The Big Book of Country Music
The Big Book of Country Music: A Biographical Encyclopedia

By Richard Carlin

Published by Penguin Books, 1995.

This is a 6" by 9" paperback running 526 pages including the index, plus an introduction. It's printed on pretty cheap paper for a mass audience rather than specifically for academic library collections.

It's got more than 600 entries, mainly on individual musicians, giving biographical information, descriptions of their style and artistic contributions, a run-down of their recording careers, and selected essential recordings. Sub-genres and styles that are covered in the book don't necessarily have their own entries - only some do. The range of styles included shows the pleasingly-broad definition of Country used in compiling the encyclopedia - it covers "Old Time Music," "Country Rock," "Outlaw Country," "New Roots Music," "Rockabilly," "Countrypolitan."...

The entries are written in a very readable weekly-magazine style, and give lots of good information on the musicians covered. The entry for Waylon Jennings is longer than most, at just over a page. Carlin's discussion of Jennings' career shares a real expert's knowledge of the history of country music and includes his well-informed viewpoints. This book probably benefits from being the work of a single person.

I would like to see more non-biographical entries, for styles of music, important places and events, musical instruments, record companies, etc., but what we have is a nevertheless a very good book. It's useful to country fans, students of music and American culture, and anyone who's curious about country music.