The story behind the making of the album that signaled the descent of Sylvester Sly Stone Stewart into a haze of drug addiction and delirium is captivating enough for the cinema. In the spacious attic of a Beverly Hills mansion belonging to John and Michelle Phillips (of the Mamas and the Papas) during the fall of 1970, Sly Stone began recording his follow-up to 1969's "Stand!" the most popular album of his band's career.

This up-close look of the stories behind some of the most influential rock-and-roll albums is packed with revealing anecdotes -- many never published before.

Whether on vinyl or MP3, the album has become an integral part of our cultural history. This book tells the stories behind the most groundbreaking, influential, and often controversial albums ever recorded. Among the featured: Pet Sounds (The Beach Boys), What's Going On (Marvin Gay), London Calling (The Clash), No Fences (Garth Brooks), and The Chronic (Dr. Dre). Narrative chapters in this chronologically organized volume describe how the albums reflected the political, social, and economic culture of the era. Individual entries discuss the albums' histories, the inspiration behind their creation, and why they continue to stand the test of time.

A week-by-week listing of the nearly 5,000 records that reached the top position on Billboard's major charts from January, 1950 through December, 1991. Includes #1s from the Pop Singles and Albums, RandB Singles and Albums, Country Singles and Albums, and Adult Contemporary Singles charts.

An 8-volume reference set containing over 4,000 entries written by distinguished scholars, 'The African American National Biography' is the most significant and expansive compilation of black lives in print today.