Here is how to find information about a song, a band, an oldie or a singer...

new or old... Go ahead and give it a try.

I need more information about a song (e.g., band or song name, songwriter).

The following web sites have a wealth of information for oldies music lovers and collectors:

1. Library of Congress Recorded Sound Section Database (SONIC) - This is one entry point to the US Government's massive record collection whose holdings include over 100,000 45s catalogued to date. Click on either the "Commercial 78s, 45s, and Cassettes" or "Music Only" links under "Special Search Screens" on the right hand side to access the search form. Here, you can verify a song title and obtain other information such as performing artist(s), B-side song, record label, and songwriter(s).

2. Global Electronic Music Marketplace (GEMM) - GEMM is a marketplace made up of thousands of music stores, both small and large (and not all online). All the stores' listings, which include numerous 45 rpm recordings, have been conveniently consolidated into one big database where you can find/verify a song title, performing artist(s), B-side song, and record label information.

3. US Copyright Office Online - This is another valuable (and often overlooked) resource for verifying a song title and finding its songwriter(s). You can also find complete lists of all copyrighted works by a performing artist or songwriter.

4. British Library National Sound Archive (NSA) Catalogue - If you cannot find whatever you are looking for in the LOC SONIC database (see above) or need information on British oldies or American oldies that may have also charted in the UK, check out this web site. Here, you will find an astronomical collection of sound recordings of all types with record label and other information. Click on the "Advanced Search" tab to access the Advanced Search form.

5. ASCAP - ACE Database - ACE is a database of song titles licensed by ASCAP in the United States. For each title, you can find the names of the songwriters and the names, contact persons, addresses and, in most cases, phone numbers of publishers to contact if you want to use the work. For most of the titles, you'll find some of the artists who have made commercial recordings. If you cannot find your song title in the ACE database, it may not be licensed through ASCAP, in which case you should try the BMI and SESAC databases. (See below.)

6. BMI Repertoire - This website offers information very similar to that of ASCAP (see above) for song titles licensed through BMI.

7. SESAC - If you are looking for information on a song not licensed through either ASCAP or BMI, this organization offers information similar to ASCAP and BMI (see above). Click on the "Repertory Search" button to access their database.

8. All Music Guide (AMG) - This web site also offers a wealth of song title information and is especially useful if the only information you have about a song is the album on which it is included. The AMG web site can be searched by band or song name, album title, or record label.

9. Bowling Green State University Jerome Library - This web site is the best place to go if your song is on an old LP album and you cannot find it at AMG (see above). Select "SOUND RECORD" under "Material Type" to restrict your search to the sound recordings archive.

10. eBay - Due to its numerous listings (which change daily), eBay has amassed a huge repository of information on all types of music recordings and accompanying song title information. For example, valuable information as found on old record jackets is searchable through their web site.

11. Google Groups - Here, you can access the Usenet archives which have a goldmine of useful information for music hobbyists. For example, see above for ways to use the Usenet archives to find long-lost tunes from half-forgotten song fragments.

12. Google - All of the above web sites are fine examples of what can be found via the "hidden" Internet not normally accessible by search engines. By far, the best search engine to round out your search is Google. Often, if you choose your search terms even halfway right, the results you are looking for will magically "float" right to the top.