It looks like Martin C Strong is King Of The Hill for that kind of book - a straight discography. Is that what you are looking for ?

If you want something that is a big list-y book of interesting albums, then there are hours of fun with "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" : http://www.amazon.co.uk/1001-Albums-Must-Hear-Before/dp/1844033929/ref=s....

The Mojo Collection is also pretty good. http://www.amazon.co.uk/MOJO-Collection-Ultimate-Music-Companion/dp/1841...

(I don't have the Strong, but I do have the other two and they are great fun, although I don't think they are correct on every topic - that would be impossible to achieve!).

to this sort of book? I got a second hand of the "indie rock" book a few years ago not sure with wiki anyone will be bothered to print a new version.

The Illlustrated NME Encyclopaedia of Rock (2nd Ed.) - covers everything up to the end of 1976.

A copy that someone had nicked from the local library and then abandoned in our school formed the basis of my musical education. I can still recite large sections from memory.

I remember a picture of the cover of Wings' Red Rose Speedway with the caption "Too bad there was only room for Paul on the cover". Ah, the NME ... says it all really.

Anyone else own it?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Music-Guide-Rock-Media/dp/087930653X/ref=sr_...

"This well-respected reference has been completely updated, expanded, and revised to reflect the ever-evolving world of rock. Compiled by dozens of noted music critics, this third edition reviews and rates more than 12,000 great albums by over 2,000 artists and groups, both mainstream and alternative. A brief profile details each performer's career, while insightful reviews of top recordings help define the musician's artistic development and impact on rock."

It only goes up to mid 2001 but still well worth having on a shelf nearby. I didn't have access to the internet circa 2003 and it was £20+ in the shops. So I used to go to Dillons (now Waterstones) to read the reviews in it before buying CDs I was unsure about. Eventually Fopp had it on sale for £10 and grabbed a copy.

The more up to date online version can be found here:
http://www.allmusic.com/

Plenty of great suggestions ~ even come complete with links. Now I have somewhere to start and can set aside a couple of hours for some very enjoyable research. In mad dash now to catch the train but will let you know how I get on.

You make great santa's little helpers!

you might try Terry Hounsome's 'Rock ROM 10', which is only available as a database on CD-ROM. You'll need to use Windows to view it.

Earlier editions were hard copy (mine was called 'New Rock Record - 3rd Edition' and was about 3 inches thick in paperback), and very browse-able in a dictionary sort of fashion. It was owning and enjoying that version which led me to stump for the electronic upgrade a few years later.

I bought my copy about 5 or 6 years ago, and it hasn't progressed beyond version 10 since then, so I can only assume he's given up the heinous task of keeping it up to date. No matter, as a definitive resource up until that point it's priceless.

It claims to contain 738,737 albums and singles featuring 2,400,002 songs published by over 20,000 record labels. I haven't counted them, but I'll take his word for it.

As far as I know it's still available from Terry via his website; a brief Google for 'Rock ROM 10' will find it. It's about 25 quid. I should add that there's no critical content; it's purely factual, so if you want opinion try one of the Guinness genre books, or one of the other suggestions on this thread.