SHARPS & FLATS : POP GURU: `MY HEAD'S A HARD DISK'.Byline: Fred Shuster We were wondering where an obsession with pop music can lead. So, we asked Colin Larkin Colin Larkin (born 27th April 1982 in Dundalk, County Louth) is an Irish professional football player, who plays primarily as a striker for Northampton Town FC. The striker, who is also capable of playing out wide, joined Mansfield for a £125,000 fee from Wolverhampton , author of ``The Encyclopedia encyclopedia, compendium of knowledge, either general (attempting to cover all fields) or specialized (aiming to be comprehensive in a particular field). Encyclopedias and Other Reference Books of Popular Music, Third Edition'' ($750; distributed by Grove Dictionaries for Muze Inc.), which at eight hardback volumes fills 8,000 pages with more than 18,500 entries on everyone from Brit brit also britt n. 1. The young of herring and similar fish. 2. Minute marine organisms, such as crustaceans of the genus Calanus, that are a major source of food for right whales. punk punk Aggressive form of rock music that coalesced into an international (though predominantly Anglo-American) movement in 1975–80. Originating in the countercultural rock of artists such as the Velvet Underground and Iggy (Pop) and the Stooges, punk rock evolved in act A Certain Ratio to Southern blues-rockers ZZ Top. Larkin, who has chronicled pop music for 31 years, penned the encyclopedia along with a hand-picked team of a dozen contributors. Covering performers, composers, producers, record companies, events, venues, musical theater, films, video and music magazines, the encyclopedia's just-issued third edition documents pop music's position in culture. ``It's a full-time life's obsession,'' admits Larkin, 48. ``My dream is to get it to 20 volumes.'' While the full $750 set is a bit steep for the average fan, Virgin Publishing is releasing separate paperback encyclopedias This article contains a list of encyclopedias, including projects to create new works. Because the number of works that can be considered encyclopedias is very large, this list does not attempt to be comprehensive. on every major musical movement, including blues, '60s music, r&b and soul, country, '70s music, reggae reggae, Jamaican popular music that developed in the 1960s among Kingston's poor blacks, drawing on American "soul" music and traditional African and Jamaican folk music and ska (a Jamaican and British dance-hall music). , '80s music, and indie in·die n. Informal 1. One, such as a studio or producer, that is unaffiliated with a larger or more commercial organization. 2. and new wave, over the next two years. There's also a concise single-volume edition of the encyclopedia at 1,296 pages due this month. ``I get letters from all over the world, so I know plenty of music fans are buying the complete set, along with libraries, media outlets, record companies and radio stations,'' Larkin said. ``Rock and pop has grown up to such an extent that it's important in so many people's lives.'' Larkin grew up in the Britain of the '60s, going to gigs, learning guitar and filling his home with countless albums, singles, music magazines and books. He says that since 1961, he hasn't discarded dis·card v. dis·card·ed, dis·card·ing, dis·cards v.tr. 1. To throw away; reject. 2. a. To throw out (a playing card) from one's hand. b. a single issue of any music publication. ``My head's a hard disk,'' Larkin said this week. ``I've been filling that hard disk up since I was very small, since I was 3, when I recall vividly being moved by early r&b and rock. I finally got the opportunity to spew it all out.'' Beginning in 1989, Larkin has focused on the herculean task of compiling the pop equivalent of the ``New Grove Dictionary of Popular Music and Musicians.'' He released the first edition of his encyclopedia at four volumes in 1992 and the second, six-volume edition in 1995. Currently living in a converted 17th-century barn in his native Essex, Larkin is still a collector and fan above all. He says his ideal evening would be spent sipping a glass of wine, listening to records and reading a music biography. ``I've been through three marriages - that's how I know this is a lifetime passion and obsession,'' he said. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: LARKIN |
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