Many volumes are illustrated and intelligent

"The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics" by David Dodd (Free Press, $35)
Deadheads have always known that there was a lot going on in those songs, and now Dodd, a librarian in San Rafael, has come up with proof. He not only explicates the lyrics, but he also tracks down allusions and echoes -- from Pascal to Poe, from Lewis Carroll to Emily Dickinson, from T.S. Eliot to Rainer Maria Rilke. Jim Carpenter's illustrations add to the general trippiness.
"The B.B. King Treasures: Photos, Mementos & amp; Music From B.B. King's Collection" by B.B. King with Dick Waterman (Bulfinch, $40)
The great bluesman's life, all 80 years of it, summed up in a volume of documents and reminiscences. There's a CD with this one, too; it contains unreleased interviews and recordings.
"A Fine Romance" by Darcie Denkert (Billboard, $45)
This high-concept coffee-table book is about the synergy (or lack of it) between Broadway and Hollywood when it comes to musicals. There are chapters about the stage and film versions of such famous musicals as "My Fair Lady," "The Sound of Music," "Cabaret" and "Chicago." And about movies that became musicals, like "Sunset Boulevard," "The Producers" and "Hairspray." And about hit shows that became flop movies, like "Hello, Dolly!" and "Mame." Lots of backstage trivia and some terrific photographs.