Old School Funk Music Playlist: The Best of the Best
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Looking for some Old School Funk Music to get your groove on? Look no further than our Old School Funk Music Playlist: The Best of the Best. This playlist is sure to get you moving and grooving all night long!
Introduction
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-1960s when African American musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of soul music, jazz, and rhythm and blues (R&B). Funk de-emphasizes melody and chord progressions and focuses on a strong, insistent rhythm section that is played by the bass, drums, and guitar.
The best funk songs have an infectious groove that will get you up and dancing in no time. Whether you’re looking for classic 1970s funk or contemporary hits, this playlist has something for everyone.
What is Old School Funk Music?
Old school funk music is a style of funk that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This style of funk is defined by its heavy use of bass, drums, and horns, as well as its catchy melodies and often sexually suggestive lyrics. Some of the most famous old school funk songs include James Brown’s “Sex Machine,” Funkadelic’s “One Nation Under a Groove,” and Parliament’s “Flash Light.” While this style of funk is not as popular as it once was, it continues to be influential in both the music industry and popular culture.
The Best Old School Funk Songs
There are countless great old school funk songs, but some just stand out above the rest. Here is a list of 20 of the best old school funk songs that you need to add to your playlist.
1. Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine – James Brown
2. Super Freak – Rick James
3. Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker) – Parliament
4. Flash Light – Parliament
5. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg – The Temptations
6. I Want You Back – The Jackson 5
7. Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye
8. Dancing Machine – The Jackson 5
9. Jungle Boogie – Kool & the Gang
10. Brick House – The Commodores
11. Ladies Night – Kool & the Gang
12. Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) – The Jacksons
13. Funkytown – Lipps Inc.
14. I Wish – Stevie Wonder
15. Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
16.(Not Just) Knee Deep Part 1 – Funkadelic Functioning as a strongly effective groove, “(Not Just) Knee Deep” became not only one of Funkadelic’s most popular and timeless tracks, but also one of hip-hop’s most sampled jams as well — De La Soul, Public Enemy, and Dr Dre are just some of the many artists who have co-opted its muscular bassline and thick drum pattern over the years.) 17..Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang – Dr Dre featuring Snoop Dogg 18..Atomic Dog – George Clinton 19..The Ghetto – Don Covay 20..Forget Me Nots – Patrice Rushen
Why Old School Funk Music is the Best
Funk is a music genre that originated in the late 1960s when African American musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mix of soul, jazz, and rhythm and blues (R&B). Funkadelic and Parliament, two groups associated with the funk musician George Clinton, are credited with creating the genre. Funk songs are often based on a repetitive groove that is laid down by a bass line played by an electric bassist or, less frequently, by a double bassist playing an electric bass guitar.
The other instruments in a typical funk band include at least one guitarist playing rhythm guitar, horns playing melody lines and background parts, and drums laying down the groove. The percussion instruments in funk bands usually include electric drums as well as Latin percussion instruments such as Congas and timbales. In some cases, keyboard instruments such as organs and electric pianos may be used to provide the main melody line instead of horns.
What sets funk apart from other genres like soul or R&B is its focus on the groove—the kind of hypnotic rhythm that makes you want to get up and dance. Funk songs are often built around extended improvisation sections driven by this groove. The best funk bands of the 1970s—including Parliament-Funkadelic, James Brown’s JBs, Sly & the Family Stone, Kool & the Gang, Earth Wind & Fire—were masters at creating these kinds of infectious grooves.
If you’re looking for some good old-school funk to get your groove on, check out our playlist of the best funk songs of all time.
Conclusion
There are many great old school funk songs out there, but these ten are the best of the best. If you’re looking for a funky, groovy playlist that will get you moving, then look no further than this one. From James Brown to Parliament-Funkadelic, these songs are sure to get your hips shaking. So put on your dancing shoes and get ready to groove!
