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Strong has researched music extensively since the early 1980s, dedicating 70 hours per week to his craft as of 2004.<ref name=”herald”>{{cite journal|last=Jamieson|first=Teddy|date=9 October 2004|title=Life lines|journal=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|publisher=[[Newsquest]]}}</ref> |
Strong has researched music extensively since the early 1980s, dedicating 70 hours per week to his craft as of 2004.<ref name=”herald”>{{cite journal|last=Jamieson|first=Teddy|date=9 October 2004|title=Life lines|journal=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|publisher=[[Newsquest]]}}</ref> |
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Strong wrote”The Great Rock Discography”, with the 7th edition being published in 2004; the foreword was penned by [[disc jockey]] [[John Peel]].<ref>[http://www.books-by-isbn.com/1-84195/1841955515-The-Great-Rock-Discography-John-Peel-Martin-C.-Strong-1-84195-551-5.html The Great Rock Discography at books-by-isbn.com]</ref> The book has garnered acclaim,<ref name=”fishpond”>{{cite web|url=http://www.fishpond.co.uk/Books/Essential-Rock-Discography-Martin-C-Strong/9781841959856|title=The Essential Rock Discography|publisher=[[Fishpond.co.nz|Fishpond]]|access-date=31 August 2014}}</ref> with United States music critic [[Robert Christgau]] recommending it as one of the three best rock music encyclopaedias, and the one with the “maddest completism”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg90/ack.php|title=Albums of the ’90s: Acknowledgments|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=2000|publisher=RobertChristgau.com|access-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> Author [[Ian Rankin]] named it as one of the “5 Books Every Man Should Read”, calling it “a great book” that “would keep [him] happy on any desert island”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.askmen.com/entertainment/special_feature_200/225_hardware.html|title=Ian Rankin: 5 Books Every Man Should Read|last=Budak|first=Bertan|publisher=[[AskMen]]|access-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> It was re-released as ”The Essential Rock Discography”, a condensed version, in 2006.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Guthrie|first=Sean|date=11 November 2006|title=The Essential Rock Discography|journal=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|publisher=[[Newsquest]]}}</ref> |
Strong wrote”The Great Rock Discography”, with the 7th edition being published in 2004; the foreword was penned by [[disc jockey]] [[John Peel]].<ref>[http://www.books-by-isbn.com/1-84195/1841955515-The-Great-Rock-Discography-John-Peel-Martin-C.-Strong-1-84195-551-5.html The Great Rock Discography at books-by-isbn.com]</ref> The book has garnered acclaim,<ref name=”fishpond”>{{cite web|url=http://www.fishpond.co.uk/Books/Essential-Rock-Discography-Martin-C-Strong/9781841959856|title=The Essential Rock Discography|publisher=[[Fishpond.co.nz|Fishpond]]|access-date=31 August 2014}}</ref> with United States music critic [[Robert Christgau]] recommending it as one of the three best rock music encyclopaedias, and the one with the “maddest completism”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg90/ack.php|title=Albums of the ’90s: Acknowledgments|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=2000|publisher=RobertChristgau.com|access-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> Author [[Ian Rankin]] named it as one of the “5 Books Every Man Should Read”, calling it “a great book” that “would keep [him] happy on any desert island”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.askmen.com/entertainment/special_feature_200/225_hardware.html|title=Ian Rankin: 5 Books Every Man Should Read|last=Budak|first=Bertan|publisher=[[AskMen]]|access-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> It was re-released as ”The Essential Rock Discography”, a condensed version, in 2006.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Guthrie|first=Sean|date=11 November 2006|title=The Essential Rock Discography|journal=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|publisher=[[Newsquest]]}}</ref> |
