Where'd you get your Funk from?

[Bunk McNulty]

George Porter Jr changed my life for the funkier.

When it's time to funk, I owe basically everything to George.

 

[petrus61]

 

[rtslinger]

Ok going to leave you with some old school funky funk

 

[Texan]

From my Dad...He is a gruff and tough cowboy that loves James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, WAR and everything 60's and 70's funk. He doesn't play an instrument, but I grew up with him listening to funk on the stereo while he was shirtless wearing cutoffs, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat dancing around the house or working on things listening to that music...sorry for the visual, no wonder I may need therapy!

 

[Ace Of Bass]

I really could do this all day..

 

[friendlybass]

Funk is about doing what feels good. My teacher (well, the BL who took me under his big funky wing and taught me the ways) showed me one track. What is hip by tower of power. After this it was down the rabbit hole back to James brown, sly and the family stone, Curtis Mayfield, Edwin starr, Isaac Hayes, and wild cherry. I listened to nothing but funk for the better part of a year and practiced them funky grooves till my fingertips were rawhide and my pedalboard for the gigs we had was nothing but the ugliest fuzz I could afford. Its about laying in and laying back man embracing the tension of not playing on time at all the right times. All this mumbo jumbo is to say, listen to the funk that came before, and once that groove is inside you there's nothing that'll ever get it out. Then just hit the shed dude the same way all the other funkmen and women who have done it did. The funk will come my man, shrink your board and tweak your amp and let your fingers do the talking.

Also listen to some classic hip hop, those bass lines are a great place to start.

 

[10cc]

I was transfixed by the album as a kid and I can still remember the first time the needle dropped on "Nappy Dugout"

Neighbors would talk and call her Jezebel.

 

[Spidey2112]

I attended a predominantly black school, grades K through 4th... I guess you could say I was the 'token', but it didn't matter, cause I had a ton of friends, both black and white. During lunch, they would broadcast music over the P.A., playing The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, etc...

... essentially, a wonderful introduction to Motown soul/blues/jazz, that I wouldn't have received, otherwise. To this day, I credit finding my groove to these lessons learned, early on. What's hilarious is I actually convinced my Mom to get me the soundtrack (LP, for you youngsters, out there) to "Shaft", (performed by the late, great Isaac Hayes) for Christmas. I also asked if we could see the movie, and that was a big, fat no. I guess after hearing the lyrics, Mom felt the movie wasn't age
appropriate for me... so I got to see, 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks". Oh, goody...

 

[lokikallas]

I was playing with XL's live band for a while. He is a killer songwriter in the LA modern funk scene. It was a learning experience to figure out how to play along with his synth bass lines.

 

[HolmeBass]

This was my favorite song in 7th grade:

 

[Jigmay]

Prince.

His funk tunes.

Someone had to say it.

 

[jnewmark]

It all started for me with James Brown's " Sex Machine ".

 

[Kevin1960]

King Issac bestows his funk upon us all!

 

[gidbass]

When/If I get some "Funk" I'll let you know...

Good Luck!

 

[wraub]

Aww c'mon, you're tellin me this aint funky?

I like this, in a Mr.Bungle kind of way.
Which means, quite a bit.

 

[wraub]

My first funk tunes (don't judge me, I was young and needed the funky)-





And almost anything by Maceo Parker and/or James Brown.
Throw in The Meters and I am ready for the one.

 

[wraub]

Glad you like it!

Check out the rest of their stuff, they go all over the place musically, and are one of the most creative and original groups I've ever encountered.

Here's another great tune:

Dig this also, still reminds me of some Bungle (again, not a bad thing at all...)

 

[climber]

3 1/2 years 5 nites a week 4 hours a nite with a great funk band and great drummer in Miami in the late 70's. Totally locked that poopie down. And since then I simply won't play with crsppy drummers.

Oh yeah, and I still practice every day!!

 

[wraub]

The funk is all around us... Some sources of my funk...





But so much more... James Brown, Ohio Players, Weldon Irvine Jr, Sly and the Family Stone, Graham Central Station, Parliament Funkadelic, and it goes on and on and on till the break of dawn.

Thanks my bro for the Maceo jam (pretty sure you know my Maceo love). You are definitely on my page, and always on point.
Plus Ms. Page- simply stellar.


Fred!!

 

[Rev J]

I can honestly say that this was my gateway into the FUnk:



That bass lick still kills me to this day.



Under the distortion and Ozzy vocals there is some serious Jaco/Rocco shizzle happening.

I remember being a skinny little skate punk who had been playing bass a couple of years when this came out.

C/S,
Rev J