1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (1,000 Before You Die)

The massive scope and breadth of this book would make it a useful resource. However, Moon goes well beyond scope and provides a means of discovering great music crossing all genres that most of us would be unlikely to discover on our own. So to evaluate this book it is better not to ask 'does it include what I like', but rather 'does it help me find great music to listen to'.

To give you an idea of the usefulness of this book, here are the basic facts:

* 1007 pages

* general index: 65 pages

* classical and opera performers index : 13 pages

* classical and opera composers index : 5 pages

* 'occasions' index, comprising 'cocktail hour', 'get the party started', 'music to inspire reflection', 'romance enhancers', 'cardio workout', 'play this for the kids', 'roadtrip soundtrack AM', 'roadtrip soundtrack PM', 'lazy sunday morning', 'headphone journey', 'superman's earbuds'.

* genres index : 15 pages

Moon also includes a page listing sources of hard-to-find music. In addition you can visit 1000recordings.com, and the Amazon 1000 recordings site.

The 1000 recordings are albums, not individual tracks. Each entry includes a brief review, usually including the historical and musical context and history. The entry also includes the release year, publisher, key tracks, other titles from the same performer, and 'links' to related music.

Big warning here: this book can grab your time. I've found myself opening the book just to find something to buy at the Amazon MP3 store, and two hours later I'm still browsing.

We purchased several copies of this book after my husband heard about it on Public Radio. Members of our families also are book and music lovers, so we thought it was the perfect gift. After sharing it with friends one evening, and the joy they experienced we are sure it will be a hit.

For the intellectually incurious, a guide to one man's opinions. For the rest of us, we'll turn on the radio, check out Youtube and go to see live shows based on word of mouth. I hear tell he's already working Volume 2. Jayzuz. As Lennon would say, "there's a proper job."

I've just gotten started reading this, on recommendation from a friend. I am 56 and grew up listening to most of the early rock albums he reviews. I skip over the classical, and there's a lot of genres covered that I don't normally listen to, but I will search out these gems and give a listen. The book is a collection of album reviews, mostly 33 rpm LPs, which is an almost extinct format that music was delivered in, when most of these recordings were made. Each album gets a half-to-full page review, and so far, I've found the reviews to be dead on with my perception of the music. I am a musician, so I am particularly critical if anything written is out of line. If you are not familiar with all major rock and pop artists and influences from the 60's onward, then it will give you a great roadmap to seek out great music, the likes of which is not made anymore. Good job Tom Moon. It's a good read. I also recommend Rolling Stone's book collections of interviews for more in-depth history into the making of classic rock music.

Let's agree not to quibble about whether our favorite recordings made it into the list. Just the sheer scope and breadth of this book would make it a useful resource. But Moon goes well beyond scope and provides a means of discovering great music that most of us would be unlikely to discover on our own. So to evaluate this book it is better not to ask 'does it include what I like', but rather 'does it help me find great music to listen to'.

To give you an idea of what this book is like, here are the basic elements:

* 1007 pages

* general index: 65 pages

* classical and opera performers index : 13 pages

* classical and opera composers index : 5 pages

* 'occasions' index, comprising 'cocktail hour', 'get the party started', 'music to inspire reflection', 'romance enhancers', 'cardio workout', 'play this for the kids', 'roadtrip soundtrack AM', 'roadtrip soundtrack PM', 'lazy sunday morning', 'headphone journey', 'superman's earbuds'.

* genres index : 15 pages

Moon also includes a page listing sources of hard-to-find music. In addition you can visit 1000recordings.com, and the Amazon 1000 recordings site.

The 1000 recordings are albums, not individual tracks. Each entry includes a brief review, usually including the historical and musical context and history. The entry also includes the release year, publisher, key tracks, other titles from the same performer, and 'links' to related music.

Big warning here: this book can be a huge time-suck. I've found myself opening the book just to find something to buy at the Amazon MP3 store, and two hours later I'm still browsing.

This book is worth the price, even if you are a very casual music listener (as I am).