The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul
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This book cost seventeen pounds, so wanting to get my money's worth I decided to read it from cover to cover.  Bad mistake!  After two months I gave up on ever finishing it and put it back on my bookshelf.  The fact is that it was never written for this purpose.  Any encyclopaedia should be used as a reference book and in this context it becomes a fabulous offering.  Discover some artist you've not come across before, then dip into its pages because you're sure to find some reference within them.   Only then will you appreciate what a comprehensive and well researched publication this is.

The book is written by Colin Larkin, the same guy who produced 'The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music'.   'Who's Who' is also a Soul reference book, but is far more readable than this.  For a start it is illustrated with photographs whereas the 'Virgin Encyclopaedia' isn't,  it is also not as heavily laden with mind numbing statistics. The Virgin book covers about five times as many artists with information on where they were born, the type of soul they played, their major influences and other key facts about their lives.  It even lists band members and changes to personnel.  The book goes on to quote positions reached in the UK, American and Soul charts with full discographies.  It is only when you try to read it from cover to cover that you begin to appreciate what a mammoth task compiling it must have been.  If the artist you're looking for is anything more than a one hit wonder then a reference is sure to be within its pages.  It is a book no serious soul fan can afford to be without.

Why Not visit the Authors other Website, 'The Alternative Blackpool Website' at

http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/bpool

This Site Last Updated 18/05/05