This is a book put together by Option magazine on the history of "alternative" rock.

Chuck Eddy is a great popular music critic. His book Stairway to Hell : The 500 Best Heavy Metal Albums in the Universe is also interesting -- I love lists of albums so I can see if I have them all!

This item is currently out of print, although I bought it at a large book chain in 1996 with no problems.

I really think that Rhino Records are a great resource when it comes to covers and interpretations of music, and just music trivia in general. I give them a lot of credit for having been in a good location (Los Angeles) and being around for a long time, so their opinions are really worth listening to.

If you enjoyed the Rhino Records Golden Throats series of covers compilations, you'll enjoy this listing of recordings that celebrities have done of popular music. My favorite example to date is Jim Nabors' cover of "A Kind of Hush".

This book is really complete, including not only what I would consider novelty songs but also parodies and one-hit wonders. It includes a discography of songs mentioned and many other bibliographical information.

Another reference book that tells you about the bands that influenced your favorite bands. It's easy to like bands you hear on the radio or in clubs, but you can get a better appreciation of your favorite bands by listening to the bands that they grew up on. You'll often find a new favorite band by listening to someone that is appreciated by someone you admire. And that is the heart of covers -- introducing a new audience to music that they might not come into contact with otherwise.