The Best of 70s Funk Music
The Best of 70s Funk Music is a blog dedicated to the greatest funk hits of the 1970s. From Parliament to James Brown, we’ve got all the classics covered.
Introduction
Funk is a style of music that originated in the mid-1960s. It is characterized by a heavy groove and a driving bass line, as well as elements of soul, R&B, and jazz. Funk songs are often danceable and often have a call-and-response structure.
Funk first became popular in the 1970s, and its popularity has continued to grow in recent years. Many funk songs have been covered by pop and rock artists, and the genre has influenced many other genres of music, including hip hop, electronic dance music, and disco.
The Best of 70s Funk Music is a compilation album that features some of the most iconic funk songs of the 1970s. The album includes tracks from legendary artists like James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins, and George Clinton. If you’re a fan of funk music or just want to take a trip down memory lane, this album is for you!
The Funk Movement
The Funk Movement was a musical movement that arose in the early 1970s. It is defined by a type of music that is characterized by a strong, driving rhythm, and a heavy bass line. The lyrics often deal with themes of love, partying, and social issues. The style is often considered to be a blend of soul, R&B, and rock.
James Brown and the Birth of Funk
In the early 1960s, James Brown was pretty much the hardest-working man in show business. His brand of psychedelic soul, which blended elements of R&B, gospel, and blues, was characterized by Watts’ propulsive drumming and Brown’s own guttural vocals, which he punctuated with screams, grunts, and moans. The groove created by Brown and his band was so strong that it practically demanded to be danced to, and soon a new style of dance called “the funky chicken” was born.
As the popularity of Brown’s brand of soul spread, other artists began to incorporate elements of funk into their music. Sly and the Family Stone were one of the first popular groups to do so, infusing their sound with a heavy dose of bass and drums and adding in some psychedelic flourishes. George Clinton took things even further with his band Parliament-Funkadelic, creating a sounds that was part futuristic sci-fi and part P-funk (punk funk). Clinton’s use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments gave birth to a style of music known as “space funk,” which would go on to be hugely influential in the development of hip hop.
The Godfather of Soul
In the early 1970s, James Brown was the undisputed king of funk, a genre of music characterized by its hard-driving groove and often sexually charged lyrics. Brown’s hit songs “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” and “The Payback” epitomized the style, and his influence can be heard in the work of many later funk artists.
Brown’s success helped popularize funk music, and it soon became one of the most popular genres of the 1970s. Other important funk artists of the era include Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Fred Wesley & The J.B.’s. These acts blended elements of soul, R&B, and jazz with a hard-hitting funk sound to create some of the most groundbreaking and timeless music of the decade.
The Funky Drummer
The Funky Drummer is a drum break created by Clyde Stubblefield in the James Brown song “Give It Up or Turnit a Loose”, recorded in 1969. The break lasts for 16 measures and is considered to be one of the most sampled musical segments in history. It has been reused in over 1,000 songs by artists including N.W.A, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Run-D.M.C., Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
The Funky Drummer is recognized as an important element in the development of hip hop music, as it was one of the first drum breaks to be widely sampled. In particular, the break has been used on numerous occasions by some of hip hop’s most influential producers, including DJ Premier, The Bomb Squad and RZA.
The Funk Bands
There were many great funk bands in the 1970s that created some of the best music of that decade. George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic was one of the most popular and influential bands of that time, and their music is still enjoyed by many today. Other great funk bands from the 70s include The Meters, Ohio Players, and Kool & The Gang.
Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic was a funk music group formed in the late 1960s by George Clinton. The group began as Parliament, a doo-wop group inspired by Motown. Clinton later expanded the group, adding elements of psychedelic rock, R&B, and soul to create a unique sound that became known as “funk”. The band’s biggest hit was “One Nation Under a Groove”, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. The group continued to record and tour until Clinton dissolved the group in 1983.
Bootsy’s Rubber Band
The first Funkadelic album was released in 1970, and was quickly followed by the release of Bootsy’s Rubber Band’s “Stretchin’ Out in Bootsy’s Rubber Band” in 1976. The band, led by Bootsy Collins, was a collective of musicians who created a deep, rhythmic groove that was heavily influenced by James Brown and Sly & the Family Stone. The band’s sound was also shaped by the work of George Clinton, who produced their first album.
