The Best of 70’s Funk Music

A collection of the best funk songs from the 1970’s. Featuring Parliament, Bootsy Collins, and more.

Intro

The 1970s saw the birth of funk music, a genre that combines elements of soul, jazz, and R&B. Funk songs are often based on a repeating groove or groove that is laid down by the bassline. The genre took off in the early 1970s with hits like James Brown’s “Sex Machine” and Parliament’s “Flash Light.” In the mid-1970s, George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic collective began to experiment with longer jams and more complex arrangements, laying the groundwork for what would become known as disco. By the end of the decade, disco had taken over pop music, with funk elements becoming less prominent.

The Best of 70’s Funk Music

70’s Funk Music was a genre of music that was created by mixing elements of Soul, R&B, and Funk. The music was popularized by James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic. Some of the best 70’s Funk songs include “Super Bad” by James Brown, “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” by Parliament-Funkadelic, and “Flash Light” by Parliament.

James Brown

James Brown is often credited with being one of the best and most influential funk musicians of all time. His unique style, which blended elements of soul, R&B, and gospel, helped to create a new sound that would come to be known as funk. Brown’s use of extended jams, call-and-response vocals, and his distinctive “funk dance” moves all helped to make him one of the most popular and iconic performers of the 1970s.

Parliament-Funkadelic

Parliament-Funkadelic is an American musical collective of subgroups led by George Clinton, and primarily consisting of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic. Their style has been variously described as funk, psychedelic soul, and Afrofuturism. They influenced numerous subsequent artists in the genres of funk, hip hop, and rock.

The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. They played an important role in the development of the genres of funk and P-Funk; their distinguished list of collaborators including Bootsy Collins, the Brides of Funkenstein, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker andBernie Worrell) formed what is known as The P-Funk All Stars.

Sly and the Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone was an American musical group from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music. Headed by singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone, and containing several of his family members and friends, the group’s music fused soul with psychedelic rock to create a unique style that would be influential on subsequent generations of music.

The band reached its peak of commercial success with its second album, A Whole New Thing (1967), which spawning the top ten single “Dance to the Music”. But by 1969, after releasing two more successful albums—Stand! (1969) and There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971)—the group began to disintegrate due to drug abuse and interpersonal clashes. After changing their name to simply Sly & the Family Stone in 1972, they released fresh material with little success. Due to mounting legal troubles from drug charges as well as experimental material that was perceived as uncommercial at the time, the group’s output suffered both critically and commercially during this period.

The Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers are an American musical group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that started as a gospel group but found fame with their R&B and soul tunes. The group has been cited as having influenced many other musical artists, including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Curtis Mayfield. They have had four number-one hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and sixteen Top 40 singles on the same chart. The brothers have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Bootsy’s Rubber Band

Bootsy’s Rubber Band is an American funk band formed in 1972 by bassist Bootsy Collins. The band’s hits include “Can’t Stay Away”, “I’d Rather Be with You”, and “Mwatching (My Baby)”.

Conclusion

After extensively discussing and researching the topic, it is safe to say that 70s funk music was a genre that truly changed the musical landscape. From its humble beginnings in the back alleys and underground clubs of New Orleans, to its eventual takeover of the mainstream charts, funk music became a force to be reckoned with. With its catchy rhythms and funky grooves, it is no wonder that this genre continues to be popular even today. If you are a fan of funk music, or simply want to check out some of the best music of the 70s, be sure to check out our list of the top 10 funk songs of the 1970s.