Funk: Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion (Third Ear: the Essential Listening Companion Series) [Paperback]

Dave Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Third Ear | Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Get down with the music that mixes R&B 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.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-This is an informative and entertaining source for good biographical sketches of funk musicians and singers. Thompson defines funk in a poetic, nontechnical way, and provides a general history of the music. Discographies and extensive lists of hip-hop and rhythm-and-blues songs follow each individual or group entry. Certain major figures, such as James Brown, the Isley Brothers, George Clinton, and Prince, are allotted more space than others. An essay about the role the music played in promoting blaxploitation movies includes brief synopses and critiques of 12 such films. The chapter entitled "Disco and the Death of Funk" describes disco as superficial and lacking in soul, but discusses how it nonetheless became quite popular for a while. Toward the end of the book, there are essays on go-go and rap, two musical forms that rebelled against the blandness and predictability of disco. The index is detailed, and black-and-white photographs are included.
Joyce Fay Fletcher, Rippon Middle School, Prince William County, VA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From 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 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879306297
• ISBN-13: 978-0879306298
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,059,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Funk for ABSOLUTE beginners..., December 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Funk: Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion (Third Ear: the Essential Listening Companion Series) (Paperback)

Since the original FUNK came out by Rickey Vincent some 5-6 years ago, a lot of people have tried to jump on the funky bandwagon. Thompson's book is just the latest and nowhere near the greatest. Basically, this is a book by someone who likens funkiness with how danceable the music is. However, this is only scratching the surface. THE FUNK is much deeper than that, and it seems that Thompson--like a lot of musical commentators whose expertise lies OUTSIDE the realm of FUNK--doesn't realize it.

Thompson's a fish out of water. If there is a plus with this book, it's that there is a discography. If you're looking to "get into the funk" and are an absolute beginner, this might be a great starting point. If you know the difference between "disco" and funk, are looking for some DEPTH, and are a serious FUNKATEER, don't even waste your time with this book...unless you need access to a discography or something like that.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference. Made many great purchases from this book!, March 16, 2003

By 

souldrummer (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Funk: Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion (Third Ear: the Essential Listening Companion Series) (Paperback)

I thoroughly disagree with ... who compared this book to Rickey Vincent's book, which is also pretty good. Vincent's book is intended as a philosophical and historical book, pointing toward an Afrocentric view of funk as a philosophy/borderline religion. Very ambititous and worth reading. Thompson's book more than fulfills its intentions, which is to be a thorough reference for funk. It's got great biographical summaries on many groups, and it also gives balanced reviews of the key albums and shows evidence of being thoroughly researched. Also, you get a sense of the author's biases, which are inevitable in any CD review guide written by one or two authors [think Penguin Guide to Jazz for example]. After the classic funk bands [George Clinton, Kool & the Gang, James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire] Thompson's more likely to get heavy into electrofunk. This is cool, but was not as helpful for me as I'm more into acoustic funk after the biggies. Meaning that a lot of New Orleans funk compilations and soul funk compilations slip under the radar.

One of the biggest helpful things about this book, however, if you're into hip-hop is that it lists many of the key tracks with sampled singles by a particular artist. As someone growing from a love of The Funk to building a hip-hop collection, that aspect pointed me toward a lot of the great CDs from the glory age of hip-hop before the industry made sampling the classics prohibitively expensive.

All in all this is a great reference for funk, certainly the best out there on the market [better than All Music Guide] and worth picking up if you're looking for a thorough reference for funk.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mostly disappointing, April 21, 2004

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Funk: Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion (Third Ear: the Essential Listening Companion Series) (Paperback)

I'm familiar with at least half the artists and the albums and the stories this book tells about. Not much is accurate. The writer gives too many personal opinions on the music, many discographies lack important information, the selected sample lists are unnecessary (and take up LOTS of space in the book), and the reviews are uninsightful. Lots of research must've been done in order to get this much "fact" into these many pages, but obviously not enough. Not recommended.