Bootsy’s Rubber Band went on to release a number of successful albums in the 1970s, including “Worth My Weight in Gold” (1976), “This Boot is Made for Fonk-N” (1978), and “The One Giveth, The Count Taketh Away” (1979). The band also had a number of hit singles, including “I’d Rather Be with You” (1976), “Bootzilla” (1978), and “Jam Fan (The Thing)” (1979).
In the 1980s, the band continued to release albums and tour extensively. However, they failed to match the commercial success of their earlier work. They disbanded in 1992, but have since reformed several times for reunion tours.
The Ohio Players
The Ohio Players were an American funk and R&B band, most popular in the 1970s. The group formed in 1954 as the Ohio Untouchables, and originally consisted of ten members: six saxophonists, three trumpeters, and a drummer. The Untouchables signed with Chicago’s Vee-Jay Records in 1961, and began releasing singles under their own name the following year. In 1965, they switched to the Detroit-based Ric-Tic label, and two years later they shortened their name to the Ohio Players.
The group’s first album for Ric-Tic was 1968’s Pain, which featured the single “Pain (Part 1),” a horn-driven track that became a #1 hit on the R&B charts and peaked at #45 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Ohio Players followed up with a string of successful albums and singles throughout the 1970s, including such hits as “Funky Worm,” “Skin Tight,” “Fire,” “Love Rollercoaster,” and “Who’d She Coo?” The group was also known for their sexually suggestive album covers, which often featured nude or semi-nude women.
The Ohio Players disbanded in 1976, but reunited in 1980 for a new album and tour. They continued to perform and record sporadically over the next few decades, with their most recent album being 2010’s Hip Hop Lives.
The Funk Sound
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-1960s. It combines elements of African-American soul, jazz, and rhythm and blues. Funk created a distinctive groove that emphasized the downbeat—with syncopated bass patterns, guitar riffs, and drum solos.
The Funk Bass Line
The funk bass line is one of the most important aspects of the genre, and it’s also one of the most fun to play. The key to a good funk bass line is simplicity – it should be catchy and easy to remember, but it should also have a bit of a groove to it.
There are a few key elements that make up a funk bass line. First, you’ll want to focus on the roots of the chords you’re playing – this gives the line its foundation. Second, you’ll want to add in some embellishments – little fills and licks that make the line more interesting. Finally, you’ll want to make sure that your line is tight and grooves with the drumbeat.
If you’re new to playing funk bass, start by learning some of the classic lines from songs like “Good Times” by Chic, “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder, and “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5. Once you have those down, you can start experimenting with your own lines. Remember, keep it simple and make sure it grooves!
The Funk Guitar
The distinctive sound of funk guitar comes from a few key elements: a strong rhythm section, catchy melodies, and plenty of groove. The best funk guitarists know how to use all of these elements to create a sound that is both unique and memorable.
One of the most important aspects of funk guitar is the rhythm section. This includes both the bass and drums, which work together to create a strong groove that can be felt as well as heard. The best funk guitarists know how to use this groove to their advantage, playing catchy riffs and licks that complement the rhythm section and keep the listener moving.
The melodies played by funk guitarists are often simple but effective, using only a few notes to create a catchy hook that will stay in your head long after the song is over. Many funk songs also make use of call-and-response vocals, which can add an additional layer of interest to the music. The best funk guitarists know how to use both melody and call-and-response vocals to create a sound that is both funky and fun.
Finally, no discussion of funk guitar would be complete without mentioning the importance of groove. Groove is what makes funk music so danceable, and it is something that all good funk guitarists strive for in their playing. The best funk guitarists know how to use space and dynamics to create a feeling of movement in their playing, which can make even the most simple riff sound like it’s grooving.
The Funk Horn Section
The most distinctive feature of the funk sound is the “funk horn section.” This is a group of horns (usually trumpets and trombones) that play together. The parts are often syncopated (that is, they don’t line up with the beat of the song), and they often have a lot of embellishments such as trills, slides, and so on.
