Country /

Country 0 is a volume in the Facts On File American Popular Music0 set, which also includes the volumes Blues, Classical, Folk, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Roll0 , and a comprehensive index. This set is designed to provide concise information on genres of music important to U.S. culture, and is written for readers from grades nine and up. Country0 emphasizes current stars but does have some articles on historical aspects of the genre, as well as on related genres such as bluegrass and gospel music. Approximately 400 entries cover personalities, key performances and events, recordings, musical instruments, essential publications, hit songs, historical and social issues, recording companies, and organizations. Entries are arranged alphabetically, are 100 to 500 words long, and are cross-referenced. Users will also find a selection of photographs of performers, composers, or musical instruments. Unfortunately, there are only about 55 photographs, and the targeted audience would benefit from far more--at least photos of all of the artists covered. The appendixes are a chronology of major events arranged by year, a list of selected recordings to supplement the reading, a short selection of Web sites, and DVD and video recordings. Carlin ends the book with a glossary of musical terms and a list of further readings. The listings for Web sites should have been more inclusive of music downloads and podcasts for the genres, considering the numbers of iPods or MP3 players sold each year to the intended audience. Since country music appears to be growing in popularity and attracting audiences of all ages, this and other volumes in the set would be a welcome yet not essential purchase for secondary-school and public libraries. --Lisa Johnston Copyright 2006 Booklist

This seven-volume set (the eighth volume, consisting of a comprehensive index, comes only with the purchase of the complete set) on major musical branches is aimed at high school readers. Boasting contributors with some impressive credentials, it promises to be an ideal research tool. But the 300-500 A-to-Z entries in each volume tend to be cute and overly general (e.g., the definition of scat singing begins, "Bim, bop, bam, and dwee dooda ya. A vocal style in which the singer uses nonsense syllables to improvise on a melody"), and the bibliographies are a bit spotty. The major problem, however, is the number of factual errors and discrepancies found in several of the volumes. For example, Hoffmann's (library science, Sam Houston State Univ.) Rhythm & Blues lists the wrong birth year and city for Stevie Wonder as well as the wrong release year for his Songs in the Key of Life album; Weissman's (The Music Business) Blues mysteriously has Jimi Hendrix (who died in 1970) living until 1976; and Hill's Classical states that composer Howard Hanson's best-known work is his "Symphony No. 3 (the `Romantic')." True, but the `Romantic' subtitle belongs to his Symphony No. 2. The Country, Rock & Roll, and Folk volumes fare better. Each of the seven volumes includes approximately 50 black-and-white photographs, some general bibliographic information, a chronology, and a glossary of technical terms; all the volumes are well indexed, though not all contain fairly extensive, annotated discographies that would be useful. Bottom Line Despite its potential and some fascinating entries, the number of factual errors for even well-known figures makes this set less than suitable as a research tool. Since the volumes are available separately, Carlin's (Southern Exposure) Folk is recommended for high school libraries.-James E. Perone, Mount Union Coll., Alliance, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.