old school funk

[eric atkinson]

Hey guys i am more of a old school funk guy.. My current band is wanting to throw some cool funk in the mix but don't want to do anything that has been covered a thousand times.

Also we are a 3 piece bass drum guitar..... So i am trying to think of old tunes we could transform that hopefully does not have allot of other instruments such a keys or horns.

And make it complicated stuff. We have all been playing over 20 years and we need the competition..LOL

So far i have picked lady cab driver=prince and was thinking of a AWB tune but have not made up my mind as of yet.

Any ideas?

[markjazzbassist]

use the search function. you'll find this has been done many times over. top 40 funk jams, best funk jams, coolest, etc.

[eric atkinson]

Trying to narrow it down to old school funk bands that could work as a 3 piece.. I could search for weeks and not find that!

[these_go211]

FUNKADELIC FUNKADELIC FUNKADELIC!

[zac2944]

Originally Posted by these_go211

FUNKADELIC FUNKADELIC FUNKADELIC!

Are you serious? The guy said he's got a 3 piece?

I don't recommend Funkadelic because 1) most tune are just jams that vamp and you said you're looking for something complex, and 2)many of their tunes are very synth heavy and have many instruments going on.

Here's some good Old School stuff you might want to try:

Hey Pocky Way - The Meters
The Chicken - Jaco (or Maceo version)
Boogie On Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder
Hip Hug Her - Booker T & The MGs
Sing a Simple Song - Sly and the Family Stone
Hang on in There - Stovell Sisters
Soul Searchers - Ashley's Roachclip

These tunes aren't very complex, but then most old funk isn't IMO. What is complex is the feel. Let me know if you want more suggestions, and let me know more about what you are looking for. What do you mean by "complex"? And what do you meand by "old school"?

[T-MOST]

Originally Posted by zac2944

Are you serious? The guy said he's got a 3 piece?

I don't recommend Funkadelic because 1) most tune are just jams that vamp and you said you're looking for something complex, and 2)many of their tunes are very synth heavy and have many instruments going on.

Here's some good Old School stuff you might want to try:

Hey Pocky Way - The Meters
The Chicken - Jaco (or Maceo version)
Boogie On Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder
Hip Hug Her - Booker T & The MGs
Sing a Simple Song - Sly and the Family Stone
Hang on in There - Stovell Sisters
Soul Searchers - Ashley's Roachclip

These tunes aren't very complex, but then most old funk isn't IMO. What is complex is the feel. Let me know if you want more suggestions, and let me know more about what you are looking for. What do you mean by "complex"? And what do you meand by "old school"?

Funkadelic would be a great choice if you go back to the early Funkadelic albums.

Hardcore Jollies
Maggot Brain
Standing on the Verge of getting it on...

This is when Funkadelic was a acid funk rock group.

All guitars, bass and drums almost insrtumental on many songs and ... no horns.

Songs:

Maggot Brain
Jimmy's Got a little bit of Bitch in Him
Red Hot Mamma
Luncmeatophobia
Standing on the Verge
Who says a Funk band can't play Rock?

These are all Funk"Rock tunes perfect for a band like yours (maybe one more Guitar to really nail it)

[T-MOST]

Originally Posted by zac2944

Are you serious? The guy said he's got a 3 piece?

I don't recommend Funkadelic because 1) most tune are just jams that vamp and you said you're looking for something complex, and 2)many of their tunes are very synth heavy and have many instruments going on.

Here's some good Old School stuff you might want to try:

Hey Pocky Way - The Meters
The Chicken - Jaco (or Maceo version)
Boogie On Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder
Hip Hug Her - Booker T & The MGs
Sing a Simple Song - Sly and the Family Stone
Hang on in There - Stovell Sisters
Soul Searchers - Ashley's Roachclip

These tunes aren't very complex, but then most old funk isn't IMO. What is complex is the feel. Let me know if you want more suggestions, and let me know more about what you are looking for. What do you mean by "complex"? And what do you meand by "old school"?

Funkadelic would be a great choice if you go back to the early Funkadelic albums.

Hardcore Jollies
Maggot Brain
Standing on the Verge of getting it on...

This is when Funkadelic was a acid funk rock grup.

All guitars, bass and drums almost insrtumental on many songs and ... no horns.

[eric atkinson]

Originally Posted by zac2944

Are you serious? The guy said he's got a 3 piece?

I don't recommend Funkadelic because 1) most tune are just jams that vamp and you said you're looking for something complex, and 2)many of their tunes are very synth heavy and have many instruments going on.

Here's some good Old School stuff you might want to try:

Hey Pocky Way - The Meters
The Chicken - Jaco (or Maceo version)
Boogie On Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder
Hip Hug Her - Booker T & The MGs
Sing a Simple Song - Sly and the Family Stone
Hang on in There - Stovell Sisters
Soul Searchers - Ashley's Roachclip

These tunes aren't very complex, but then most old funk isn't IMO. What is complex is the feel. Let me know if you want more suggestions, and let me know more about what you are looking for. What do you mean by "complex"? And what do you meand by "old school"?

This is more what i am looking for thanks you... Basically what i meant by more complex it stops and changes more than individual musicianship.. I guess more strong structure..

And i don't really mind if there is several extra pieces in the band just as long its something we could cover up with what we have going.

I am going to go downloading songs for a bit and tell what i liked the best.

Thanks for the help!

[fcleff]

Go for anything by the Meters: Chicken Strut, Tippy Toes, Cardova, That Good Old Funky Music, and even Cissy Strut (but it has been covered a million times).

Sly and the Family Stone

James Brown (but you would have to look for some obscure stuff...if that is even possible)

Jr. Walker and the All Stars: Home Cookin' (I've done this as an instrumental).

[eric atkinson]

Originally Posted by fcleff

Go for anything by the Meters: Chicken Strut, Tippy Toes, Cardova, That Good Old Funky Music, and even Cissy Strut (but it has been covered a million times).

Sly and the Family Stone

James Brown (but you would have to look for some obscure stuff...if that is even possible)

Jr. Walker and the All Stars: Home Cookin' (I've done this as an instrumental).

Cool thanks.. Going to take a listen now..

So far my fav stuff would be the Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers stuff. I liked that live album... Trying to find more of that stuff.

[Dr. Cheese]

Stuff like Average White Band and Slave could sound good with a three piece since they all leaned heavily on the rythmn guitar. If you do the vocal well and get the groove, the song will be great without the horns or keys. Although most consider them "disco" Chic sounds great in a three piece arrangement too. Finally, James Brown's music sounds great stripped down if you have the stones to sing his vocal lines.

[jumbosilverette]

Graham Central Station.

[these_go211]

yea, funkadelic, not parliment. could be easily done by a 3-piece. no synths, no horns. pure raw acid funk rock.

+1 on the graham central station and sly and the family stone recommendations too.

[middy]

Galactic. Some of the horn parts are simple enough for guitar.

You could also try adapting some grooves from Medeski, Martin & Wood.