All I've been listening to is TOP. I have heard from a little like Two Ton Shoe which Dave just smokes with. What are some others worth checking out?
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All I've been listening to is TOP. I have heard from a little like Two Ton Shoe which Dave just smokes with. What are some others worth checking out?
The Meters
Any Stax/Volt stuff
old school funk:
Kool and the Gang
Ohio Players
Parliament Funkadelic
James Brown
Anything else may be funky, but it's not funk, if you know what I mean(kinda like fusion).
For newer funkier stuff, check out Galactic.
Hi Guys,
I'm so crazy about Earth Wind, and Fire and their incredible horn section !!!
Peace.
I saw EWF with Chicago over the summer. It was some pretty good stuff. Their bass player seemed sooo stringed out.
That's just Verdine White's style.very hyper
Funny EWF comes out.
My brother plays in the horn section of a disco/funk band and gave to my father at Christmas the EWF live CD so he can hear their mentors. So we listen to this CD on last Xmas day. WOW! What a show! Great funky, tight tunes. Sonny Emory grooves like crazy.
And, is Philip Bailey a castrato? Never heard such a high pitched male voice before (check Fantasy).
Also, my bro told us about their experience sharing the bill with EWF in Vegas. They had a great time. He could'nt believe Verdine never misses a beat while continuously jumping around like a madman. Apparantly, he's hyper in life too; running everywhere in the hotel wearing a long white fur coat and talking loudly to his cell phone.
I thought the Brecker Bros' first album was pretty funky, in a 70's cop show type-of-way. Graham Central Station had some nice bass playing on there [img]cool.gif[/img]
Maceo Parker is always great [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]
There's a promo CD I got a few years ago of a NYC 10-piece band called The Groove Collective. It indeed grooves and funks and is a great mix of funk/latin/R&B/soul.
Anybody knows about them?
I also have a good AWB live CD "Person to person" with the great Steve Ferrone.
And there's something I wouldn't recommend: Bootsy Collins (ex-P-Funk bassist) live CD "Keepin' dah funk alive". I thought this would be ultimate funk, but it's just bad sounding selfish crap-crap-crap from beginning to end.
Verdine is indeed very loud and very annimated, might even be of the other preference but who knows and who cares.
ran in to him at NAMM a few years ago and he's like jumping up and down talking and giddy.
As to his playing live, I think they are using tracks. kinda like Night Ranger where the keyboard player did allot of left hand bass to fill up where Jack Blades would leave off, no offense to Baldes for he's a killer singer and funk bass player, but i remember seeing them once and he fell to the ground during a song hands to his side but you could hear bass.........AND he plays with a thumb pick so it's very noticable..........
LET'S GET FUNKEEEEEEEE
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
First the three most essential discs:
Greatest Hits[Epic]' (1970) is a very nice summary of 1968-1969 material and contains most of the highlights from 'Dance To The Music', 'Life' & 'Stand!', as well as three non-LP hit singles. 'Stand!' (1969) made Sly a superstar. A masterpiece.
'There's a Riot Goin' On' (1971) was a turning point in Sly's music. Little of the freshness of previous albums here. Definitely the gloomiest, "stonedest" Funk ever, though it has its lighter moments too. A masterpiece.
THE METERS: 'Rejuvenation' and 'Funkify Your Life'.
'Rejuvenation' is my all-time favorite album. It's an absolute killer! Every song is brilliant. Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste (drums) + George Porter Jr. (bass )
FUNKADELIC:
'Music for Your Mother'.
This is...um...different! George Clinton's Funkadelic took Jimi Hendrix's and Sly Stone's Funk-Rock several steps further. 'Music For Your Mother - The 45's' is a great introduction, but you really need more or less their whole catalogue. Stand-outs include: 'Maggot Brain', 'Cosmic Slop' (their most commercial), and 'Standing on the Verge of Getting It On' (2nd most commercial). As for 'One Nation Under a Groove', their commercial breakthrough - it's not their best, in my opinion.
PARLIAMENT: Basically the same band as Funkadelic, but less Rock- and more party-oriented. No screeching guitars here, just lots of truly whacky Funk!
There is a two-CD compilation, 'Tear the Roof Off 1974-1980', but the selection includes too much of the later stuff for my taste. I suggest you get these instead: 'Up for the Down Stroke', 'Chocolate City', 'Clones of Dr. Funkenstein', 'Mothership Connection' and 'Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome'.
