First, a confession: I have not read this book cover to cover. This is more of a beautifully illustrated reference book giving the history of each Christmas Carol. It comes in a boxed set with 3 CD's (47 songs). The book has almost 100 beautiful Christmas images including Saturday Evening Post covers, Currier and Ives Lithographs, N.C. Wyeth, Norman Rockwell, Grandma Moses, ...even art from private collections and the Ukrainian National Art Museum. Wow!
When I leave this book on my coffee table, visitors ask where they can buy one.
I like the fact that I can look up the words to all of those songs that I keep playing on my CD player.

This reference to the songs, orchestras and individuals of the big band music era will prove an indispensable reference to any student of swing or jazz big band music: it covers songs favored by swing era orchestras and provides an excellent examination of both the roots of the songs and those orchestras which made them famous.

This history of rock music covers rock from its beginnings to the mid-1970s, providing over a hundred essays on various songs and trends in the genre. Musicians and writers explore the entire cultural and historical context of rock music and provide an excellent survey.