comes with a 68-page booklet,
packed with rare photos, illustrations, lyrics, quotes, short stories (by
Marian Gold) and complete credits for the album. Each disc is given its own
chapter, each presented in a completely different style.
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Published in 2019, My Journey to the Big Song
- the autobiography of Forever Young producer Colin Pearson -
covers his first meeting with Alphaville, the signing of their contracts, and the
recording of the album (it's a fascinating read regardless of whether you're an
Alphaville fan!).
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Indirect connections...
The English translation of the screenplay to Jean-Luc Godard's movie
Alphaville is published by Lorrimar (ISBN 0 85647 907 X). In addition
to the screenplay, the book contains a detailed introduction, several stills
from the film, Godard's original treatment for the film and a
comprehensive filmography. Note that the translation is slightly different
to the movie's English subtitles.
· · ·
Postcards from Alphaville by Raphael Rubinstein is a collection
of essays that occasionally touch on the world of cinema. Rubinstein's
essays are occasionally quite brilliant, often funny and almost always
staggeringly "arty" and self-aware, but in a good way.
· · ·
Alphaville comes from the Royal College of Art, Architecture and Interiors
and is subtitled "The eighth floor Annual 1998". I've had this book for about three
years now and I still don't know what it's about. It appears to be a collection
of short articles and proposals "for the future", complete with sketches,
photos and blueprints from lots of people, all of whom have a good collection of
degrees and are still in college.
· · ·
References to Alphaville...
There is a Young Adult ghost novel called She Fades Away. The author is
a big Alphaville fan... He's also written an award-winning short story called
"On Glory Roads of Pure Delight" (the title comes from the lyrics of
"Jerusalem"), and another highly-praised short story called "Angels in
Different Shapes" (the title comes from the lyrics of "Romeos"). The book
was translated into German as Die Schrift im Spiegel.
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Alphaville are mentioned in the Young Adult novel
The New Heroes: Absolute Power
(published in the USA as Quantum Prophecy: The Reckoning), by
Michael Carroll. The name "Alphaville"
also appears on the back cover of the same author's short-story collection The New Heroes: Super Human.