Icons of Rock offers a vivid overview of rock's pervasive role in the United States by profiling the lives and work of the music's most legendary artists.
List of Photos Preface Acknowledgments Volume One Elvis Presley, Scott Schinder Ray Charles, Andy Schwartz Chuck Berry, Scott Schinder Buddy Holly, Scott Schinder The Beach Boys, Scott Schinder James Brown, Andy Schwartz The Beatles, Scott Schinder Bob Dylan, Jesse Jarnow The Rolling Stones, Scott Schinder The Who, Alan Bisbort The Byrds, Scott Schinder Jimi Hendrix, Alan Bisbort Volume Two Velvet Underground, Scott Schinder The Grateful Dead, Jesse Jarnow and Andy Schwartz Frank Zappa, Chris Crocker Led Zeppelin, Andy Schwartz Joni Mitchell, Scott Schinder Pink Floyd, Scott Schinder Neil Young, Scott Schinder David Bowie, Jesse Jarnow Bruce Springsteen, Susan Godwin Ramones, Scott Schinder U2, Susan Godwin Nirvana, Susan Godwin Selected Bibliography Index
Scott Schinder is the author of several books about popular music and culture, including Rolling Stone's Alt-Rock-A-Rama. He has written for such publications as Entertainment Weekly, Newsday, and Creem. Andy Schwartz is the former publisher and editor of punk/new wave music magazine New York Rocker. He also served as national director of editorial services for Epic Records (a division of Sony-BMG Music) and as a consulting researcher and archivist for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
As with other entries in the series, the articles in these three
volumes feature a nice mix of scholarly excellence and great
reading appeal. The editor/authors were chosen for their breadth of
knowledge, and much care was taken to present the topics in a way
that provides context.Expect to find a time line of significant
events, followed by entries with essential historical data and a
legacy discussion pointing out the significance of the icon to the
genre. Signed articles are accompanied by further reading and
interspersed with chronologies and interesting sidebars.These sets
are excellent for students requiring authoritative studies yet
popular enough in writing style to allow for leisure reading.
Recommended as solid encyclopedias of important figures, so
purchase as interest warrants for school, public, and college
library reference collections.
*Library Journal*
From Elvis Presley to Nirvana, the 24 detailed essays spotlight the
careers of leading contributors to the development of rock and
roll. Each entry describes the background and early careers of an
artist or group, their introduction to music, training and
beginnings in the recording industry. Coverage includes discussion
of influences, stylistic choices, major compositions and both
critical and popular receptions of their work. Personal and
creative relationships are described in detail, as are business
difficulties and successes….The publisher's companion set, Icons of
R&B and Soul (Greenwood 2008), provides more detailed
discussion of rock's African-American roots. The two sets overlap
in their coverage of Ray Charles and James Brown. Together both
sets offer a substantial introduction to the works of individuals
who genuinly chnaged the face of popular music. These sets will
serve a wide range of audiences from high school to adult.
*Lawrence Looks at Books*
This two-volume set by veteran popular music writers Scott Schnider
and Andy Schwartz and a handful of other writers explores the two
dozen rock groups and solo artists the authors consider most
influential in rock music history….Each entry contains a
black-and-white photo of the artist and a detailed and lengthy
essay that is scholarly yet accessible. A timeline, selected
discography, and suggestions for further reading conclude each
entry. A selected bibliography and index finish the set….[T]his
set's lovingly written essays contain a wealth of knowledge and
informed perspectives and would be an excellent edition to high
school, college, and public libraries.
*Reference & User Services Quarterly*
Icons of Rock is an overview of the most important artists and
their influence on international popular culture and history. There
are no surprises in the list of 24 biographies. The treatment of
Joni Mitchell--incidentally, the only woman included in the
work--is insightful, particularly when her influence on jazz and
folk is also considered….The lenghty articles are well written and
quite readable. Icons of Rock contains a time line in each article
as well as sidebars; for example, the Beatles article has sidebars
on other British-invasion bands, such as the Hollies and the
Kinks….These works are recommended for high-school and public
libraries as well as academic libraries with popular-culture
collections. (Joint review with Icons of R&B and Soul).
*Booklist*
[A] top pick for any college-level music library strong in
contemporary music. Part of the Greenwood Icons series, it offers a
comprehensive encyclopedia of the musicians who changed music
forever, ranging from Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry to David Bowie,
Bob Dylan and more. Each featured musician receives extensive notes
relating to their body of work and contributions to the atmosphere
of popular music as a whole, making for an invaluable survey for
scholars, students, and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the history and history-makers of rock music….[V]ery
highly recommended.
*Midwest Book Review/Internet Bookwatch*
Icons of Rock contains enough meaty details to engage neophytes and
aficionados alike. It is a fine introduction to a select group of
artists whose music begs discovery and rediscovery.
*ARBA*
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