Rock Encyclopedia

by Lillian Roxon

Reference to contemporary popular music contains profiles of performers and writers as well as lists of top records from 1949 to 1968

Genres: Music, Reference, Nonfiction, Rock N Roll

611 pages, softcover

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Jason Koivu · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a mere quarter at a used book sale, I picked up Lillian Roxon's Rock Encyclopedia, one of the first serious compilations on rock music. What a great thrift-score!

As a music journalist focused on San Francisco and New York in the late 1960s, Roxon was uniquely positioned to absorb a wealth of knowledge on the breaking music of the day.

Now, 40+ years after its publication, the book is a fun read for a couple reasons. The first being that there are many minor, no longer active acts mentioned within for a music-phile like me to unearth. Second, Roxon steered clear of remaining unbiased. Yes, you read that right. The woman had opinions and she voiced them. Let's look at a few entries...

The Mothers of Invention…built around ugliness - ugly players, bearded and menacing like something out of an old pirate movie; ugly music; ugly lyrics; ugly gestures; ugly noises. The motive: satire.

The Doors/More gloppy, pretentious, pseudosurrealistic, hyperliterary, quasi-mystical prose has been written about the Doors than about any rock group ever.

Chris Crosby, son of Bob Cosby and nephew of Bing, is beautiful and sings. (Note: And other than listing his one popular single, that is the whole review on Crosby.)

Johnny Horton/A country singer who decided to break into the pop-rock charts and occasionally managed it. It can happen.

Tim Buckley…may look like Huckleberry Finn lost in a blackberry patch, but in fact he's as tortuous and complicated as those ten thousand matted curls that cluster protectively around his head.

Note: Most of the reviews are much longer than the snippets I've provided here - including a bit of history, popular success, occasional behind-the-scenes insights - but the above gives you the gist of Roxon's often strident opinions.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invaluable reference work. Always within reach.

[Rob Geurtsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gee, this is a little gem. An encyclopedia from a woman who knew her stuff. Before rock media were forever distorted by Rolling Stone magazine. Lillian Roxon was part of the in-crowd, she was very well befriended with Linda, until the latter slept in the arms of Paul. She was aware of the ugliness of most rock stars, and she could write so well.
This is a great historical text with a good contemporaneous feel. Well-written and even now she offers a fresh look at music and bands during the birth of classic-rock.

[Jeffrey Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this was my music Bible into the early 1970's. I still have my 1969 paperback copy although I don't look at it much anymore since music has changed in 50 years. But at the time, it was the absolute eminent go-to book for information about rock music. Just outstanding.

[Diskojoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this 3 stars since a few of the entries were rather short & the discographies were inconsistent, but this book still had some good insights & was pretty good for its time.

[Guy Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent 60's book updated for 78

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased Lillian Roxon's Rock Encyclopedia when it was released in the early 70's and I'm now on my second copy, having worn out the first one. This was the first serious rock encyclopedia and should now be considered as one of the landmark books in rock literature and journalism. For several years, there were no other rock reference books like it. Roxon's Encyclopedia is now dated by 40 years and she wore her own musical prejudices on her sleave. But it is still great reading for anyone with a passion for 60's music and musical trends.

An essential book for any fan and collector of rock music!

[Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a serious interest in some of the origins of R'n'R, this is for you. There have been times I've consulted this on a daily basis. I must have bought my copy at a HS library bookfair. My copy is not losing pages yet.

[Mike]

An amazing resource. A great way to find out about old bands I've never heard of.