Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This book does something that Ricky Vincent's more schlorly prose did not-it reviews specific albums and is quite well detained.The funk regulars are all included but I found out about albums and acts in here I didn't even know existed,making this the favorable next step if you already have the Ricky Vincent book.This one more extensively covers funk-jazz and electro.Of course it runs into typical pitfalls-an albiet smaller amount of disco prejiduce but also refer to the wonderful British funk band Level 42 as 'sterile' (they deserved their own section).
My deduction of two stars for this book has nothing to do with the information contained within but with the quality of the writing.These pages are packed full of endless misprints and grammatical errors-as if it were printed by an infant.Paragraphs are listed in the same bold face type as the headings-words or misspelled and these people CONSTANTLY get album release years wrong!The fact that a proffesional printer would EVER release any volume such as this into the public is entirely beyond my understanding.This edition should be withdram emmediately and re released with heavy corrections!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, from beginning to the end. The writer goes into explicit chronological detail of the music, groups, solo artist, showcasing the creative icons that played a substanial role in the 70's 80's and 90's. I discovered I didn't know as much as I thought, viewing photo's that I had never seen. This is a must purchase, truly "Funk is it's own reward."

I am a 12 year old student who has listened to funk music as long as I can remember, Mr. Thompson's book is very informative. I especially liked the chapters on Chaka, Mother's Finest, and The Brides of Funkenstein. To my amazement I learned that Dawn Silva from the Brides has a new Cd??!

My Dad is a old school DJ and he has thousands of old vinyl, mostly of all females from back in the day. The best song I ever heard was a song called Never buy Texas from a cowboy, by the funk group The BRIDES. I was hoping to find in the book what the title of this song means? anyway it is still my all time favorite song. I was very thank-ful that Mr Thompson did this discography. Must have been very wonderful back in the 70's 80's cause I think this was when music was at its all time best.

The history, sound and roots of funk music and musicians are explored in Dave Thompson's Funk, a title which covers all genre; from classic and disco to funk rock and soul. Of particular interest are the discographies of artists' funk recordings, which review and rate influential funk recordings. Fans of funk music will find this a unique coverage.

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)(...). Lots of research must've been done in order to get this much "fact" into these many pages, but obviously not enough. Not recommended.

I am a 12 year old student who has listened to funk music as long as I can remember, Mr. Thompson's book is very informative. I especially liked the chapters on Chaka, Mother's Finest, and The Brides of Funkenstein. To my amazement I learned that Dawn Silva from the Brides has a new Cd??!

My Dad is a old school DJ and he has thousands of old vinyl, mostly of all females from back in the day. The best song I ever heard was a song called Never buy Texas from a cowboy, by the funk group The BRIDES. I was hoping to find in the book what the title of this song means? anyway it is still my all time favorite song. I was very thank-ful that Mr Thompson did this discography. Must have been very wonderful back in the 70's 80's cause I think this was when music was at its all time best.

Yanow covers almost every aspect of swing(he's left out Banu Gibson!), with a few acceptions. From Louis armstrong's Hot Fives & Sevens to Glenn Miller, to Squirrell Nut Zippers. Surprisingly the tough jazz critic likes Bran Setzer's Dirty boogie Cd, and gives Squirrel Nut Zippers HOT cd, a rating of 9(out of 10)! A great book and Yanow tells it like it is, if it doesn't swing, or the musucianship is poor he's not afraid to say so. a grea thonest book that will tell you what cd's to bu yand what to skip. Includes an interview with big band leader Lavay Smith(he gives her cd a perfect 10 rating)! Even a whole section here on modern swing including Big Bad Voovdoo Daddy, Cherry Poppin Daddies, and more... Fun book to read while stuck on the toilet, I keep one in all three of my bathrooms, and one in the car for when I go to record stores!!!