Funk with the bass not on The One

[JimmyM]

So much gets said about funk being all about hitting a big hit on the one, that it makes me think about funk songs that aren't on the one just to be contrary. A couple spring to mind...

Sister Sledge, "We Are Family" --- while some call it more of a disco tune, Bernard Edwards of Chic was certainly a funk badass, and this classic bass line has a funky chorus where he never hits the one.

War, "The World Is A Ghetto" --- So it's a ballad, but it's a funk ballad, and the chorus has the bass off the one most of the time.

And they are all I can think of. Every other funk song I can think of has a strong one hit on at least every other bar, and most do it on all bars.

This is where you come in...anyone have ideas for other tunes that qualify?

 

[Medford Bassman]

Celebration comes to mind. Definitely not on the one. Played it at many a gig.

 

[Guitalia]

The only one that comes to mind that at least starts out skirting the one:

 

[JimmyM]

Celebration comes to mind. Definitely not on the one. Played it at many a gig.

That one is opposite of the songs that have an alternating bar that's off the one. Usually the first bar is on it while the second isn't, and that has the first bar off the one and the second is on it. Good call!

 

[JimmyM]

The only one that comes to mind that at least starts out skirting the one:

Ya, that main clav and bass riff starts on the one and ditches it on the second bar. Skirts it but doesn't give it up.

 

[5StringBlues]

I don't know if this qualifies as funk but it's funky. Rest on the one:

 

[JimmyM]

I don't know if this qualifies as funk but it's funky. Rest on the one:

I don't know either. Definitely is funky.

 

[bluesblaster]

Kind of sounds like Robert"Pops" Popwell on the bass

Sounds plenty funky to me

 

[5StringBlues]

I don't know either. Definitely is funky.

Just saw online that it was written by Stix Hooper from The Crusaders. ^ It very well may be Pops on bass.

 

[5StringBlues]

I can't find individual credits for that particular record but it is the Crusaders on the whole record and Pops was in the band at that time.



Good catch @bluesblaster

 

[Wasnex]

So much gets said about funk being all about hitting a big hit on the one, that it makes me think about funk songs that aren't on the one just to be contrary. A couple spring to mind...

Sister Sledge, "We Are Family" --- while some call it more of a disco tune, Bernard Edwards of Chic was certainly a funk badass, and this classic bass line has a funky chorus where he never hits the one.

War, "The World Is A Ghetto" --- So it's a ballad, but it's a funk ballad, and the chorus has the bass off the one most of the time.

And they are all I can think of. Every other funk song I can think of has a strong one hit on at least every other bar, and most do it on all bars.

This is where you come in...anyone have ideas for other tunes that qualify?

IMHO...Elegance in simplicity


Anticipates 1, but the guitar part makes it sound really cool...careful this one can throw you.

 

[hrodbert696]

The only one that comes to mind that at least starts out skirting the one:

IMHO...Elegance in simplicity


Anticipates 1, but the guitar part makes it sound really cool...careful this one can throw you.

I swear Rufus' whole MO was to mess with people trying to figure out where the One was.

 

[4001]

IMHO...Elegance in simplicity

 

[packhowitzer]

Anything off of Curtis Mayfield's soundtrack for Superfly. There's some very soulful, yet funky stuff there:
This link is for the first song on the album, some of the deeper cuts are a lot more thoughtful and serious, yet still funk-ay

 

[4001]

That tune is just badass.

 

[DWBass]

Housequake

 

[JoeWPgh]

I have kind of mixed thoughts about this. The bassist may not be pounding 1 on these songs, but it's still plainly clear where 1 is. 1 is there with all of it's strength, even if it's 'unspoken'.

 

[Williethump]

That Chaka Khan and Rufus funky mwah bass line rules and she is a goddess. Thanks for reminding us! You told us something good.

 

[ewarren88]

Fun topic! Carry on, I still can't think of a good candidate...

 

[jerry]

I don't know if this qualifies as funk but it's funky. Rest on the one:

Sounds like Pops to me but the liner notes say Wilton Felder.