The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll

This is a book that belongs on every music lover's book shelf. It is the type of reference book that any rock lover would like so, you can be sure it will be appreciated if you give it as a gift. If you don't know what to get a friend for a gift, this is a sure bet. The book is comprehensive in that it has entries on even fairly obscure performers. You can look up just about anyone. Years ago, the Holy Modal Rounders were performing at my college and the band drifted into my dorm room where a few friends of mine and the band partied. Of course, I wanted to find out more about them and they were listed. Everyone, from the pioneers of rock 'n roll, to rock stars of the 90s are included in this book. No matter what era of rock and what rock style you are in to, the artists are sure to be incuded. Each band has a complete listing of personnel, so if there have been changes in the band, all personnel are listed and the dates of the changes are noted. I recommend this book to you and to your friends (for gifts).

For big RNR fun as I am, this book is definite reference. I tried in many libraries and book shops to find the best encyclopedia of the music I like, and here it is. If you look at the price, believe me - you won't find anything better than this newly updated Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock'N'Roll.

This is the definative RockNRoll reference book. It may not contain every band that ever was, but does it really need too. Helpfully lists band members names, birthdates and hometowns, when and where the band was formed All the albums up til publishing date etc... Contains non-biased entries with a special page for each section on Grammy winners -- who won what and when, as well as a listing of the Hall of Famers. This is the way to start your Music reference collection, I know, because its how I started mine.

I grew up on Rock & Roll and beach music in the Portsmouth/Virginia Beach area, went to many concerts listed in the book, saw many of the performers in person, from the R & R reviews in the late 50's to the big 2 & 3 day concerts at race tracks, like Rockingham Speedway, NC, in the 70's. I remember seeing The Beach Boys at a small high school football stadium in Virginia Beach, while sitting on wooden bleacher seats, with the bands performing on the football field. The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of R & R brought back many great memories, and fired up some that had been forgotten. However, I made a list, as I was reading the book, of those who seem to be missing from this edition. They include a variety of performers, such as: Robin Luke; Bill Deal and the Rhondells; The Swinging Medalions; Tommy Sands; Jimmie Rogers ("Kisses Sweeter Than Wine"); The Robbin Thompson Band; Ketty Lester; Bob Kuban and the In Men; and Lennis Guess. Each of these performers are played again and again on oldies stations, but were somehow left out of the book. While some may be considered "regional" performers, they all had hit records and deserve at least a mention in the next edition. Even more so than some of the English and African and European performers that no one here in America, much less, Virginia Beach, has ever heard of or even seen perform. I mean, why leave out Bill Deal and the Rhondells, the greatest band that ever played Virginia Beach in the 60's, and include Falco? Why was Robin Luke left out, but Manu Dibango included? Get my point!? I realize this book was not published just for the American reader, but, after all, did Cypress Hill really have a greater impact or contribution to R & R than Lennis Guess or Ketty Lester? I hope the next edition calls upon an editor who can really go back to the early days of R & R and include ALL of those true R & R performers who deserve the recognition given instead in this edition to the flash-in-the-pan performers, whose contribution to R & R is highly questionable. I look forward to the next edition, and in the meanwhile, my list of those whom I think should be included, who were left out by the "editors", will probably be longer and longer. But, aside from the omissions, I have had many hours of pleasure reading about the true poets of the 20th century, the stars of Rock and Roll!!

I bought the first edition in 1983 for christmas for my son and a few nephews. I have been waiting for the new edition so I can make it a christmas present again. We have refered to it may times and resolved many discussions.