Customer Reviews

People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee "Scratch" Perry

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

 

 

A must read for anyone who thought that they know about Reggea, Rock Steady, Ska - Jamaican music in general. This book must be the ultimate documentary of music as well as the music scene in Jamaica during the 60's,70's, and 80's. It's not just a book about Scratch; it is a book about all Jamaican musicians, singers and procuders of the period. It's the best documented piece of Jamaican history. Someday it will become the most sought after Jamaican history book!

David Kratz ensures that the reader lives moment by moment with almost every musician, producers, and Jamaican artist of the period - some of whom have long been forgotten. He takes you into the studios, delves into the background of each and every artist mentioned in the book, takes to the UK and US with Scratch and Bob Marley, then brings you back to the Black Art Studio where Scratch produced some of the most revolutionary and influential Jamaican music.

Any Jamaican who reads this book will certainly say: "Me know da music deh, but me didn't know sey a Scratch do it." The reader will soon learn that Scratch is the greatest Jamaican music producer. No other producer will ever come close to matching his skill and artistry of Scratch in the studio. Nuff respect to Scratch. He is a true genious! And hat's off to David Katz. He certainly knows how to "ride de rythm". The book is a master piece!

This is a serious book about reggae music - a history of the music in a way, from the perspective a single individual (Scratch). Entertaining and yet filled with facts, and especially for collectors, this book contains lots of clues and actual references to various obscure tracks that one might otherwise miss. I call it the Atlas Roadmap since I use it frequently for my various projects. Well written and thoroughly researched, we have a quality piece of work that Mr. Katz has put all of his energy into and that deserves much praise.

I love Lee Perry, and reggae, and reading, but not this book. While it is undoubtedly a useful historical document listing nearly all the musicians who played on nearly every song recorded by Perry, i found it so tedious that i couldn't finish it. If you are keen to know who played on which songs you will find it interesting, but if you are hoping for a well written biography, there is not much in here. Katz is very sympathetic to Perry, has obviously done an enormous amount of research, and spent hundreds of hours sifting fact from fiction, not to mention tolerating the mania of one of the 20th century's greatest artists, but what he hasn't done is written a book that could hold my attention.

I think the book is a disaster and cannot understand how anyone could call it a masterpiece. If you don't have them, you would be far better off spending your hard earned cash on Arkology or Dub Triptych. And if you do have them just play them again and wait until someone writes a better book than this. Doctor On The Go.

Scratch your Lee Perry itch. I am awed to have in my hands 536 pages of all things Upsetting. Buy this book, if a so a so.