Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1062160 in Books
• Published on: 1998-08-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 124 pages

Synopsis
A new section containing around 1,000 new entries and updates to existing entries; an expanded section on relevant sixties and early seventies compilations/soundtracks; a vastly expanded section of recent retrospective compilations and a new index.

Customer Reviews

Essential
Vernon Joynson delivers an excellent encyclopaedia of the mid-6o's to early 70's British music scene. Most entries have a short biography, and discography and there's plenty of pictures too. So if you're ever interested in what happened to Fat Mattress or what singles did Orange Bicycle release this is the book for you. Maybe the only thing that could improve the book is for Joynson to be a bit less objective and provide out and out recommendations - as some of these bands are really obscure it's one of the few ways you'll ever find out about them. Having said that it is a great reference book. It's companion book Acid, Fuzz and Flowers about the US scene is equally essential.

An Amazing Tour de Force
This is a truly astounding piece of work. The substantial paperback is the size of a telephone directory, running as it does to almost a thousand pages. Covering 1963 to 1976, it includes pretty much every band that ever had a record releaseed, complete with biog, personnel and discography. Leafing through the pages is a journey of discovery and for 40-50 somethings the whole era comes flooding back! Inevitably there are one or two typos, one or two musician's names incorect or personnel missing, and so far I have found one entry which is factually incorrect (from personal experience as a musician of that era) but all is forgiven as you find fascinating entry after entry - and all those wonderful album covers!

I think that this would have to be one of my Desert Island books!

As detailed as it gets
This is a wonderful book, full of information about bands we know and love to bands we have never encountered before. Sure, it is a little subjective in places but this heavy tome of nearly 1000 pages shows a person dedicated to his work. There is a wealth of information and knowledge in this book and is genuinely value for money. There are plenty of colour pics of classic and 'lost' records and plenty of black and white photos of covers interspersed throughout the book. Vinyl, cd and any reissues of the albums and singles are all documented and where any vital tracks have appeared on compilations over the years.
Not a book you would wish to read from cover to cover but one to delve into and savour from time to time. You will read about some almost unknown bands and you will want to track their output down.
If you intend to carry it around with you, get those arms in trim first!