The funk horn section became popular in the 1970s, and it was used in a lot of different genres of music, including soul, R&B, disco, and rock. Some of the most famous funk horn sections can be heard on songs like “Pick Up the Pieces” by Average White Band, “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder, and “Dance to the Music” by Sly and the Family Stone.
The Legacy of Funk
Funk is a style of music that emerged in the mid-1960s. It is a fusion of soul, R&B, and African-American music. Funk music is characterized by a strong bassline, catchy melodies, and a percussive groove. The best of 70s funk music was created by artists like James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Sly and the Family Stone.
The Funkadelic Legacy
Funkadelic was an American band that was most prominent in the 1970s. The band blended elements of psychedelic rock, soul, and R&B to create a unique style of music. They were one of the first bands to use the word “funk” in their name, and their music helped popularize the genre.
Funkadelic’s most well-known album is 1971’s Maggot Brain, which featured the iconic title track. The album is considered one of the greatest funk albums ever made, and it helped cement the band’s place in music history. Other notable Funkadelic albums includecosmic Slop (1973), One Nation Under a Groove (1978), and Uncle Jam Wants You (1979).
The band’s founder, George Clinton, gained fame not only for his work with Funkadelic, but also for his work with Parliament-Funkadelic, a related project that blended funk and disco. Clinton’s influence extends beyond his own bands; he has worked with everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Snoop Dogg to Red Hot Chili Peppers. His influence on popular culture is undeniable, and he is widely considered to be one of the most important figures in funk music.
The James Brown Legacy
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The creator of funk music and a major figure of 20th century popular music and dance, he is often referred to as the “Godfather of Soul”. In a career that lasted 50 years, he influenced the development of several music genres.
Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia. He joined an R&B vocal group, the Gospel Starlighters (later the Famous Flames), in which he was the lead singer. Gaining popularity for his energetic stage presence and musical talent as lead singer and composer, Brown led the group to their first hit record with the 1956 song “Please, Please, Please”. He then proceeded to build his reputation and career with a series of breakthrough hits including “Try Me” (1958), “[Get Up] I Feel Like Being Like A] Sex Machine” (1970) and “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” (1965). During the late 1960s he moved from R&B to funk and embraced psychedelia. His distinctive sound created a new style that fused gospel with rhythm and blues and then added more elements later including: pop, soul, rock ‘n’ roll and electronic music.
By the early 1970s, Brown had established himself as one of the most important figures in R&B music with a string of hit singles and albums. He also had become noted for frequent onstage collaboration with fellow African-American entertainer Sly Stone as well as for his own occasional forays into rap music. Through the 1980s Brown’s popularity continued to rise; he was honored by several institutions including induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. In recent years James Brown’s importance as a musician has been re-evaluated by several critics following the release of previously unavailable recordings such as Live at Home with His Bad Self (1971) and Love Power Peace (1991). These works shed light on new aspects of his creative genius such as his orchestration skills and showmanship while reaffirming his status as one of the most influential artists in popular music history.
The Bootsy Collins Legacy
Bootsy Collins is one of the most influential bassists in the history of funk. He was a co-founder of the seminal Funkadelic and went on to have a hugely successful solo career. His unique style fused James Brown’s groove-based approach with psychedelic rock and created a new template for funk bass playing that is still in use today.
Collins’ work with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic was some of the most innovative and groundbreaking music of the 1970s. He played on classic albums like “Maggot Brain” and “One Nation Under A Groove” and his signature style can be heard throughout these recordings. His solo work is also essential listening for any fan of funk music. Albums like “Bootsy’s New Rubbery Duck” and “This Boot Is Made For Fonk-N” are true classics of the genre.
Collins has also been highly influential as a bandleader. He has fronted his own group, Bootsy’s Rubber Band, since 1976 and they have released a number of great albums over the years. He has also worked extensively as a producer, helping to shape the sound of contemporary funk music.
The Bootsy Collins legacy is one that continues to be felt today. His contributions to funk music are immeasurable and he remains one of the genre’s most popular and enduring figures.