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Strong has also authored ”The Great Metal Discography” (2 editions), ”The Great Psychedelic”, ”The Great Alternative & Indie” (2 volumes) and ”Lights, Camera, Soundtracks” (with Brendon Griffin). Along with ”The Great/Essential Rock Discography” – on which Griffin also worked sporadically<ref name=”fishpond”/> – these titles have been published by [[Canongate Books]].<ref>[http://www.bookfinder.com/author/martin-c-strong/ Martin C. Strong] at [[BookFinder.com]]</ref> [[Mercat Press]] published a history of Scottish contemporary music, ”The Great Scots Musicography”, in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/books/delving-into-the-valley-of-musical-heritage-1-1380488|title=Delving into the valley of musical heritage|last=Johnstone|first=Doug|date=21 December 2002|website=[[The Scotsman]]|publisher=[[Johnston Press]]|access-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> Strong’s final tomes were two volumes of ”The Great Folk Discography”, published by [[Birlinn (publisher)|Birlinn]] in 2010 and 2011; a third part of the trilogy, ”The Great Folk Discography: The Celtic Connections”, has been shelved. |
Strong has also authored ”The Great Metal Discography” (2 editions), ”The Great Psychedelic”, ”The Great Alternative & Indie” (2 volumes) and ”Lights, Camera, Soundtracks” (with Brendon Griffin). Along with ”The Great/Essential Rock Discography” – on which Griffin also worked sporadically<ref name=”fishpond”/> – these titles have been published by [[Canongate Books]].<ref>[http://www.bookfinder.com/author/martin-c-strong/ Martin C. Strong] at [[BookFinder.com]]</ref> [[Mercat Press]] published a history of Scottish contemporary music, ”The Great Scots Musicography”, in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/books/delving-into-the-valley-of-musical-heritage-1-1380488|title=Delving into the valley of musical heritage|last=Johnstone|first=Doug|date=21 December 2002|website=[[The Scotsman]]|publisher=[[Johnston Press]]|access-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> Strong’s final tomes were two volumes of ”The Great Folk Discography”, published by [[Birlinn (publisher)|Birlinn]] in 2010 and 2011; a third part of the trilogy, ”The Great Folk Discography: The Celtic Connections”, has been shelved. |
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Revision as of 12:27, 30 September 2025
Scottish discographer
Martin Charles Strong (born 1960 in Musselburgh) is a Scottish music historian known for compiling discographies of popular music including The Great Rock Discography. Strong has been described in broadsheet newspaper profiles as a “compiler of acclaimed mammoth discographies”[1] and “a man who knows more about rock music than is healthy for one individual”.[2]
Career
Strong has researched music extensively since the early 1980s, dedicating 70 hours per week to his craft as of 2004.[3]
Strong wrote The Great Rock Discography, with the 7th edition being published in 2004; the foreword was penned by disc jockey John Peel.[4] The book has garnered acclaim,[5] with United States music critic Robert Christgau recommending it as one of the three best rock music encyclopaedias, and the one with the “maddest completism”.[6] Author Ian Rankin named it as one of the “5 Books Every Man Should Read”, calling it “a great book” that “would keep [him] happy on any desert island”.[7] It was re-released as The Essential Rock Discography, a condensed version, in 2006.[8]
Strong has also authored The Great Metal Discography (2 editions), The Great Psychedelic, The Great Alternative & Indie (2 volumes) and Lights, Camera, Soundtracks (with Brendon Griffin). Along with The Great/Essential Rock Discography – on which Griffin also worked sporadically[5] – these titles have been published by Canongate Books.[9] Mercat Press published a history of Scottish contemporary music, The Great Scots Musicography, in 2002.[10] Strong’s final tomes were two volumes of The Great Folk Discography, published by Birlinn in 2010 and 2011; a third part of the trilogy, The Great Folk Discography: The Celtic Connections, has been shelved.
Aside from his books, Strong has written for The List,[11] Record Collector, Songlines, HMV Choice and the Rough Guides series.[5] He served as researcher for Jimmy Cliff‘s 2003 Anthology release.[12]
Personal life
Strong lives in Falkirk[3] and has three daughters.[13]
References
External links
