Funky not Funk

[two fingers]

Arc Angels was a band formed by Double Trouble (SRV's rhythm section), Doyle Bramhall II, and Charlie Sexton. They were what I call blues rock. This track, however, is freakin funky! I've done it in a couple of bands and it kills every single time.



Around the same time, Sass Jordan hit the scene. Several of her rock songs have a funky vibe to them.

 

[two fingers]

Of course, the song is a soul song. But this rocked up version was always fun.

 

[ardgedee]

It is but his voice detracts from that and makes it something else. Not a criticism of him, I'm a fan, but to me it doesn't get my funk glands going.

Yeah, it's not like Paul Simon's singing has a huge range, stylistically. I think this song in particular works because of the contrast between his relatively lowkey singing and the bouncing music behind him.

Anyway, funk is a specific musical style but funky is a spectrum... with maybe Lawrence Welk at one end and Bootsy at the other end.

 

[mexicanyella]

Of course, the song is a soul song. But this rocked up version was always fun.

Good call on the Peter Gabriel and No Doubt suggestions, TF

 

[MonetBass]

The Dixie Dregs got funky now and then.

 

[Michedelic]

This tune was an unexpected departure from their earlier proto-new wave art rock, but it finally got them some attention in the US after five albums…


Bass courtesy of John Gustafson, who had been in Liverpool's best band, The Big Three. That is, until another scouser outfit came home from Germany after getting their act together. JG had quite a career otherwise, and I was always enthralled with his work on an earlier Roxy track…

 

[FilterFunk]

Nah. I have this Downbeat from the '70s with The Brothers Johnson on the cover. Louis Johnson kinda lit AWB up.
He didn't like AWB, Wild Cherry, et al being labeled as "Funk" bands. The interviewer challenged him on that. You don't get these kinda interviews today.
In another issue, AWB (on the cover) even said they're not a Funk band...they're a band that plays in-time and in-tune, IIRC.
FWIW, I think AWB is very funky.

Louis Johnson may not have considered AWB a funk band, and they may not consider themselves a funk band, but "Pick Up The Pieces," "Cut The Cake," "Schoolboy Crush," and many other songs they did are funk - not funk-rock, fusion or whatever - but funk.

So funk is expected of them, as opposed to most of the bands/artists posted in this thread. And the OP said, "I'm putting together a playlist of funky tunes that wouldn't normally be considered funk." He also said, "I am interested in funk in unexpected places like Ian Dury and the Blockheads' I Believe or Led Zeppelin The Crunge. Funky tunes from unexpected sources." AWB is an expected source.

 

[FilterFunk]

"Amos Moses" - Jerry Reed:

 

[Bob_Ross]

The part "In and around the lake..."
Squire just killing it in "G"

I recall reading an old interview with Chris Squire where he cited Larry Graham's bass lines in "Dance To The Music" and "I Want To Take You Higher" as being quite influential.
I can hear it.
Still not sure I'd call Squire "funky" but he's definitely played some bass parts that go straight to the booty.

 

[Bob_Ross]

these might count ...maybe:

 

[MonetBass]

"Amos Moses" - Jerry Reed:

Oh man, I had forgotten about that one. We had that track on 45 back in the day. Played it endlessly.

 

[Michedelic]

I recall reading an old interview with Chris Squire where he cited Larry Graham's bass lines in "Dance To The Music" and "I Want To Take You Higher" as being quite influential.
I can hear it.
Still not sure I'd call Squire "funky" but he's definitely played some bass parts that go straight to the booty.

Well, he tried on this….

About that album…
E.H. in the U.K. - Wikipedia

 

[Tommy V]

Did you really post that one without posting "Baby Love"?????

technically, that IS a funk album.. but MF isn't strictly a funk band.. but you already know that, being a local, I'm sure you've seen them a time or ten

 

[two fingers]

technically, that IS a funk album.. but MF isn't strictly a funk band.. but you already know that, being a local, I'm sure you've seen them a time or ten

They are BA.

 

[JimK]

I recall reading an old interview with Chris Squire where he cited Larry Graham's bass lines in "Dance To The Music" and "I Want To Take You Higher" as being quite influential.
I can hear it.
Still not sure I'd call Squire "funky" but he's definitely played some bass parts that go straight to the booty.

Damn...you're right. I hear it, too!

 

[JimK]

Oh man, I had forgotten about that one. We had that track on 45 back in the day. Played it endlessly.

I had the 45, as well...

 

[JimK]

I guess they were considered an R&B/Rock band...but they do a nice TOP thing-


Chicago, too-

 

[Carl Hillman]

The Dixie Dregs got funky now and then.

Oh, yeah. I forgot about the Dregs.

 

[MonetBass]

Heard this one on the way into work this morning: Bob Seger's "Come To Poppa".

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

The Who - Eminence Front