80s Soul Funk Music: The Best of the Decade
Contents
Looking for some good 80s soul funk music to listen to? Check out our list of the best of the decade!
Introduction
The 1980s was a great decade for soul and funk music. This was the decade when artists like Prince, Michael Jackson, and Madonna rose to fame, and the sound of soul and funk began to change. The best soul and funk songs of the 1980s are a mix of danceable grooves, catchy hooks, and lyrics that speak to the social issues of the day.
From Debbie Gibson’s “Electric Youth” to George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog”, these are the best soul and funk songs of the 1980s.
What is 80s Soul Funk Music?
Funk music originated in the mid-1960s as a style of rhythmic, danceable music that was influenced by soul, jazz, and R&B. Funk songs typically have a driving, repetitive bassline and a syncopated rhythm. The genre developed in the 1970s and reached its height of popularity in the 1980s, with artists like James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Prince.
80s soul funk is a subgenre of funk music that developed in the 1980s. It blends elements of soul, funk, and disco to create a sound that is both danceable and soulful. 80s soul funk artists include Michael Jackson, Prince, Chaka Khan, and Rick James.
The Best of the Decade
The 1980s was a decade of great soul funk music. Artists like Prince, Michael Jackson, and James Brown released some of their best work during this time. If you’re a fan of soul funk music, then you need to check out the best of the decade. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best soul funk tracks of the 1980s.
George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic
During the ’80s, George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic collective was the most radical musical force in America. No other band was as daring, innovative, or influential during the decade. Clinton’s music was a visionary combination of funk, soul, rock, and hip-hop that reflected the cultural melting pot of ’80s America. His hallucinogenic lyrics, Afrofuturist visuals, and hypnotic grooves created a unique style that was absolutely ahead of its time. From their classic albums “The Mothership Connection” and “One Nation Under a Groove” to their groundbreaking work with hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa, Parliament-Funkadelic were true musical innovators during the ’80s. If you’re looking for the best ’80s soul funk music, look no further than George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic.
James Brown
James Brown is one of the most important and influential musicians of the 20th century. He was a pioneer in the development of funk music and his style is one that is still imitated and respected by many today. During the 1980s, James Brown continued to produce some of the best soul and funk music of the decade. Here are some of his most popular songs from that time period.
Sly and the Family Stone
An American band from San Francisco, California, active from 1966 to 1983, Sly and the Family Stone helped pioneer the way for psychedelic soul and funk. The band’s unique sound was a mix of influences including soul, R&B, rock, blues and pop. With its hybrid sound and multi-racial lineup, the band became one of the most popular and influential groups of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The band’s hits included “Dance to the Music”, “Everyday People”, “Stand!”, “I Want to Take You Higher” and “Family Affair”.
The group was led by singer-songwriter-producer Sly Stone (born Sylvester Stewart) and featured his sister Rose Stone on keyboards, trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, saxophonist Jerry Martini, bassist Larry Graham (Stone’s brother-in-law), drummers Greg Errico and later Andy Newmark in place of Errico. The band members were also involved in several side projects including solo albums, film soundtracks and other musical collaborations.
Despite its success, the group was plagued by drug addiction, legal problems and internal conflict which led to its dissolution in the early 1980s. Sly Stone continued to record sporadically up until his death in 2010.
Prince
Prince was one of the most popular and influential musicians of the 1980s, and he was known for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, extravagant fashion sense and use of makeup, and wide vocal range. His music integrates rock, R&B, soul, funk, hip hop, disco, pop, psychedelia, jazz, and pop culture. He has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He won seven Grammy Awards, an Academy Award for the 1984 film Purple Rain, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
He released 39 albums during his lifetime (including four as a member of The Revolution), and his final album, Hit n Run Phase Two, was released posthumously in 2015. His untimely death at age 57 from an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2016 cut short what would have been an incredible musical legacy.
The Gap Band
The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band which rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band was formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma by brothers Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson. The three brothers began their musical careers playing together in various local bands in the Tulsa area during the 1960s and early 1970s.
After being discovered by Lonnie Simmons, they were signed to his Total Experience Productions label and released their debut album, Magician’s Holiday, in 1974. The Gap Band’s first major hit came in 1977 with the release of “I Don’t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops Up Side Your Head)”, which peaked at number one on the Billboard R&B chart.
The group rose to mainstream popularity with the release of their fifth album, Cowboy’s Back in Town (1979). The album’s lead single, “Shake”, became a top ten hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts. The Gap Band released eight albums on Total Experience during the 1980s, including Gap Band IV (1982), which launched the singles “Early in the Morning” and “You Dropped aBomb on Me”. Both of these songs peaked at number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart and crossed over to the pop charts, becoming top five hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Gap Band continued to have success throughout the 1980s with a string of gold and platinum albums and hit singles. Their final album for Total Experience Records, Gap Band 8 (1985), included the singles “Big Fun”, which reached number one onHot Soul Singles chart, and “We Can Make It Alright”, which peaked at number two. In 1986, they left Total Experience Records and signed with Mercury Records. They released two albums on Mercury before disbanding in 1990.
Conclusion
The eighties was a great decade for soul funk music. With the advent of new technology, artists were able to experiment with different sounds and styles, resulting in some truly innovative and timeless music. From the playful pop of Prince to the social commentary of Public Enemy, there was something for everyone in the eighties soul funk scene. While the eighties may be best remembered for its pop and rock music, it was also a great decade for soul funk. So dust off your copy of The Breakfast Club soundtrack and enjoy some of the best soul funk music of the decade.
