Customer Reviews

Lillian Roxon's Rock Encyclopedia

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Note to self: Next time read the product description more thoroughly. This isn't Roxon's original, delightful 1969 tome. Rather, Ed Naha took her format and typeface and completely rewrote the text, without any of the original's charm and wit. This one's going to Half Price Books soonest. Feh.

With Lillian Roxon's passing in 1973, the task of updating her Encyclopedia fell to one Ed Naha. To make room for all the new big-selling acts of the '70s, a great number of the artists covered in Roxon's 1969 original were purged from this edition. Nonetheless, this was a good place for info on ELP, King Crimson, and Jethro Tull. It's amusing to see America's first glimpses of Punk: In 550 pages, there are only the briefest mentions of Patti Smith, The Sex Pistols and The Stranglers alongside Fleetwood Mac and Linda Ronstadt.

I bought this in softcover, back when I was about 14 years old. Im guessing it was 1971, possibly earlier. At the time there was nothing like it. Rock wasnt yet as much an industry as it was musicians meeting promoters......

This book has a great insight and easy, short entertaining entries about 60-70's rock groups. Ms. Roxon's own entertaining editorials, and factoids mixed with a 'liner notes' enthusiasm about the groups of the time.

I have little doubt it was written from her heart, and with passion. Theres no intellectual analysis from the side lines here, but more a running play by play during the time the 'rock game' was in play. It also includes tid bits about groups and makes for interesting reading. It does not always have accurate listing of discs (then vinyl) or tracks. An enjoyable read, and one I still refer to from time to time.