The Great Rock Discography

The Great Rock Discography stands as a comprehensive reference guide cataloging thousands of rock artists and their recorded works from the 1950s through the late 1990s. The book contains detailed listings of album releases, singles, compilation appearances, and chart performance data. Each artist entry includes biographical information, band member lineups, and chronological discographies with release dates and record label details. The encyclopedic volume covers major acts across rock genres including pop, metal, punk, alternative, and progressive rock. Strong's rating system evaluates releases on a scale of 1-10, providing critical assessment of both commercial albums and rare recordings. The reference work maintains strict factual documentation while incorporating brief critical commentary on significant releases and career highlights. The book serves as both historical record and critical companion, mapping the evolution of popular music through its recorded artifacts. Its systematic organization reflects the intersection of commerce and creativity in rock music's development as a cultural force.

Readers value this book as a comprehensive reference but note many factual errors and omissions across editions. Multiple reviewers point out inconsistencies in album ratings and missing entries for notable bands. What readers liked: - Depth of information for major artists - Physical size and layout make it useful for quick reference - Includes lesser-known albums and compilations - Regular updates with new editions What readers disliked: - Numerous factual errors in dates and personnel - Subjective rating system that often contradicts fan consensus - Important bands sometimes missing entirely - Too much focus on UK artists at expense of US acts - Small print makes extended reading difficult Ratings: Amazon: 3.5/5 (42 reviews) Goodreads: 3.7/5 (89 reviews) Specific comments: "Great for browsing but don't trust it as your only source" - Amazon reviewer "Strange omissions - how can you leave out The Germs?" - Goodreads user "Updates seem rushed with new mistakes in each edition" - Music forum post

All Music Guide to Rock by Michael Erlewine Contains comprehensive entries for rock artists from the 1950s to present, with detailed discographies, personnel listings, and recording data.

The Rolling Stone Album Guide by David Brackett Presents album-by-album reviews and ratings for thousands of rock and popular music releases with historical context and technical details.

The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn Lists chart data, song information, and performance statistics for every single that made Billboard's Hot 100 from 1955 to present.

The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin Covers the full spectrum of popular music with detailed biographical entries, discographies, and music industry information across multiple genres.

The Rough Guide to Rock by Peter Buckley Provides biographical information, album reviews, and recording histories for rock artists and bands from the 1950s through the modern era.

🎸 The book has gone through multiple editions since its first publication in 1994, growing from 720 pages to over 1,200 pages in later versions 🎵 Author Martin C. Strong spent more than a decade researching and compiling information before publishing the first edition 📀 Each entry includes detailed discographies, line-up changes, biographical information, and chart positions for both UK and US markets 🏆 The book has become a standard reference work in the British music industry and is frequently cited by music journalists and critics 🎼 Strong developed his own rating system for albums, using a scale of 1-10 with increments of 0.5, which has been widely discussed and debated among music fans