Scan barcode
outcolder's review against another edition
5.0
David Katz is the perfect guy to write this book, and it points to LSP's genius that he roped Katz into doing it. Put "Heart of the Congos" on automatic replay and read this.
barry_x's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to enjoy this and it had been on my 'to read' list for years. My wife picked this up in a charity shop before Christmas and this most definitely was my 'most-looked-forward-to' Christmas read.
That said, I can't but feel a little disappointed by this book. There is potential in here for a truly fantastic book but I think the book needs edited quite a lot. I think one could easily lose 100 pages and still have a better book. I wanted to devour this book but it took weeks to get through and I use the term 'get through' deliberately. It felt like a real chore getting through this book and quite hard work.
The main reason for this is the infuriating habit of introducing every single person who ever worked with Perry. Not just major players - everyone! We hear where and when people were born, what their parents were called and what jobs they did and what job they did. Then we get onto their entire recording career! I could understand doing this for significant people (Coxsone Dodd, Bob Marley etc.) but really - the person who owned the record shop across the road???? I also have a minor gripe in a book so thorough also has a few small inaccuracies. If one is going to spend so long on such small detail let's get it right!
As a fan of Perry's work for a number of years you do get a fascinating look into his life. Because Perry is quite possibly mentally unwell and definitely unstable and has spent much of the last 40 years speaking in riddles it's quite hard to write a conventional biography. It's hard getting into Perry's head and once you think you have got a grip on him he changes perspective and focus. As a consequence of this Katz interviews as many sources as possible to cover Perry's life and career, both personally and musically.
The upshot of this is that there are many voices in here and Katz presents them equally valid and everyone is invited to contribute. This gives the book a sense of authenticity. It is much a history of Jamaican music as it is of Perry's work.
I think the book is exceptionally honest. Katz is clearly a fan and acknowledges Perry as a genius. Anyone familiar with his work would find this hard to disagree with. From the Ska of the 60's, a pioneer of Reggae in the 70's and one of the top two or three people in the creation of Dub Perry's music transcends time. He was significant in breaking the Wailers through and involved in so many important hits of the 70's. His work in other genres and change in perspective from a producer and engineer to a live act and vocalist in the 80's is covered well. I would argue that the Discography at the end of the book is superb and an essential addition to the book - I'm really grateful for it's inclusion.
Katz is honest about Perry's failings. His colleagues comments over recompense for musical collaboration are covered ('Perry paid me nothing') although Perry often claims the same happened to him. It's clear that the decades of unscrupulous and unauthorised Perry releases have not seen royalties head his way. Perry's quite shocking treatment of partners is covered without glamourizing. Perry often had affairs, fathered children, moved countries and shacked up with another without even notifying the person looking after his family. Perry often expressed shock that people weren't there for him whenever he returned...
Perry's public bust-ups with pretty much everyone he worked with and collaborated with are featured and although Perry's comments are highlighted pretty much everyone has a right of reply.
One could read this book and actually feel like they don't like Perry much but there is something quite special about him. He has always been ahead of his time and maybe does come from space. He's made beautiful music, music to dance to, music to relax to, music to think and sometimes quite a lot of unlistenable shit! Katz does have an opinion on Perry's work and is honest about what he feels is good or not (I'd disagree with him on a few pieces but I think the important part is that Katz doesn't say everything is great).
My favourite chapters were about the early days, hey day and eventual destruction of the Black Ark. It was great reading about the stories of the great music made. Perhaps a 'history of the Black Ark' book would have been more focussed and inherently a better book.
Not a great book but a great story. Worth picking up for the discography alone and don't forget to listen to Perry's work as you read this!
That said, I can't but feel a little disappointed by this book. There is potential in here for a truly fantastic book but I think the book needs edited quite a lot. I think one could easily lose 100 pages and still have a better book. I wanted to devour this book but it took weeks to get through and I use the term 'get through' deliberately. It felt like a real chore getting through this book and quite hard work.
The main reason for this is the infuriating habit of introducing every single person who ever worked with Perry. Not just major players - everyone! We hear where and when people were born, what their parents were called and what jobs they did and what job they did. Then we get onto their entire recording career! I could understand doing this for significant people (Coxsone Dodd, Bob Marley etc.) but really - the person who owned the record shop across the road???? I also have a minor gripe in a book so thorough also has a few small inaccuracies. If one is going to spend so long on such small detail let's get it right!
As a fan of Perry's work for a number of years you do get a fascinating look into his life. Because Perry is quite possibly mentally unwell and definitely unstable and has spent much of the last 40 years speaking in riddles it's quite hard to write a conventional biography. It's hard getting into Perry's head and once you think you have got a grip on him he changes perspective and focus. As a consequence of this Katz interviews as many sources as possible to cover Perry's life and career, both personally and musically.
The upshot of this is that there are many voices in here and Katz presents them equally valid and everyone is invited to contribute. This gives the book a sense of authenticity. It is much a history of Jamaican music as it is of Perry's work.
I think the book is exceptionally honest. Katz is clearly a fan and acknowledges Perry as a genius. Anyone familiar with his work would find this hard to disagree with. From the Ska of the 60's, a pioneer of Reggae in the 70's and one of the top two or three people in the creation of Dub Perry's music transcends time. He was significant in breaking the Wailers through and involved in so many important hits of the 70's. His work in other genres and change in perspective from a producer and engineer to a live act and vocalist in the 80's is covered well. I would argue that the Discography at the end of the book is superb and an essential addition to the book - I'm really grateful for it's inclusion.
Katz is honest about Perry's failings. His colleagues comments over recompense for musical collaboration are covered ('Perry paid me nothing') although Perry often claims the same happened to him. It's clear that the decades of unscrupulous and unauthorised Perry releases have not seen royalties head his way. Perry's quite shocking treatment of partners is covered without glamourizing. Perry often had affairs, fathered children, moved countries and shacked up with another without even notifying the person looking after his family. Perry often expressed shock that people weren't there for him whenever he returned...
Perry's public bust-ups with pretty much everyone he worked with and collaborated with are featured and although Perry's comments are highlighted pretty much everyone has a right of reply.
One could read this book and actually feel like they don't like Perry much but there is something quite special about him. He has always been ahead of his time and maybe does come from space. He's made beautiful music, music to dance to, music to relax to, music to think and sometimes quite a lot of unlistenable shit! Katz does have an opinion on Perry's work and is honest about what he feels is good or not (I'd disagree with him on a few pieces but I think the important part is that Katz doesn't say everything is great).
My favourite chapters were about the early days, hey day and eventual destruction of the Black Ark. It was great reading about the stories of the great music made. Perhaps a 'history of the Black Ark' book would have been more focussed and inherently a better book.
Not a great book but a great story. Worth picking up for the discography alone and don't forget to listen to Perry's work as you read this!
testpattern's review against another edition
4.0
Man, but this is a good book. David Katz was hand picked by Scratch to be his biographer, and had unprecedented access to his life and family. This book is meticulously interviewed and researched, and aside from the inevitable pages of trainspotter discography fetishizing, very entertaining.
More...