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Rock Music

REFERENCE SOURCES

The New Grove Dictionary of American Music (ref ML 101 U6 N48 1986 v.1-4)
A standard scholarly source on all aspects of American music. Articles on "Rock," "Popular Music," and on individual groups (e.g., The Platters) and major performers (e.g., "Presley, Elvis") are of particular interest. They include bibliographies and discographies.
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 3rd ed. (ref ML 102 P66 G84 1998 v.1-8)
Comprehensive subject coverage, opinionated, and from a British perspective. Album titles and dates are given. Longer articles have suggestions for further reading.
The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll, rev.ed. (ref ML 102 R6 R64 1995)
Covers mainly performers and groups, includes discographies. There are articles about sub-genres, too, such as Glitter, New Age, Rap, and Reggae.
The Rock Who's Who, 2nd ed. (ref ML 102 R6 H5 1996)
Evaluative essays of some length for groups and individuals. Extensive discographies are a strength.
Soul Music A-Z, rev. ed. (ref ML 102 S65 G7 1995)
A dictionary of performers and groups. Entries are brief but include discographies. There is a general bibliography at the end.
Headbangers: The Worldwide MegaBook of Heavy Metal Bands (ref ML 105 H34 1993)
The largest section is the "Encyclopedia of Bands," with very compressed entries for most. Discographies are included. There is a list of Fanzines, a brief essay on the "Roots of Metal," and there are several indexes, including one on "Band Styles and Influences."
American Women Songwriters: A Biographical Dictionary (ref ML 106 U3 G73 1993)
The Pop Rock section is of most interest, but consider also Blues, Jazz, and Folk. Brief biographical essays with critical comments and lists of sources.
Black Music in America: A Bibliography (ref ML 128 B45 S6)
Lists of articles from various magazines through 1979. The selected Musicians and Singers section includes several notables who have influenced rock music.
Popular Music Since 1955 (ref ML 128 P63 T39 1985b)
Combines biographical information and an annotated list of sources for further research for individual performers and groups. Includes guides to the literature on topics such as "social aspects of popular music," "the popular music business," etc.
Rap Music in the 1980s: A Reference Guide (ref ML 128 R28 M3 1992)
In two parts, an annotated list of articles and a discography. Use the subject index, which will refer you to articles and album reviews.
Rock Music Scholarship: An Interdisciplinary Bibliography (ref ML 128 R6 G37 1995)
An excellent, annotated list of articles, book chapters, books, dissertations, films, and videos about rock music and musicians from various scholarly perspectives. The perspectives include Communication, Ethnomusicology, History, Music, Politics, Religion, Sociology, and more.
The Literature of Rock, 1954-1978; The Literature of Rock II, 1979-1983 (2 vols.); The Literature of Rock III, 1984-1990 with additional material for 1954-1983 (ref ML 128 R6 H6)
A list of articles on many aspects of rock music and musicians from books and magazines. Use the indexes in each volume, which will refer you to the article citations.
The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (ref ML 156.4 P6 B76 1992)
The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (ref ML 156.4 P6 W44 1992)
The Top 40 volume is mainly charts; the Number One Hits volume has artist photos and information about the songs, too.
The Trouser Press Record Guide, 4th ed. (ref ML 156.4 P6 T76 1991)
Brief entries, with discographics, are mainly reviews of alternative rock albums.
SPIN Alternative Record Guide (ref ML 156.4 R6 S65 1995)
The introdoctory essay "What is Alternative Rock?" is followed by alphabetical entries on alternative groups, with discographics, and a list of "Top 100 Alternative Albums."
Rap Whoz Who (ref ML 400 S77 1996)
Biographical information on performers, producers, and promoters of Rap.

BOOKS - VIDEOS - AUDIO RECORDINGS

Start with our library catalog. A FAST SEARCH using KEYWORD ANYWHERE will find all these formats. To find videos or CDs only, go to BASIC SEARCH and limit to the format you want before searching. See the handouts for the Audio Recordings Collection or the Video & DVD Collection for more help. Be sure to ask at the Reference desk for personalized assistance with your research.

If our library doesn't have what you need, use the catalogs below to find items to request on interlibrary loan. Books will arrive in a week or two. We may or may not be able to get audio or video recordings.

ARTICLES IN JOURNALS

Start with the bibliographies of encyclopedia articles or books on your subject. Use the Journal and Newspaper Finder to see if the Library has these articles. Search by the title of the journal you want--not the article--and check that we have the date you need.

To find more articles, search the databases below. Some include the fulltext of articles. If the fulltext isn't included, check the Journal and Newspaper Finder to see if our Library has the article, either in print or fulltext. Remember to search in the Journal and Newspaper Finder by the name of the journal you want, and check for the date you need. If we do not have the article, you may request it on interlibrary loan. It will usually be here in one week to ten days.

For more information about researching music topics, please check the Music Research Guide.

Send comments and suggestions about this page to: Martha Johansen
Last Updated: February 10, 2003

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