Essential Reading - Country

Joel Whitburn's Country Annual 1944-1997 (overdue for an update)
Joel Whitburn / Paperback / Published 1999

Joel Whitburn's Top Country Albums, 1964-1997 (overdue for an update)
Joel Whitburn, Record Research / Hardcover / Published 1998

Top Country Albums 1964-1997 is an artist-by-artist listing of every album to appear on Billboard's "Top Country Albums" chart from its first appearance in 1964 through September, 1997. Here is the only place you'll find the complete album chart histories of such Country greats as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Jr. and many, many more! Includes individual tracks from each Top 10 Album below the album title, pictures of the Top 50 Artists, comprehensive artist biographies, interesting title notes, complete A-Z track listing of every track from every Top 10 album, Top 200 Artists Ranking, Top Artist and Record Achievements, a chronological listing of all #1 albums, and more.

The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits (overdue for an update)
Tom Roland / Published 1991