If you are interested in the evolution of rock, especially from an African American perspective this is brilliant.
Still use my marked-up copy (yellow highlighted non-lp B-sides). The revised edition from 1978 is OK.
A couple of the books I use on a regular basis: Vernon Joynson's Fuzz, Acid & Flowers (and the companion Tapestry Of Delights). And Martin Strong's discographies, including his older Psychedelic book. He is the one guy who tries to indicate the different release dates betwixt US & UK albums.
He is a brilliant researcher & will take you to places that nobody else has. He reveals a parrallel universe that provided the essential building blocks for the emergence of Rock & Roll.
I'd forgotten about those books. They all well & truly deserve a mention. I will have to try & dig mine out for a refresher.
Irwin Stabler’s Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock, and Soul is roughly from the same period and a little more affordable.
I'm selling my copy of this huge new wave bible. 736 pages. The Holy Bible of punk discographies. 736 pages of punk and new wave releases, zine, club, label, etc listings bound in paperback. This book claims to be the most extensive international compilation of Punk, New Wave, Futurist, Hard Core discographies ever assembled. The graphics by Pam Meyer transform this book from an incredible reference work into a classic of 1980s new wave design: snazzy doodles, punk-y cut and paste titles. The first 478 pages are alphabetically arranged discographies of more obscure bands than any obsessed fan could ever know. Large sections of contact info for fanzines, distributors, labels, clubs. A spectacular research and reference guide.
That was indispensable to me growing up and discovering music. One of the best Christmas gifts I ever received.
All of the Martin C Strong Discography books (Rock, Indie etc). I found most of them in specialist charity shops, and always get them if they're a different edition because each update necessitated the removal of some acts to make way for the new. I read them almost weekly. Plus, as a complete chart nerd I have to have as many Top 40/Hit Single type books as I can. UK and US. First it was the Guiness ones in the 80s and 90s, then the Complete Hit Singles & Albums editions, plus some Joel Whitburn Billboard ones. Add in the Virgin-published books listing complete Top 40 charts from every week since the 50s or 60s, and I have a lot bases covered. I'll never get rid of them because I don't want to/can't always be hooked up to the net. EG.
If you are of a certain age: Charlie Gillet's "Sound of the City," where the new up and coming acts The Band and Creedence are flagged as bands to keep an eye on. The 1976 edition (pretty sure?) of the Rolling Stone history of rock and roll, even if it does mistakenly label a very large picture of David Byron (Uriah Heep) as Ian Hunter and describes it as a rare shot of Ian sans shades. Not comprehensive, but consists of mostly very good essays by leading rock critics. Not sure about the availablity of either of the above. Also +1 on Pete Frame's Rock Family Trees.
The first edition is great - oversized, fabulous pictures, & detailed chart listings. Subsequent editions are smaller sized and lack the visual impact. The first edition was issued in 1976 (?). The second edition was issued in 1980 and was updated to include Disco, Punk, New Wave, & Springsteen
Led Zeppelin live! By Luis Rey Illustrated Collectors Guide to Led Zeppelin Robert Godwin Led Zeppelin The Complete Concert Chronicle, Dave Lewis and Mark Tremaglio Hot Wacks Book XV- The Last Wacks The Doors On The Road, Greg Shaw The Who The Concert File, McMichael & Lyons a few of my absolute go to books
The Spin Alternative Record Guide from the 1990s was extremely valuable to me when I was in my early 20s. Naturally there's lots of opinions I disagree with in there, but it made me aware of a huge number of groups/artists I hadn't known about, back before I ever used the internet.