BOOTSY'S RUBBER BAND:
The former bass player for James Brown and Parliament/Funkadelic cut three very good, quite cartoonish, fun albums in the late 70's: 'Stretchin Out in Booty's Rubbe', 'Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!' and 'Bootsy? Player of the Year'. 'Live in Louisville 1978' is also recommended, if only for the kick-ass "Bootzilla"!
LARRY GRAHAM & GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION: 'The Jam: The Larry Graham & Graham Central Station Anthology'.
Sly & The Family Stone's bass player went on to make some pretty good stuff too.
THE J.B.'s:
'Pass the Peas: The Best of the J.B.'s'.
James Brown's backing musicians did a bunch of cool grooves on their own.
MANDRILL:
'Fencewalk: The Anthology'.
KAY-GEES:
'Keep on Bumpin' & Masterplan'.
CYMANDE:
'Cymande'.
THE OHIO PLAYERS:
'Orgasm: The Very Best of the Westbound Years'.
I like this a lot better than their later stuff on Mercury.
SLAVE:
'Stellar Funk: The Best of Slave'.
Things were getting a bit disco-flavored by the mid-70's...and that's where my enthusiasm lets off.
Most good Funk was done by more obscure groups, such as:
SKULL SNAPS: 'Skull Snaps'.
RIPPLE: 'Golden Classics of the 70's'.
SIR JOE QUARTERMAN & FREE SOUL: 'Golden Classics'.
'Stone Cold Funk: A Galaxy of Original Rare Grooves'. And for a very tasty dose of the Black Power & Civil Rights era, 'Stand Up & Be Counted' is essential!
The Average White Band
Cut the Cake
Very Best of Bohannon
I Don't Know What It Is But It Sure Is Funky Ripple
Fatback Band
Let's Do It Again
The Very Best of Chic
Rufas Thomas
Did You Heard Me/Crown Prince of Dance
K-Jee: Golden Classics The Nite-Liters
Fencewalk: The Anthology Mandrill
Various artists compilations are the best way to get hold of real deep Funk, but be careful what you buy - many so-called "Funk" CDs are little more than disco. Look for CDs with the words "breaks - rare grooves - deep funk" etc in the title. Listen before you buy.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I was gonna post some stuff, but looks like you covered it all. I totally agree on "Rejuvenation". Zig's drumming is absolutely beautiful.Quote:
Originally posted by PocketPlayer:
LET'S GET FUNKEEEEEEEE
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
First the three most essential discs:
Greatest Hits[Epic]' (1970) is a very nice summary of 1968-1969 material and contains most of the highlights from 'Dance To The Music', 'Life' & 'Stand!', as well as three non-LP hit singles. 'Stand!' (1969) made Sly a superstar. A masterpiece.
'There's a Riot Goin' On' (1971) was a turning point in Sly's music. Little of the freshness of previous albums here. Definitely the gloomiest, "stonedest" Funk ever, though it has its lighter moments too. A masterpiece.
THE METERS: 'Rejuvenation' and 'Funkify Your Life'.
'Rejuvenation' is my all-time favorite album. It's an absolute killer! Every song is brilliant. Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste (drums) + George Porter Jr. (bass )
FUNKADELIC:
'Music for Your Mother'.
This is...um...different! George Clinton's Funkadelic took Jimi Hendrix's and Sly Stone's Funk-Rock several steps further. 'Music For Your Mother - The 45's' is a great introduction, but you really need more or less their whole catalogue. Stand-outs include: 'Maggot Brain', 'Cosmic Slop' (their most commercial), and 'Standing on the Verge of Getting It On' (2nd most commercial). As for 'One Nation Under a Groove', their commercial breakthrough - it's not their best, in my opinion.
PARLIAMENT: Basically the same band as Funkadelic, but less Rock- and more party-oriented. No screeching guitars here, just lots of truly whacky Funk!
There is a two-CD compilation, 'Tear the Roof Off 1974-1980', but the selection includes too much of the later stuff for my taste. I suggest you get these instead: 'Up for the Down Stroke', 'Chocolate City', 'Clones of Dr. Funkenstein', 'Mothership Connection' and 'Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome'.
BOOTSY'S RUBBER BAND:
The former bass player for James Brown and Parliament/Funkadelic cut three very good, quite cartoonish, fun albums in the late 70's: 'Stretchin Out in Booty's Rubbe', 'Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!' and 'Bootsy? Player of the Year'. 'Live in Louisville 1978' is also recommended, if only for the kick-ass "Bootzilla"!
LARRY GRAHAM & GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION: 'The Jam: The Larry Graham & Graham Central Station Anthology'.
Sly & The Family Stone's bass player went on to make some pretty good stuff too.
