Customer Reviews

20th Century Rock & Roll-Women in Rock

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I'm a freelance music journalist who does a lot of writing about women in rock. This book scores very highly with me based on range, subject, and knowledge of the individuals covered.

The author divides the book into a section devoted to the 50 women who have defined rock and roll, with a short essay on each, and a recommended discography. I like the selection much better than some books (including the truly disappointing Rolling Stone Book of Women in Rock). He doesn't include ALL the artists I consider essential, but that's a personal matter. I think he did a very good job, with a range from the obvious choices like Joan Jett and Tina Turner to more obscure but important artists like Lita Ford and Suzi Quatro.

He includes several appendixes with info on all-girl bands, all-girl groups (singers as opposed to instrumentalists) and spotlights on frontwomen of renown, ranging from superstars like Stevie Nicks to the cult heroines like Christina Amphlett and Doro Pesch.

This is a book to give people who don't know much about the subject, or to throw at people who say "women can't rock."

It's not a historical survey (though the author recommends several books, including the one I think of as the definitive volume, Gillian G. Gaar's "She's a Rebel"), but it's a very good basic reference volume.

KW

The book was in very good condition, but did not look brand new. It's a very interesting collections of summaries of the careers and influence of many important women in rock.