Funk

Dan Piepenbring was selected by Prince to help him write his memoirs, but Prince died shortly after they began working together. Piepenbring edited the new book 'The Beautiful Ones' which includes writings by Prince about his childhood and adolescence, as well as photos, letters, and lyric sheets.

Bruce Talamon has photographed Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Barry White, Bob Marley, Patti LaBelle ... the list goes on. A new book shows his work from 1972-1982.

The producer says there was a moment when his co-writers thought, "Maybe this song wasn't meant to be." He also describes working with Amy Winehouse and Bruno Mars.

Fresh Air rock critic Ken Tucker says Black Messiah is as adventurous as any fan could hope for.

If you've been wondering where Prince has gone, he's re-signed with Warner Brothers Records after spending the last few years of sporadic independent releases. Now Prince has released two new albums simultaneously: Art Official Age appears under his own name, and PlectrumElectrum is the debut record of a Prince back-up band called 3rdEyeGirl, but it includes Prince's vocals, guitar, and production style throughout. Fresh Air critic Ken Tucker has a review of both albums.

Two fine albums by drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson and the Decoding Society, Man Dance and its sequel Barbeque Dog, are now available again as downloads, after being out of print for ages. Fresh Air critic Kevin Whitehead says they're prime examples of the 1980s' so-called "free-funk" movement.

Stone is known to millions from the records he made with Sly and the Family Stone. But his early days, and the recordings he produced for his own Stone Flower label, add another dimension to the career of this enigmatic character, rock historian Ed Ward said.

Dedicated and curious music fans are regularly finding new chapters in rock history from around the globe. Critic Milo Miles reviews one recent collection, a series of anthologies focusing on the lively story of vintage pop in Panama.

Blending funk, hip-hop, and jazz sounds, the New Orleans-based band Galactic combines musical genres to create a new sound that they make their own. Critic Ken Tucker says heir newest album Ya-Ka-May is a true rhythmic pleasure.

Rock historian Ed Ward remembers the Detroit label Westbound Records, which recorded early funk, disco and gospel in the 1970s.

Fresh Air rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Boo!, the new album from the band Was (Not Was). It's the band's first full-length disc since 1993.

Music critic Milo Miles reviews Ocho's album "The Best of Ocho."

Music critic Milo Miles reviews the new CD "Funk Power," a collection of recordings by James Brown and the J.B.'s during the heydey of his 1970s funk period.

That's the title of an episode of Steve Rowland's documentary series "The Music Makers" featuring funk innovator George Clinton. We play this excerpt.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews funk legend George Clinton's new CD "T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M."

Review of the CD box sets "Emperors of Soul" by The Temptations and "Anthology: 1970-1994" by War.

Collins got his start with James Brown, where he "defined the finger-popping funk bass style" (Rolling Stone). He went on to work with George Clinton as part of the Parliment-Funkadelic tribe, before forming Bootsy's Rubber Band. On stage, he created alter egos, including Bootzilla, Boot-Tron, and King of the Geepies. He's put out more than 30 albums, and has just released "Blasters of the Universe," with a new band.

Rock critic Ken Tucker gives his list of bests (and a worst) for 1993.

Ken Tucker on the new George Clinton record, "Hey Man, Smell My Finger".

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Madonna's new release, "Erotica," and Prince's latest effort, who's title is a symbol blending the signs for male and female.