THE J.B.'s:
'Pass the Peas: The Best of the J.B.'s'.
James Brown's backing musicians did a bunch of cool grooves on their own.
MANDRILL:
'Fencewalk: The Anthology'.
KAY-GEES:
'Keep on Bumpin' & Masterplan'.
CYMANDE:
'Cymande'.
THE OHIO PLAYERS:
'Orgasm: The Very Best of the Westbound Years'.
I like this a lot better than their later stuff on Mercury.
SLAVE:
'Stellar Funk: The Best of Slave'.
Things were getting a bit disco-flavored by the mid-70's...and that's where my enthusiasm lets off.
Most good Funk was done by more obscure groups, such as:
SKULL SNAPS: 'Skull Snaps'.
RIPPLE: 'Golden Classics of the 70's'.
SIR JOE QUARTERMAN & FREE SOUL: 'Golden Classics'.
'Stone Cold Funk: A Galaxy of Original Rare Grooves'. And for a very tasty dose of the Black Power & Civil Rights era, 'Stand Up & Be Counted' is essential!
The Average White Band
Cut the Cake
Very Best of Bohannon
I Don't Know What It Is But It Sure Is Funky Ripple
Fatback Band
Let's Do It Again
The Very Best of Chic
Rufas Thomas
Did You Heard Me/Crown Prince of Dance
K-Jee: Golden Classics The Nite-Liters
Fencewalk: The Anthology Mandrill
Various artists compilations are the best way to get hold of real deep Funk, but be careful what you buy - many so-called "Funk" CDs are little more than disco. Look for CDs with the words "breaks - rare grooves - deep funk" etc in the title. Listen before you buy.
How about the Screaming Headless Torsos with either Gene Lake or JoJo Mayer ? I've heard some pretty funky stuff on their CDs !
Not to forget our friend Zoro. He's given us clinics explaining the history of funk.
I can't believe I saw Sly mentioned without Fresh.
Newmark is FOOONKY.
And how bout Steve Jordan with the Blues Brothers...some SLICK ass playing there...SLICK.
david g and top.. cant be beat.. im sorry ... any j b ........... lets also not forget commodores night shift which happens to be with our man vc
I agree with most of the stuff posted here. You definately cant leave out P-Funk in this thread.
Strangely, though, there is some early Red Hot Chili Peppers stuff people often neglect. This isn't Chad Smith drumming, but it isn't that funky really, and anyway, that's not what i'm listening to... lol. Flea's bass part is the thing for me - check out the solo at about 0:34. He doesn't do this mad slap stuff anymore, a shame really...
Anyways...Red Hot Chili Peppers - Brother's Cup
This is on the Freaky Styley album, 1985. Funk on!
The Neville Brothers Band plays some really funky music. I don't if I would consider them a funk band, but this tune is very cool.
Brother Jake
-Ed
Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band is a great Swing/Funk band. There tunes are more contemporary.
Big Phat Band
-Ed
Yeah Randy,
Verdine's style is so nice, he makes me smile.
He's really one of my favorite bass player !!!
What energy, what groove !!!
Awesome !!!
Peace.
Try 'Groove Collective'. That's some funky shit.
'Phat Phunktion'. Dunno about them being a 'top' funk band, but they're great.
Check out a California trio called 'Inclined' which only have one awesome self-titled cd out. Sort of like modern funk meets Bill Frisell. Also, the 'Marco Mendoza Trio' with Joey Heredia and Renato Neto which is very R'n'B with a Latin flavour.
Nils Landgren Funk Unit. Fonk da world and funky ABBA are very funky records!
The Yellowjackets- especially their recent "Mint Jam" live album....holy shit, Marcus Bailer makes me want to cry. [img]tongue.gif[/img] There is a track on the cd called "Evening News". Just sick.
Also, I've heard some seriously funky Gino Vanelli live stuff from the mid-late '80's.
Besides that, I think everything else has been covered!
being from the dc area i am biased but i think most of the dc gogo stuff is still pretty badass. just grab the best of chuck brown and check it out. also herbie hancocks "thrust" is pretty serious.
I think these albums are pretty funky...
Peace Beyond Passion- Meshell Ndegeocello
Blow by Blow- Jeff Beck
Apricot Morning- Quantic (an ex student of mine!!!)
Come Taste the Band- Deep Purple
I Love the Blues (She heard my cry) George Duke
Groove Elation~John Scofield
Melodies- Jan Hammer
A Funky thide of Sings- Billy Cobham
Thrust- Herbie Hancock
Welcome Santana