70 Funk Music Hits You Need to Know

From James Brown to Bootsy Collins, here are the ’70s funk songs you need to know.

Introduction

Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s. The term “funk” refers to a particular style of African American soul music that was developed through the early 1970s. Funk music is characterized by its groovy, often syncopated bass lines, as well as its dense, layered horn and percussion charts. Its lyrics are often sexually suggestive or politically charged, and its musicians often dress flamboyantly.

Funk first gained popularity in the 1970s with bands like Parliament-Funkadelic and Sly and the Family Stone. In the 1980s, Prince became one of the most successful funk musicians with hits like “Purple Rain” and “Kiss.” In the 1990s and 2000s, artists like Outkast and Bruno Mars brought funk back to the mainstream with their own unique interpretations of the genre.

Here are 70 funk songs that you need to know.

The Funk Brothers

The Funk Brothers were a group of Detroit-based session musicians who performed the backing tracks for many of Motown’s greatest hits. The group consisted of drummers Richard “Pistol” Allen and Uriel Jones, bassists James Jamerson and Bob Babbitt, guitarists Joe Messina and Eddie Willis, keyboardists Earl Van Dyke and Joe Hunter, and percussionist Jack Ashford.

The Funk Brothers were the unsung heroes of Motown. They were the musicians who played on the majority of Motown hits from 1959 to 1972. Even though they were not household names, their contributions to Motown cannot be overestimated.

The Funk Brothers made hit after hit possible. They worked long hours in the studio, perfecting their craft and making magic happen. Without them, many of Motown’s biggest hits would not have been as successful as they were.

The group was originally assembled in 1959 by Berry Gordy Jr., the founder of Motown Records. Gordy hand-picked each member of the group for their individual talent and ability to work well together as a team.

Over the course of their career, the Funk Brothers played on over 200 charting singles, including 14 number-one hits. They are estimated to have played on over 70% of all Motown recordings during their peak years from 1962 to 1968. Among the most notable songs they performed on are “My Girl” by The Temptations, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, “Stop! In the Name of Love” by The Supremes, and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” by The Four Tops.

The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.

James Brown

No other artist did more to define the sound and style of Funk than James Brown. With a career that spanned six decades, Brown was a driving force behind the development of Funk music as we know it. His signature call-and-response style of singing, combined with his innovative approach to rhythm and groove, helped to redefine popular music in the 1960s and 1970s. As a bandleader, Brown was also responsible for launching the careers of many of Funk’s most iconic musicians, including Bootsy Collins and Maceo Parker. His influence can be heard in the work of subsequent generations of artists, from Hip Hop pioneers like Afrika Bambaataa to modern Pop stars like Bruno Mars.

Sly and the Family Stone

Considered one of the best and most influential soul groups of all time, Sly and the Family Stone was led by the innovative, charismatic Sly Stone. Formed in 1966, the band enjoyed a string of hits throughout the late ‘60s and early ‘70s that combined elements of soul, pop, rock, and funk. Although the group was plagued by interpersonal tensions and drug addiction, their trailblazing music would go on to inspire subsequent generations of artists.

Parliament-Funkadelic

Formed in the late 1960s by George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic stands as one of the most important and influential bands in funk history. Clinton’s group was a large collective of musicians who recorded under a variety of names and released a mind-boggling amount of music, both under Clinton’s leadership and as solo projects. Though their records were mostly well-received by audiences and critics, it wasn’t until the early ’70s that Parliament-Funkadelic started to find wider commercial success. With a series of hits like “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker),” “Flash Light,” and “(Not Just) Knee Deep,” the band became one of the most popular groups of the decade and continued to be popular through the ’80s. In the ’90s and 2000s, Clinton and members of Parliament-Funkadelic were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, ensuring their place in music history.

Bootsy’s Rubber Band

Bootsy’s Rubber Band was a Funk Music band formed in the 1970s. The band was led by Bootsy Collins, and also featured Catfish Collins, Frank Waddy, and Gary Mudbone Cooper. The band was known for their innovative use of the “slap bass” style of funk and their fun, party-like atmosphere.

The Gap Band

The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band that rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band consisted of three brothers from Tulsa, Oklahoma: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson. They were a key part of the “The Funk Sound” of the 1970s and 1980s.

The Gap Band’s first hit was “I Don’t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops Up Side Your Head)” in 1979. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and helped the band become one of the most popular disco-funk bands of the 1980s. The Gap Band had other hits including “Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)”, “You Dropped a Bomb On Me”, and “Outstanding”.

The Gap Band’s success continued into the 1990s with their hit album Straight from the Heart which featured the title track and “Party Train”. The Gap Band was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

Earth, Wind, and Fire

Formed in Chicago in 1969, Earth, Wind, and Fire was one of the most successful bands of the 1970s. With their unique blend of funk, soul, pop, and rock, the group created a sound that was both innovative and accessible. They had a string of hits including “Shining Star,” “September,” and “Boogie Wonderland.” The group’s popularity transcended racial barriers and they were able to cross over into the mainstream.

In the 1980s, Earth, Wind, and Fire’s popularity began to wane. They had trouble keeping up with the changing trends in music and their sales suffered as a result. The group attempted to make a comeback in the 1990s with mixed results. Today, Earth, Wind, and Fire are still active but their popularity has largely faded.

Kool and the Gang

Kool and the Gang is an American funk and R&B band that was formed in 1964. The band has released 22 studio albums and has sold over 70 million records worldwide. The group’s hits include “Ladies’ Night”, “Celebration”, and “Get Down on It”.

Chic

Chic is a group that should need no introduction, as they are one of the most successful and influential disco groups of all time. They are best known for their string of hits in the late 1970s, including “Le Freak” and “Good Times”. Chic’s sound was a funky blend of disco, soul, and pop that was perfect for dancing, and their glossy production helped to set the standard for disco music. Even though they only had a few years of mainstream success, Chic’s impact on dance music was huge, and they continue to be sampled by modern artists.

Conclusion

To wrap things up, here are 70 essential funk tracks that you need to know. These songs represent the best of the genre and have stood the test of time. If you’re a fan of funk, or just want to explore the genre further, this is the perfect starting point.

1. “Super Freak” by Rick James
2. “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown
3. “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” by Michael Jackson
4. “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
5. “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” by McFadden & Whitehead
6. “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” by Parliament
7. “Atomic Dog” by George Clinton
8. “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” by James Brown
9. “The Ghetto” by Don Covay
10. “(Not Just) Knee Deep” by Funkadelic
11. “(Funky) Sex Machine” by James Brown
12..”, tell em bout it” James Brown