The Virgin Encyclopedia of 70s Music (Hardcover)

~ Colin Larkin (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Organizing a series of music encyclopedias by decade has its benefits and pitfalls. Dream up some pop-music figure associated with the decade that gave us Charlie's Angels, Jimmy Carter, and the hustle and you're rewarded with a reasonably thorough bio and discography faster than you can say "Gilbert O'Sullivan." There are nearly 1,000 entries included in the 512-page book, many of them admirably opinionated, which is a big plus if you decide to make use of the discography ratings next time you shop for CDs. Unlike too many rate-and-review guides, the writers here aren't afraid to attach one- and two-star grades to subpar LPs. Songwriter and frequent Love Boat guest Paul Williams, for one, doesn't get anything but two stars. On the downside though, certain major performers who transcend the decade are excluded from the book. Elvis Presley died in 1977, but he's nowhere to be found. Bless Billy Swan, but is his impact on '70s music really worth a full-page assessment when Presley doesn't merit a word? --Steven Stolder --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"This is musical history in the making" -- Rolling Stone

"This is the gospel, amen" -- The Glasgow Herald

"Very possibly the best rock reference ever" -- Q Magazine

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Virgin Publishing; 3rd edition (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852279478
• ISBN-13: 978-1852279479
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #830,790 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THOROUGH & READABLE, June 29, 2000

By	Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Virgin Encyclopedia of Seventies Music (Virgin Encyclopedias of Popular Music Series) (Paperback)

Here one may relive one's youth (or learn some history) from Abba down to singer-songwriter Warren Zevon. Sartorially the decade was one of extremes: compare the tartaned Bay City Rollers to the ridiculous hippieness of Wizzard, Kiss's comic-book style, Amanda Lear's disco leather decadence, Elton John's flamboyance and the austerity of the singer-songwriters. A particular pleasure is finding information on the more obscure hitmakers like R Dean Taylor (a solitary Canadian on Tamla Motown who gave us Indiana Wants Me & Gotta See Jane), UK experimentalists like Curved Air and East Of Eden, punk pioneers like X-Ray Spex and The Adverts. The more one reads, the more addictive this book becomes and the more you realize how rich and diverse the decade was. To think that side by side with the anger of the punk revolution there existed the hedonistic abandon of Disco -- the party of the 70s! Donna Summer, Boney M, MFSB, Sylvester and the P-Funkers are all here. There is also the Woodstock generation in the form of Matthews Southern Comfort, Don McLean, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and Melanie. Other folk artists include Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention. Megastars like David Bowie, Neil Diamond and the Bee Gees merit their many pages but it is also heartening to see little-known reggae acts like Bob & Marcia (The Pied Piper) and Dave & Ansil Collins (Double Barrel) getting a mention. By the way, anyone wants to dispute the fact that Bowie produced his best work in this decade? Think of 1975's Young Americans, 1976's Station To Staion and the electronic cycle of Low and Heroes. But the 70s was also the decade of the teenyboper and you'll find them here: The Partridge Family, David Cassidy, The Osmonds nd Leif Garrett. For sheer variety and the essence of pop, the 70s cannot be rivaled. Nmes like Dawn (Knock Three Times)evoke tender childhood memories. The entries are informative and a pleasure to read. Perhaps there could have been more extensive discographies. All in all a fascinating read for nostalgists, the music researcher and music lovers of all ages and persuasions.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's never going to be perfect, is it?, August 20, 2004

By	Takis Tz. (Germany) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

An endeavour like this is bound to have its benefits and flaws. Some artists who in retrospect proved not as influential or heavy in importance wind up having extensive coverage while others might get no mention at all or very little of it.

It's all more a matter of perspective of course and having read other encyclopedias of the sort i know that this is the case with basically all of them.

With this then intentionally overlooked, this book is pretty darn good for what it offers. It has for the most part extensive histories of the artists it presents and -allthough not thorough-discographies that compliment these presentations. On that particular point comes the real miss, which is the behind the glamorous scenes look at things. The escapade element (and yes, im being ridiculously mild) is mostly absent, which is striking considering that the rock and pop world would not be what it was and is without it. Yes, there are mentions of the drug adventures as well as other "mishaps" but just mere mentions, in some cases these are omitted, and in any case less focus is given to issues as these than there should've been.
Granted, it would probably make the book double its size were it more detailed this way but then it would be more complete.

As a reference book though, or even as a starting point for those who are rediscovering or beginning to explore the 70s it's really, really good. It's perhaps too harsh to subtract a star on this review for what i mentioned above but then again i believe that a complete encyclopaedia is missing badly from the market.

If you're looking to pick one out of the many 70s music books out there you wouldnt be off the mark by choosing this one.