Rock and Roll: Its History and Stylistic Development

I can't really give you a review of this book because I bought if for my son for his music class in college. The price was excellent and the book was in great condition. I will continue to use this method to save money on books.

I used an earlier edition of this fine book some years ago in teaching a college-level history of rock and roll, and the only reason I give it four rather than five stars is the obscene price. Stuessy's aim in writing the book was not just to introduce the history of rock and roll, but to introduce students to the various elements of music (melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre) and of musical formal structures: these items are covered in detail, relating to the music of the appropriate chapter, in end-of-chapter supplements. In other words, Stuessy is trying in part to promote musical literacy among people who do not take a more traditional class in "music appreciation." I would not expect that many people without some formal musical training could make complete sense of the supplements, but it is a textbook, not a self-help manual, and I had great success with the book in class. The main text, however, is independent of the more technical supplements, and can be read as an excellent and insightful history of rock and roll.