Where should I start listening to Funk?

[platon_dr]

So, I am a beginner/intermediate bassist and I thought, that it would be great to listen to funk as it influenced bass playing so much, what albums would you suggest listening to?

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I say start with Boosty. His bass lines are generally simple but funky as hell. Great for a beginner.

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

Parliament (Bootsy Collins).
War (B.B. Dickerson).
Rick James.

Find a "Greatest Hits" compendium of any of the above.

Try to ignore the fact that George Clinton, apparently, is a horrible human being.

 

[WG Plum]

James Brown. Pick up his greatest hits.

Seems like the place to start to me.

 

[5StringBlues]

James Brown. Pick up his greatest hits.

Seems like the place to start to me.

What he said.

 

[Michedelic]

Parliament (Bootsy Collins).
War (B.B. Dickerson).
Rick James.

Find a "Greatest Hits" compendium of any of the above.

Try to ignore the fact that George Clinton, apparently, is a horrible human being.

Uhh, it's not like Rick James was any kind of saint. James Brown as well. But ultimately it doesn't matter.

 

[Michedelic]

The entire Meters catalog, with George Porter, Jr., but you start here…

…and it spills over to the Neville Bros. as well.

Here's an outsider suggestion…

 

[bass12]

James Brown:

"Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine"
"Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose" (Remake)
"Soul Power"
"The Payback"
"It's A New Day"
"Get On The Good Foot"
"Talkin Loud And Saying Nothing"

Sly & The Family Stone:

"Thank You Falettinme..."
"Sing A Simple Song"

Graham Central Station:

"Water"
"Pow"
"Hair"

Slave:

"Just A Touch Of Love"
"Slide"

The Meters:

"Funky Miracle"
"Just Kissed My Baby"
"Cissy Strut"

Rare Essence:

"One On One"

Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers:

"Bustin' Loose"
"We Need Some Money"

Brothers Johnson:

"Stomp"
"Get The Funk Out Ma Face"
"Ain't We Funkin' Now"

Manu Dibango:

"New Bell"
"Soul Makossa"
"Big Blow"

Curtis Mayfield:

"Freddie's Dead"
"Move On Up"
"Tripping Out"

Earth, Wind & Fire:

"Gratitude"
"That's The Way Of The World"
"Jupiter"
"Serpentine Fire"
"Shining Star"

Chic:

C'est Chic (the whole album)

Sister Sledge:

We Are Family (the whole album)

Sure, the Chic and (Chic produced) Sister Sledge albums are generally thought of as "disco" more than funk, but it doesn't get much funkier than the rhythm section of Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson.

 

[5StringBlues]

 

[J Wilson]

Go to the root:. James Brown.

Then Sly and the Family Stone and Parliament/Funkadelic.

The follow the branches so many above have listed.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Johnny Long has some great advice. I agree that Future Now by Pleasure May have had the greatest bass playing of that era, courtesy of Nathaniel Phillips, at least among self contained bands.

 

[Ggaa]

James Brown. Bootsy. Tower of Power(Rocco).

 

[roller]

Ohio Players.

Their album, Gold, is a good place to start.

 

[Londo Molari]

Where should I start listening to Funk?


Probably in the bathroom.
That way if you get any on yourself you can wash it off right away.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

Someone once opined that the drum line of Cold Sweat was the birth of funk.
I dimly remember that there was one slightly older James Brown song that laid claim too.

 

[TNCreature]

The entire Meters catalog, with George Porter, Jr., but you start here…

…and it spills over to the Neville Bros. as well.

Here's an outsider suggestion…

I so love the Meters.

 

[HolmeBass]

Yep, the high points have been hit. James Brown, Parliament/Funkadelic, Sly & The Family Stone, and The Meters.

Then you can pick up Chic, The Ohio Players, The Brothers Johnson, The GAP Band, and The Isley Brothers.

 

[bass12]

Someone once opined that the drum line of Cold Sweat was the birth of funk.
I dimly remember that there was one slightly older James Brown song that laid claim too.

"Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" is probably the one you're thinking of.

 

[the_home]

All recommended listening is very good-n-funky.

A great 70s funk band that isn't on every list is Mother's Finest. Another good-n-funky.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Ohio Players,
Earth, Wind, & Fire,
Kool & The Gang
James Brown
Sly & Family Stone
Stevie Wonder
Commodores
Average White Band
Parliament