Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide [Paperback]

John Swenson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 1985

Here are sixty-odd years of recorded jazz brillaintly reviewed in one essential source. Covering more than 4,000 currently available jazz albums, this long-needed work will remain the standard reference in the field for years to come.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Here are sixty-odd years of recorded jazz brillaintly reviewed in one essential source. Covering more than 4,000 currently available jazz albums, this long-needed work will remain the standard reference in the field for years to come.

Product Details

• Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: Random House; 1 edition (July 12, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039472643X
• ISBN-13: 978-0394726434
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,119,690 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dated But Excellent Survey of the Best Jazz Recordings, August 15, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide (Paperback)

This book is incredibly dated, as the title makes clear -- it's not a Jazz CD Guide, but a Jazz Record Guide. Remember records? They were thin, 12-1/2 inch platters made out of vinyl that turned around on what they used to call "record players" or "turntables."

Unfortunately, the book does not accurately reflect which recordings are presently available by major jazz artists, because thousands of classic jazz works have been reissued since publication of this book over a decade ago. For example, there are at least a half dozen recordings of Kenny Dorham (my personal favorite) on a variety of labels which were reissued since this volume was published. Also, several works which were available in 1985 are no longer being marketed today. This is inevitable with a work of this type, especially in today's market, where reissued works are appearing faster than crabgrass after a summer rain.

Nevertheless, the book remains a valuable resource for anyone wishing to find out about the essential works of the greatest artists in the history of recorded jazz. I purchased it myself around '89 and have frequently turned to it for helpful guidance. The book contains alphabetically arranged entries for the principal artists in the entire spectrum of jazz, with listings of and a rating of the worth of each recording -- one to five stars. While some subjectivity invariably comes into play in the rating process, it is generally honest and reliable.

Do you wish to know which recordings are generally considered the finest from Coltrane's later years? What's the "must-have" album by Monk? Have artists such as Grover Washington, John Klemmer, and Bob James ever made any real contributions to jazz, or would your money be better spent on something by Lee Morgan, Clifford Brown, or Art Blakey? This book provides answers to these and many other related questions.

I would love to see the publisher expand and update this useful work.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What does RS know about jazz?, August 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide (Paperback)

A useless book that gives out 5 Stars as though it is water. Unbelievably uncritical, this book will not steer consumers to the very best work of an artist. Stick with the Penguin guide. It isn't perfect, but its vastly superior and pretty consistent regarding giving higher grades to the better albums and lower grades to the truly lesser works.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's doesn't just review VINYL, you goofballs, February 22, 2004

By 

Downstream "downstream" (Oconomowoc, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide (Paperback)

"Record Guide" is simply the title. as in Album, Record, Recording, etc. it's not the format that is covered. they're ALL records. I'm sure there are better jazz and blues guides out there, but this one does a very good job of going over many of the essential jazz CD's. definitely worth finding if you can get ahold of a copy. covers all eras of jazz and blues.