The Essential Rock Discography: Complete Discographies Listing Every Track Recorded by More Than 1,200 Artists

Strong, Martin C.; Peel, John [Foreword]

ISBN 10: 1841958603 / ISBN 13: 9781841958606

Published by Canongate U.S., 2006

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 1841958603-3-33668150

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Essential Rock Discography: Complete Discographies Listing Every Track Recorded by More Than 1,200 Artists
• Publisher: Canongate U.S.
• Publication Date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1841958603
• ISBN 13: 9781841958606
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Good
• Weight: 54 ounces

About this title

Synopsis

For the serious rock and pop music aficionado or the inquisitive teenager whose taste runs from the Doors to Beyoncé, here is the definitive, you’ll-need-no-other music book. Completely revised and updated with brand new photographs throughout, this formidable tome is the perfect tool to lead a rollicking, at-home Rock & Roll Jeopardy night. Set it bedside and learn one fact on the greatest rockers—or your underrated favorites—every night. For example, did you know that P. Diddy started as a “dogsbody”—a gofer—for Heavy D’s Uptown Records? Or that Neil Diamond was originally part of a duo, Neil & Jack? Whether punks, divas, alt-rockers, rappers, rock-a-billies, or gods of the pop pantheon, all you need to know about everyone is here. Gaze at Living Color and Rainbow, as well as Pink, Deep Purple, Blue Nile, and Green Day. From one-hit wonders to mega stars it doesn’t matter the size, this is an inexhaustible book overflowing with biographical tidbits, evolving band line-ups, session descriptions, anecdotes, and definitive track and label listings. With a reputation as the best, most exhaustive, up-to-date discography around, it’s perfect for every music lover you know.

Review

It took Strong 10 years to compile this discography, and the rock music world is in his debt. More accurate and comprehensive than other books attempting to accomplish the same ends, more readable and better organized, The Great Rock Discography title may toot its own horn, while Strong calls his opus "the ultimate rock book of all time," but it's entirely merited.

It starts at A with ABBA and spends over a page on them (and these are rather large pages, with very small print), describing the history of the band and their albums, then compulsively listing their every recorded musical output from October '73 until October '96, including a jungle of code notations (you can refer back to the formats-and-abbreviations page whenever needed) with catalog number and recording label, whether the A- or B-sides differ in their U.K. and U.S. versions, which are essential to your collection, and whether the vinyl was a long player, a double-long player, a colored long player, or a mini-long player. Covering Adam & the Ants, Bootsy's Rubber Band, Tom Petty, Linda Rondstadt, and Muddy Waters on up through the Zombies and ZZ Top, Strong lists every track by more than 1,000 groups. --Stephanie Gold