Encyclopedia of Classic Rock

Examining one of the most popular and enduring genres of American music, this encyclopedia of classic rock from 1965 to 1975 provides an indispensable resource for cultural historians and music fans. More than movies, literature, television, or theater, rock music set the stage for the cultural shifts that occurred from 1965 to 1975. Led by The Beatles and Bob Dylan, rock became a self-conscious art form during these years, daring to go places unimaginable to earlier rock and roll musicians. The music and outspokenness of classic rock artists inspired and moved the era's social, cultural, and political developments with a power once possessed by authors and playwrights-and influenced many artists in younger generations of rock musicians. This single-volume work tracks the careers of well-known as well as many lesser-known but influential rock artists from the period, providing readers with a handy reference to the music from a critical, groundbreaking period in popular culture and its enduring importance. The book covers rock artists who emerged or came to prominence in the period ranging 1965–1975 and follows their careers through the present. It also specifically defines the term "classic rock" and identifies the criteria that a song must meet in order to be considered as within the genre. While the coverage naturally includes the cultural importance and legacy of most well-known American and British bands of the era, it also addresses the influence of artists from Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Readers will grasp how the music of the classic rock era was notably more sophisticated than what preceded it-an artistic peak from which most of contemporary rock has descended.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chronology A–Z Entries Ackles, David Aerosmith Allman Brothers Band America Amon Duul II Ange Animals Aphrodite's Child Argent Ash Ra Tempel Auger, Brian Ayers, Kevin Babe Ruth Bachman-Turner Overdrive Bad Company Badfinger Baez, Joan Baker, Ginger Band Barrett, Syd Beach Boys Beatles Beau Brummels Be-Bop Deluxe Beck, Jeff Bee Gees Big Brother and the Holding Company Big Star Black Rock Black Sabbath Blackmore, Ritchie Blind Faith Blodwyn Pig Blood, Sweat & Tears Bloomfield, Mike Blue Cheer Blue Oyster Cult Blues Blues Magoos Blues Project Bond, Graham Bowie, David Brewer and Shipley British Invasion Brown, Arthur Browne, Jackson Bruce, Jack Bubblegum Buchanan, Roy Buckley, Tim Budgie Buffalo Springfield Butterfield, Paul Byrds Cale, J. J. Cale, John Cambodian Rock Can Canned Heat Captain Beefheart Caravan Chambers Brothers Charlatans Chicago Chrysalis Clapton, Eric Cluster Cocker, Joe Cohen, Leonard Collins, Judy Colosseum Concept Album Cooder, Ry Cooper, Alice Country Joe & the Fish Country Rock Cream Creation Creedence Clearwater Revival Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Curved Air Davis, Spencer Deep Purple Delaney & Bonnie Denny, Sandy Derek and the Dominos Donovan Doobie Brothers Doors Doo-wop Drake, Nick Driscoll, Julie Dylan, Bob Eagles Eastern Bloc Rock Eire Apparent Electric Flag Electric Light Orchestra Embryo Emerson, Lake & Palmer Eno, Brian Entwistle, John Faces Fairport Convention Family Faust Fischer, Wild Man Flamin' Groovies Fleetwood Mac Flock Flying Burrito Brothers FM Radio Focus Fogerty, John Folk-Blues Revival Folk-Rock Fool Frampton, Peter Free Funk Gallagher, Rory Genesis Gentle Giant Glitter Rock Golden Earring Gong Grateful Dead Groundhogs Guess Who Guru Guru Guthrie, Arlo Harper, Roy Harris, Emmylou Harrison, George Hawkwind Heavy Metal Hendrix, Jimi Hollies Hot Tuna H.P. Lovecraft Humble Pie Hunter, Ian Ides of March Incredible String Band It's a Beautiful Day Jade Warrior James Gang Jazz-Rock Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship Jethro Tull Joel, Billy John, Elton Joplin, Janis Kaleidoscope Kansas King, Carole King Crimson Kinks Kooper, Al Korner, Alexis Kraftwerk Le Orme Led Zeppelin Left Banke Lennon, John Les Variations Little Feat Love Love Sculpture Lovin' Spoonful Lynyrd Skynyrd Magma Mahavishnu Orchestra Mahogany Rush Mamas and the Papas Man Mann, Manfred Manzarek, Ray Mark-Almond Marshall Tucker Band Martyn, John Mason, Dave Masters Apprentices Mayall, John McCartney, Paul MC5 McLean, Don Miles, Buddy Miller, Steve Mitchell, Joni Moby Grape Mods Monkees Moody Blues Morrison, Van Mott the Hoople Mountain Move Murphy, Elliott Nazz Nektar Neu! New Riders of the Purple Sage New York Dolls Newman, Randy Nice Nico Nilsson, Harry NRBQ Nuggets Nyro, Laura Oldfield, Mike Os Mutantes Otis, Shuggie Parks, Van Dyke Parsons, Gram Pentangle Pink Fairies Pink Floyd Poco Pop, Iggy Popol Vuh Power Pop Pretty Things Price, Alan Prine, John Procol Harum Producers Progressive Rock Psychedelia Pub Rock Pulsar Punk Rock Pure Prairie League Quatermass Quatro, Suzi Queen Quicksilver Messenger Service Rascals Reed, Lou Reggae Renaissance REO Speedwagon Rock and Roll Rock Criticism Rock Festivals Rock Opera Rockabilly Rolling Stones Ronson, Mick Ronstadt, Linda Rotary Connection Roxy Music Rundgren, Todd Rush Russell, Leon Ryder, Mitch Sadistic Mika Band Sainte-Marie, Buffy Santana Savoy Brown Scaggs, Boz Schulze, Klaus Searchers Seeds Seger, Bob Simon, Carly Simon, Paul Simon & Garfunkel Sir Douglas Quintet Skiffle Slade Sly and the Family Stone Small Faces Smith, Patti Soft Machine Soul Music Souther-Hillman-Furay Band Southern Rock Space Rock Sparks Spirit Spooky Tooth Springsteen, Bruce Starr, Ringo Status Quo Steeleye Span Steely Dan Steppenwolf Stevens, Cat Stewart, Al Stewart, Rod Stills, Stephen Stories Strawbs String Driven Thing Surf Music Tangerine Dream Taste Taylor, James 10cc Ten Years After Them Thin Lizzy 13th Floor Elevators Thompson, Richard Tomorrow Traffic T. Rex Troggs Trower, Robin Turkish Psychedelia Turtles Uriah Heep Van der Graaf Generator Vangelis Velvet Underground Walsh, Joe War Who Winter, Johnny Wood, Roy Yamash'ta, Stomu Yardbirds Yes Young, Neil Youngbloods Zappa, Frank Zevon, Warren Zombies ZZ Top Recommended Reading Index

About the Author :
David Luhrssen is arts and entertainment editor of the Shepherd Express newspaper in Milwaukee, WI. Michael Larson is a guitar instructor, songwriter, recording artist, and attorney.

Review :
The new book defines the age of classic rock as spanning from 1965-1975 and gives an in-depth exploration of hundreds of bands and people and their impact that remains a half-century later. The book is a good effort and will likely appeal to rock fans and historians of the genre. Summing Up: Recommended. High school through undergraduate students; general readers; musicians and music teachers.