Funk

Get down with the music that mixes RandB and soul with a little rock'n'roll. This newest addition to the Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion series traces funk from its James Brown roots through today's groove with groups like the Red Hot Chili Peppers - folks who "got on the good foot." Alongside detailed artist biographies, anecdotes and discographies, this guide reviews and rates 1,500 recordings that illustrate each band's sound and musical impact. Artists covered include Average White Band, George Clinton, Herbie Hancock, Rick James, Chaka Khan, Curtis Mayfield, The Meters, Prince, Sly Stone, Tower of Power, War, Wild Cherry and many more.

Library Journal

With informed and witty commentary, Thompson, author of an earlier "Third Ear" entry, Alternative Rock, here presents an essential listening companion that evaluates some 1500 recordings. Highlighted according to categories such as prefunk, classic funk, disco funk, and new school funk (including go-go and rap) are about 150 artists from James Brown to Zapp. Each biography is accompanied by a list of recordings (not just on CD and in fact mainly released as LPs and singles), many with succinct annotations. This is particularly useful given the record business's seeming inability to judge worthwhile funk essentials against passing fads and to keep those classics available. What truly imbues this guide with value, however, is the quality of writing and insight. Thompson is able to survey the larger picture, delve into the historical details necessary to show how funk developed, and analyze the influences of the music on popular culture. Readers will find out, for example, how indebted popular music is to hard-core funk masters such as George Clinton and his enormous retinue of collaborators since the late 1960s. Each section of the book contains several essays, further enhancing the understanding of the music. Topics include the psych-funka-delic experience, Motown's treatment of funk, blaxploitation films and funk music, the British funk connection, disco and the "death of funk," and acid-jazz. A list of essential funk recordings is provided, and a general bibliography includes print sources and useful Internet sites. While Rickey Vincent's Funk (LJ 5/1/96) covers similar ground, Thompson's work has greater depth of coverage. The indexing could be improved, but that is a small fault in view of the strengths. Highly recommended for public, academic, and music libraries.DWilliam G. Kenz, Minnesota State Univ., Moorhead Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.