Funk This. Funk That. What A Beautiful Genre.

Prince brought the funk for almost 40 years. "Dirty Mind" being the most funk infused album but there are jems spread across his discography. Somewhat surprised we are 4 pages in and not mentioned earlier. That said I am enjoying all the great 70's artists and tracks. Long live the funk - stankier the better

 

Blues or Funk, or Soul?

I like it.

 

More of a soul band but this is great to me:



Currently hunting down a vinyl edition of the Black Seeds album they did, no success : (

 

Check out the Funk Bible.

 

word

 

Enjoying a first spin of this today.

 

If you listen closely you can hear the LSD dripping off of their cosmic instruments.

 

Check out my post 42 my friend...still the album deserves at least a second mention.

Btw....Just got a Uk original London label Ann Peebles I Can't Stand The Rain vinyl album. Maybe its southern soul rather than funk, but that deep Willie Mitchell sound is just glorious.

 

Back on the funk/soul train...

 

The Meters were mentioned but posting something specific. NOLA Funk! The best Funk!

 

Currently in heavy rotation:

Brick
Isley Bros.
Cameo
Bar Kays
Gap Band
Lakeside
Zapp
Mandrill

 

Can anybody recommend a good funk box set? I'm thinking primarily late 60s/70s stuff.

 

There's a set called "What It Is" that is a solid introduction to the genre. A nice mix of the acts mentioned in this thread and rarer Funk 45's.

I prefer those obscure 45's to the more well known songs. So many great ones out there, here's one of my absolute faves:

 

One more 45, this is one of the all time floor movers:

 

Well the funk is best in it's longer incarnation (meaning album length cuts - IMO), but you can't go wrong with this old Rhino set:

https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-History-Of-Funk-Funk-Jam/release/5769053 (For easy of posting, I put the link to this box. The first three discs represent the first three volumes that can be purchased individually

https://www.discogs.com/Various-In-Yo-Face-The-History-Of-Funk-Vol-4/master/740335
https://www.discogs.com/Various-In-Yo-Face-The-History-Of-Funk-Vol-5/release/837745

They also released this "pre-funk" disc as volume 1/2:

https://www.discogs.com/Various-In-Yo-Face-The-Roots-Of-Funk-Vol-½/master/740334

I saw dirt cheap versions for sale on Half.com



Edit: I read that some prefer the lesser known tracks and I get that (this comp has very well known funk tracks). I'd argue, though, that if you have very little (or don't have any) funk in your collection, most of the songs contained on this set are must haves of the genre.

 

In case anyone's wondering what George Clinton's funk mob sounds like these days, this was shot a mere week ago:

 

Yes. He never should have left that production style.

 

Some great stuff posted here. I agree with others here who lean more to the grittier funk that came in the late 60's and early 70's.
In addition to some of the other earlier suggestions, the "Funk Essentials" series is very good and generally known for excellent SQ.
But start off getting by as much Sly and James Brown as you can get your hands on.

https://www.discogs.com/label/276389-Funk-Essentials

 

I sort of agree, but I consider the prime funk years to be from 1969-75. The majority of Meters albums fall in that era. To me, the quality didn't drop when they switched to Warner/Reprise in 1972; they just took it to another level. The rock influence was starting to creep in, as it did with all the funk bands around this time. When disco made its' presence felt around 1976, that's when things start to take a dip, funk-wise (IMO).

 

Absolutely, you should know your James, George, Meters etc. before you start trying to unearth a copy of SALT - Hung Up from the pile of random records at the local Goodwill. Speaking of...

 

Of course NOLA funk is a whole 'nother thang !

These comps of NOLA Funk are excellent IMO (the first one below contains "Salt") and come from tape sources, not needle drops.

Note: Saturday Night Fish Fry contains some soul tunes along side the funk but it's all good.

 

Sorry, you guys got me in the mood now.

 

I did a funk and soul broadcast on Mixlr a few weeks ago. It was a fun one. This is what I played below.



Manuel Gas - Así Habló Zarathustra (2001)
El Currante - Jungle Fever
Al Green - Light My Fire
The Commodores - Zoom
Leon Bridges - Flowers
Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Barrabas - Woman
Ozo - Anambra
Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles - Marbles
The Stark Reality - Thirty Days Hath September
L V Johnson - We Belong Together
R Dean Taylor - There's A Ghost In My House
Jimmy Norman - Gangster Of Love I
Jimmy Norman - Gangster Of Love II
Edwin Starr - War
Beginning Of The End - Funky Nassau I
Beginning Of The End - Funky Nassau II
The Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone
Willie West - Fairchild
Frank Wilson - Do I Love You
Little Sister - Stanga
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
The T.S.U. Toronadoes - Getting The Corners
Jimmy Ruffin - What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
The Mighty Hannibal - Somebody In The World For You
The Isley Brothers - This Old Heart
The Meters ‎– Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug (Push N' Shove) I
The Meters ‎– Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug (Push N' Shove) II
Al Wilson - The Snake
Titus Turner - Do You Dig It
Chuck Wood - Seven Days Too Long
United 8 - Ain't It Good
Eddie Hazel - California Dreamin' (Instrumental)
Gil Scott-Heron - B Movie

 

Nice list. Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug just kills. Can't stay in your seat good!!!!!