Charlie Gillett - Sound Of The City

What can you say about this book. If you read one work about Rhythm and Blues, this has to be it. The book has its origins in a Masters thesis as far back as 1966. This history probably accounts for the fact that it is structurally sound and possessed of proper depth which is often lacking in publications of this type - but don't be put off by the academic beginnings, the book is immensely readable. It's bulging with facts and incredibly well researched and is probably the definitive and most thorough history of American popular music.

Passionately written but without overtly subjective partiality, it achieves the rare feat of coupling accuracy with a real enthusiasm for the subject. The book has the additional advantage of being consistently updated. Make sure you get the latest edition. In the latest version, it has an additional three sections containing 75 superb historic photos.
It also contains an excellent list of recommended CD compilations - if you get even half of the Gillett recommendations, you will have one of the best collections of R&B around - and one which would be the envy of any blues or soul fan. That's the other important point about Gillett - he's got incredible musical taste.

And if it hadn't been for this book, I'd probably never have been able to get away with writing a degree dissertation with a popular music theme (dressed up within a suitably academic context of course), so thanks Charlie!