The Best of 1970s Funk Music

A look at the best funk songs of the 1970s. From James Brown to Parliament-Funkadelic, these are the tunes that defined the genre.

The Birth of Funk

Funk music originated in the late 1960s, with James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone being credited with creating the genre. Funk is a style of music that is based on a strong, infectious groove. The main focus of funk music is on the rhythm section, which includes the drums, bass, and guitar.

James Brown and the Birth of Funk

In the 1960s, James Brown started experimenting with new sounds, adding more complex rhythms and instruments to his music. This new sound, which came to be known as “funk,” was a big departure from the soul music of the time.

Funk is defined by its syncopated rhythm, which is created by accenting the off-beats instead of the downbeats. This gives the music a groove that is perfect for dancing. Funk songs also often have a call-and-response between the lead singer and the rest of the band or the audience.

While James Brown is often credited with creating funk music, there were other artists who were experimenting with similar sounds at the same time. George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic was another early adopter of funk, and their unique blend of R&B, soul, and rock made them one of the most popular bands of the 1970s.

Other important funk artists includes Sly and the Family Stone, Prince, Rick James, and Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell. These artists took funk in different directions, adding elements of disco, rock, and even rap to create their own unique sounds.

The 1970s was a golden age for funk music, and its influence can still be felt in today’s pop and R&B music.

Sly and the Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone is an American rock, soul and funk band from San Francisco, California, active from 1966 to 1983. The band’s greatest commercial success came with their recordings from 1967 to 1971, when they released four consecutive multi-platinum albums: A Whole New Thing (1967), Dance to the Music (1968), Stand! (1969) and There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971).[1] Sly and the Family Stone was the first African American psychedelic rock group[2] and their work influenced subsequent funk, soul, R&B and hip hop artists.

The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Sly Stone was a pioneer of Byrdgang music which is a predecessor of contemporary Hip Hop music. Music critic Peter Guralnick wrote that “the influence of Sly & The Family Stone on subsequent generations of musicians has been incalculable”.[3] Rolling Stone ranked them 69th on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[4]

George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic

In the 1970s, Clinton assembled a touring version of Parliament-Funkadelic that became known as the “P-Funk All-Stars”, while recording and performing with Bootsy’s Rubber Band (in which Clinton and Bootsy played bass guitars together). By the early 1980s, Clinton had split with Parliament-Funkadelic. Later, he released several solo albums, including Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends (1985), R&B Skeletons in the Closet (1986) and Hey Man, Smell My Finger (1993).

The Spread of Funk

Funk music originated in the early 1970s and quickly spread throughout the United States. This new style of music was influenced by a variety of genres, including soul, jazz, and R&B. Funk music is characterized by its distinctive rhythmic groove, which is often created by using a lead guitar or bass guitar. The 1970s was a decade of great change, and funk music was a reflection of that.

Funk Hits the Mainstream

In the early 1970s, funk music began to seep into the mainstream consciousness, thanks to a handful of artists who found success with the new sound. Among them was James Brown, whose 1971 album “Super Fly” featured the hit single “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine.” That same year, another groundbreaking funk artist, George Clinton, released his first solo album, “Maggot Brain.”

Funk also made its way into the realm of pop music in the early 1970s. The group Chic scored a massive hit with their 1978 disco song “Le Freak,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. And in 1979, an unlikely funk ambassador emerged in the form of British rock band The Clash. The group recorded the song “Bankrobber” with legendary Jamaican deejay Big Youth, and Clinton even contributed vocals to their 1980 song “Armagedon Time.”

The 1980s brought even more exposure for funk music, as artists like Prince and Rick James scored major hits with their own unique styles of the genre. And in 1989, Red Hot Chili Peppers released their debut album, which featured several songs that blended funk with rap music. By the end of the decade, funk had firmly established itself as a lasting musical force.

