Rock Stars Encyclopedia

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Rock Stars Encyclopedia

• Reference Book Analysis

LIBR 150 Winter 2005 N. Mathieson
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Bibliographic Citation

• Rees, Dafydd.
• Rock stars encyclopedia / Dafydd Rees Luke
  Crampton. New rev., 1st American ed. New York
  DK Pub., 1999.
  
• 1103 p. ill. 24 cm.
• Call number R 781.66 REES
• As cataloged by Puyallup Public Library

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OPAC Display
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Arrangement

• Entries are in alphabetical order.
• Solo artists are listed by the first letter of
  their last name.
  
• Performers that are known by a single name will
  have entries listed by the first letter of their
  chosen performing name.
  
• Examples Cher, Prince, and Sting
• Groups are listed by the first letter of the band
  name.
  
• Data is arranged chronologically for each artist
  or band.

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Indexing

• An index is located at the beginning of each of
  the alphabetical sections.
  
• This index refers to main entries only. There is
  no way to locate mention of an artist that has
  not been chosen to receive his own main entry.
  
• The How To Use This Book is essential reading.
  This key will help you decipher album names from
  singles.
  

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Rock Stars Encyclopedia Scope

• Rock Stars Encyclopedia allows the history of
  rock to speak for itself through the detailed
  chronological biographies of its most successful
  and influential players.
• Inclusion is based on the performers artistic
  influence or commercial success.
  
• Artists from many genres, that meet the criteria,
  are included.
  
• Includes both world renown performers and those
  popular in the UK and USA.

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Entry Scope

• Each biography of artist or group, broken down by
  year and month, includes professional histories,
  and frequently interesting personal histories.
  
• Entries also include UK and US chart singles and
  albums peak positions, all notable awards, live
  events, television and radio appearances,
  discographical information, births, deaths, real
  names, court cases, lineup changes, and a log of
  important sometimes entirely trivial events.
• See also references, at the end of group main
  entries, direct the user to additional entries
  for artists that had successful solo careers, as
  well as, solo artists with successful group
  careers.

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Currency

• This is the 1999 edition of the Rock Stars
  Encyclopedia. A previous edition was released in
  1996.
  
• Currently active performers entries end with
  events in 1999.
  
• This volume does not have up-to-date information.

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Purposes

• The authors state that the book attempts to
  satisfy any inquiring mind, from the most
  dedicated archivist to the causal music
  enthusiast.
• Besides fans of rock music, this volume is a
  welcome resource for radio disc jockeys,
  journalists covering the music beat, music
  stores, and music reviewers.

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Format

• Book format - paperback
• 1103 p. ill. 24 cm.
• Includes 200 photographs

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Credentials

• The authors, Rees and Crampton, are experienced
  in the music business. They co-founded (1981)
  the Media Research Information Bureau (MRIB).
  In the 80s, MRIB was the largest chart-compiling,
  music research agency in Europe. Sold in 1991,
  Rees and Crampton have written many music and
  media related books, and created World Beat, a
  weekly music news program for CNN International.

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Personal Impression

• The brief career and life histories about the
  performers was interesting. Entries frequently
  include how a performer got their start. Buried
  within year and month entries you learn about
  album and song releases, and their peak spot on
  the music charts.
• If you are only interested in a list of albums,
  this is not the right book for you. Album
  information is scattered throughout the
  biographical information.

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In Comparison All Music Guide to Rock

• Subtitled The experts guide to the best
  recordings in rock, pop, soul, RB, and rap.
  
• This volume provides a guide and reviews of an
  artists music.
  
• Entries include a brief career history then lists
  and gives a brief description of their albums
  (title, date, record label) in the order of their
  release.
• Includes ratings of the albums and identifies
  titles that are recommended as representative of
  an artists work.
  
• In addition, essays and Music maps are
  included, as well as, rock resources, such as
  book reviews, magazine listings, and mail-order
  sources.

R 781 ALL MUS c1997
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In Comparison The Great Rock Discography

• Includes complete discographies, band
  histories, career milestones and must-have album
  recommendations.
  
• Includes two pages of explicit descriptions of
  media formats and abbreviations.
  
• It would be easy to copy the discographies of
  favorite artists. You might also want to copy
  the How to read the book information and the
  media formats and abbreviations.

R 781.66 STRONG c1998
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Reference Uses

• What year was Jackson Brownes album The
  Pretender released and how high did it reach on
  the charts?
  
• 1976 The Pretender hit 5 on the US charts.
• What bands were the members of CSN in just before
  they formed their group?
  
• Crosby - Byrds
• Nash Hollies
• Stills Buffalo Springfield

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Internet Search

• Simple Google searches for key phrases yielded
  answers to these questions within the first page
  of results.
  
• Some of the web pages were authoritative, and
  up-to-date, and one resulting page in particular
  was offensive. Its biographical content was
  biased and rudely presented.