The Best of 70’s Funk Music

The best of 70’s funk music brought to you by the leading authority on funk. Find out which tracks are the most popular and why.

The Birth of Funk

Funk is a style of music that was popular in the 1970s. It is a blend of soul, R&B, and jazz. Funk is characterized by a strong bass line and percussion. The music is often syncopated and has a groovy feel.

James Brown and the Godfather of Soul

The Godfather of Soul, James Brown was born in Barnwell, South Carolina on May 3, 1933. He worked in a variety of jobs before landing his big break as a musician. Brown’s career began to take off in the early 1960s with the release of his hit single, “Papas Got a Brand New Bag.” From there, he went on to release a string of other hits including “I Got You (I Feel Good),” “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” and “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine.”

Brown’s unique style of music, which blended elements of soul, R&B, and funk, helped to pioneer the sound of funk music. His innovative approach to music and performance influenced countless other artists, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in popular music history.

Sly and the Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone was one of the most popular and influential bands of the 1970s. Funkadelic and Parliament-Funkadelic, they created a style of music that was a fusion of soul, rock, and R&B. Their music was characterized by its funky grooves, psychedelic lyrics, and social commentary.

The band was formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter Sly Stone. The original lineup included his brother Freddie Stone on guitar, Rose Stone on keyboards, Larry Graham on bass, Cynthia Robinson on trumpet, and Jerry Martini on saxophone. The band’s first album, A Whole New Thing, was released in 1967 to critical acclaim but commercial success eluded them.

Their breakthrough came with their 1968 album Stand!, which contained the hit singles “Everyday People” and “I Want to Take You Higher.” The album reached #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and won them a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.

The band’s popularity continued to rise with their 1969 album Life, which contained the hit singles “Hot Fun in the Summertime” and “Stand!” The album reached #2 on the Billboard 200 chart and won them another Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.

In 1970, Sly and the Family Stone released their fourth album Fresh, which contained the hits “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” and “Family Affair.” The album reached #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and won them another Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.

The band’s popularity began to wane in the early 1970s due to drug problems and creative differences. They released two more albums, There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971) and Small Talk (1974), before breaking up in 1975.

Despite their relatively short career, Sly and the Family Stone were one of the most influential bands of their era. Their music helped shape the sound of funk music in the 1970s and influenced many subsequent musical genres including hip-hop and dance music.

The Golden Age of Funk

Funk music first gained popularity in the early 1970s with bands like Parliament-Funkadelic and Sly and the Family Stone. The genre is a mix of African-American music styles such as soul and R&B with James Brown’s brand of rhythm and blues. Funk songs are often based on a strong groove with catchy melodies and simple harmonies.

Parliament-Funkadelic

Formed in the late 1960s by George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic (aka P-Funk) was a collective of over 30 musicians who created some of the most groundbreaking and influential music of the 1970s. P-Funk’s unique brand of funk blended elements of R&B, psychedelia, and soul to create a sound that was both danceable and politically charged. Their intricate arrangements and extended jams were unlike anything else being made at the time, and their influence can still be heard in modern funk and hip-hop.

Parliament-Funkadelic is perhaps best known for their 1973 album, “Cosmic Slop,” which featured the hit single “(Not Just) Knee Deep.” This song was notable for its use of the “call and response” style of vocals, which would become a signature of Parliament’s sound. Other notable albums include “Mothership Connection” (1975), “One Nation Under a Groove” (1978), and “The Mothership Connection Live from Earth” (1996).

While Parliament-Funkadelic is no longer active, George Clinton continues to tour under the name “George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic.” This group features many of the original members of P-Funk, as well as a rotating cast of new musicians. If you have a chance to see them live, don’t miss it – it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience!

George Clinton

George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer. His Parliament-Funkadelic collective (which primarily recorded under the distinct band names Parliament and Funkadelic) developed an influential and eclectic form of funk music during the 1970s that drew on science fiction, outlandish fashion, psychedelic culture, and surreal humor. He launched a solo career in 1981. Clinton has been cited as one of the foremost innovators of funk music along with James Brown and Sly Stone. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.

Bootsy Collins

While Parliament-Funkadelic was celebrating the Mothership landing, another great funk band was Funkadelic’s sister band, Bootsy’s Rubber Band. Fronted by bassist and vocalist William “Bootsy” Collins, this group was perhaps the funkiest and most professional of all the P-Funk bands. Parliament may have been weirder, and Funkadelic may have been heavier, but Bootsy’s Rubber Band could really groove. They also had a sense of humor that rivaled George Clinton’s – witness their biggest hit, “Bootzilla,” a hilarious 1978 tune about a gigantic mutant bass player who terrorizes the city.

The Funk of Today

Funk music emerged in the late 1960s as a hybrid of soul and rhythm and blues. It was characterized by its syncopated rhythms, polyrhythmic grooves, and funky bass lines. The best of 70’s funk music incorporated elements of jazz, rock, and Latin music. Funk music was a rebellion against the overproduced and polished sounds of popular music in the early 1970s. It was raw, edgy, and soulful.

Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars is a singer, songwriter, and producer who has catapulted to the top of the music charts with his signature brand of funk. His hits “Uptown Funk” and “24K Magic” have brought the sound of 1970s funk back to the forefront of popular music.

Mars’ retro style and catchy hooks have made him one of the most successful artists of our time. His songs are impossible not to dance to, and his videos are visually stunning. If you’re looking for a funki-fix, look no further than Bruno Mars.

Janelle Monae

Janelle Monáe Robinson is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and actress. signed with Bad Boy Records in 2003. Her debut studio album, The ArchAndroid, was released in 2010 and was ranked as one of the best albums of that year by music publications such as Billboard and Time. It peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard 200 chart and received three Grammy Award nominations for Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for “I’m Electric”, and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for “Cold War”. Monáe’s second album, The Electric Lady, was released in 2013. It peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 chart and received critical acclaim from music critics, who praised its amalgamation of genres ranging from R&B, soul, funk, hip hop, and rock

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most skillful and successful hip hop artists of his generation. Raised in Compton, California, Lamar embarked on his musical career as a teenager under the stage name K-Dot, releasing a mixtape that garnered local attention and led to his signing with indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). He began to gain mainstream recognition in 2012 after the success of his debut studio album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, which was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Its lead single “Swimming Pools (Drank)” became Lamar’s first top 40 entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.