The Funk Sound Grows

The funk sound began to grow in popularity in the early 1970s, with artists like James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic leading the way. Other artists, like Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, and George Clinton, began to experiment with the new sound, creating their own unique styles. By the mid-1970s, funk was being played on dance floors all over the world.

In the late 1970s, disco music began to rise in popularity, and many funk artists became involved in this new genre. However, funk continued to evolve throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with artists like Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Outkast keeping the sound alive. Today, funk is still a popular genre of music, with many modern artists incorporating it into their own unique styles.

The Godfathers of Soul

The godfathers of soul are considered to be the architects of funk music. James Brown, Sly Stone, and George Clinton were all instrumental in developing the sound and feel of funk in the 1960s and 1970s. Funk is a genre of music that is characterized by a heavy groove and a focus on rhythm. It is often described as a cross between soul and R&B.

Funk began to gain popularity in the early 1970s, with bands like Parliament-Funkadelic and Sly & the Family Stone leading the way. Funk music quickly became a staple of the disco era, with hits like disco queen Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls” and Thelma Houston’s “Don’t Leave Me This Way” becoming massive dancefloor anthems.

In the 1980s, funk began to be incorporated into other genres of music, including hip-hop and pop. Hip-hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa and Run‐DMC sampled classic funk tracks on some of their earliest recordings. Pop stars like Madonna and Michael Jackson also began to incorporate funk elements into their music.

Today, funk remains an important part of popular music, with artists like Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, and Outkast keeping the sound alive.

The Legacy of Funk

Funk is a genre of music that was popular in the 1970s. It is a blend of soul, jazz, and R&B. Funk music is characterized by its groovy beats and funky basslines. Some of the most popular funk artists include James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Sly and the Family Stone. Funk music has had a lasting impact on popular music and continues to be popular today.

The Funk Sound Today

Funk music is having a moment. The sound that originated in the 1970s as a way to bring African-American culture into the mainstream is now being rediscovered and celebrated by a new generation of fans.

Funk is known for its catchy rhythms, soulful vocals, and often political lyrics. The genre was pioneered by artists like James Brown, George Clinton, and Sly and the Family Stone. They created a new kind of sound that was based on grooves and rhythms instead of traditional sung melodies.

Today, funk is enjoying a renewed popularity thanks to artists like Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, and Lettuce. These performers are keeping the sound alive while also adding their own modern twist.

If you’re curious about funk music or want to know more about its history, there are plenty of resources available. Here are some of the best places to start:

-The Funkadelic website includes a history of the genre as well as a discography of their albums.
-All Music has a comprehensive guide to funk that covers its history and key artists.
-The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has an article about the history of funk, including interviews with key figures in the genre.

The Influence of Funk

The 1970s saw the rise of a new musical genre known as funk. Funk was a blend of soul, R&B, and rock music that emphasized a strong groove and catchy hooks. The genre quickly gained popularity, and by the end of the decade, funk had become one of the most dominant musical styles in America.

Funk music was heavily influenced by African American culture, and it often dealt with themes of social injustice and inequality. Many funk songs were political in nature, and they spoke out against racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination. At the same time, funk was also a party music, and it celebrated the joys of love, sex, and dancing.

The legacy of 1970s funk can be heard in many different genres of music today. Hip-hop, dance music, and even pop music have all been influenced by funk. The genre continues to be popular, and its grooves and hooks are as contagious as ever.

The Future of Funk

Funk music started in the mid-1960s as a way to combine the soulful sounds of R&B with the grooves of African American music. Over time, it developed into its own distinct genre with artists like James Brown, George Clinton, and Sly Stone creating some of the most iconic funk songs of all time.

While funk has seen a resurgence in recent years thanks to artists like Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson, it’s still largely considered a relic of the past. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty of great funk music being made today. Here are five modern funk artists keeping the spirit of 1970s funk alive.

1. D’Angelo
2.kanYe West
3. Quincy Jones
4. George Clinton
5. Bootsy Collins