The Obscure Funk Music of 1983

This blog is dedicated to exploring the often overlooked and forgotten funk music of 1983. From obscure albums to hidden gems, we’ll be digging deep to find the funkiest tunes of the year.

Introduction

In 1983, the world of funk music was in a state of flux. James Brown, the self-proclaimed “Godfather of Soul”, had been absent from the charts for several years, and a new wave of artists were beginning to make their mark on the genre. Among them were George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, who would go on to become one of the most influential funk bands of all time.

But there were also a number of lesser-known artists who released some truly amazing funk albums in 1983. Here are just a few of them:

-The Gap Band: The Gap Band IV
The fourth album from The Gap Band, The Gap Band IV is often seen as the band’s breakout album. It includes the hits “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” and “Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)”, both of which would go on to become pop culture classics.

-Con Funk Shun: Secrets
The eighth album from Con Funk Shun, Secrets was something of a return to form for the group after a couple of lackluster releases. It features the hit single “Ffun”, which is still one of their most popular songs.

-Jesse Johnson: Shockadelica
The debut solo album from The Time guitarist Jesse Johnson, Shockadelica is a mix of funk, soul, and rock that perfectly captures the spirit of 1983. It includes the hit single “Can You Help Me?”, which is still one of Johnson’s best-known songs.

The Birth of Funk

Funk music originated in the mid-1960s as a branch of rhythm and blues. The style is characterized by a syncopated bassline and pronounced rhythms. The earliest funk bands were James Brown and the J.B.’s, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Sly and the Family Stone. Funk music evolved in the 1970s with the help of artists like Bootsy Collins and George Clinton. By the early 1980s, the sound of Funk had changed significantly.

James Brown and the Birth of Funk

In the early 1960s, James Brown developed a new style of music that would come to be known as funk. With its rhythmic groove andgritty vocals, funk was a major departure from the soul music that had dominated the charts up to that point. Funk would go on to become one of the most influential genres in popular music, spawning a host of subgenres and influencing artists across the musical spectrum.

James Brown was born in Barnwell, South Carolina, on May 3, 1933. He was raised in Augusta, Georgia, by his Aunt Hattie. Brown’s early life was marked by poverty and violence. He left school in the seventh grade and spent several years in juvenile detention for petty crimes. In 1955, he was paroled and began his musical career playing guitar in bands around Augusta.

In 1956, Brown relocated to Tennessee and joined the Famous Flames, a vocal group that would become integral to his sound. The following year, the group released their debut single “Please Please Please”. The song was a huge hit, reaching number six on the Billboard R&B chart.

The success of “Please Please Please” launched Brown’s career and he quickly became one of the most popular artists of the 1960s. He followed up with a string of hits including “I Got You (I Feel Good)”, “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World”, and “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud”. In 1967, he released his most successful album to date, Cold Sweat. The album featured two of Brown’s most iconic songs: the title track and “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine”.

Cold Sweat was a turning point for James Brown and for funk music as a whole. The album showcased Brown’s new focus on rhythm and groove over traditional melodies and chord progressions. This shift would come to define funk music and make James Brown one of its most important innovators.

George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic

George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic were one of the most influential funk bands of the 1970s and 1980s. They blended elements of R&B, soul, and rock into a new musical style that came to be known as “funk.” Clinton’s group was also notable for their innovative use of electronic instruments and for their outrageous stage costumes and performance art.

In 1983, Clinton released his first solo album, Computer Games, which featured the hit single “Atomic Dog.” The song became a massive hit, reaching #1 on the R&B charts and #2 on the pop charts. “Atomic Dog” is often credited with popularizing the term “funk” in mainstream culture.

The Mainstreaming of Funk

Funk music was once the exclusive domain of a small group of musicians and listeners who were in on the joke. Funk was music for black people who were too cool for disco and too smart for rock. But all that changed in 1983, when a new generation of white musicians and fans discovered the joys of funk.

Funk in the 1970s

The 1970s saw the rise of funk music, a genre that blended elements of soul, R&B, and psychedelic rock. Funk was characterized by its rhythmic grooves, which were often based on African American vernacular styles such as James Brown’s “Funky Drummer.” As the decade progressed, more and more artists began to experiment with funk’s sound, pushing the genre in new and exciting directions.

One of the most important innovators of funk was Parliament-Funkadelic, a sprawling collective of musicians led by George Clinton. Clinton and his cohorts expanded upon the foundations laid by James Brown, creating a sound that was both wild and sophisticated. Other important funk bands of the 1970s included Earth, Wind & Fire; Kool & the Gang; and The Ohio Players.

Funk enjoyed mainstream success in the 1970s, thanks in large part to the popularity of disco. Many disco songs featured heavy funk influences, and as disco mania swept the nation, so too did the appeal of funk music. By the end of the decade, however, disco’s popularity had begun to wane, and many funk bands found themselves struggling to stay afloat.

Funk in the 1980s

In the early 1980s, as disco toppled from its perch as America’s most popular musical genre, a new sound was bubbling up from the underground: funk. Funk was a more laid-back, groove-oriented style of music that incorporated elements of soul, R&B, and even jazz. By the middle of the decade, funk was beginning to enter the mainstream, thanks in part to some key crossover hits by artists like Prince and Rick James.

In 1983, funk truly arrived with the release of two groundbreaking albums: Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Parliament’s Live: P-Funk Earth Tour. Thriller featured the massive hit “Billie Jean,” which showcased Jackson’s trademark blend of R&B vocals and funky dance moves. Meanwhile, Parliament’s Live album captured the band’s legendary live show, complete with spacey sound effects and outrageous costumes.

After these two albums took the world by storm, funk became one of the most popular genres of music in the 1980s. Artists like George Clinton, Prince, and Madonna all experimented with funk-infused sounds on their way to superstardom. And though it has since faded from the spotlight, funk continues to exert a strong influence on today’s pop music.

The Legacy of Funk

Funk music was a product of the times in the early 1980s. The world was in a transitionary phase and the music reflected that. Funk was a new sound that was fresh and exciting. It was also a way for people to express themselves. The music was a form of self-expression that allowed people to be who they were.

The Influence of Funk in Hip Hop

Despite its relatively short-lived commercial success, funk has had a significant influence on the development of hip hop. In the early days of hip hop, DJs would often use funk records to provide the dancers with a rhythmic base to dance to. As the genre developed, MCs began to rap over these beats, and the first rap songs were born.

Funk also had a direct influence on the development of breakdancing. Many of the early breakdancing moves were directly borrowed from James Brown’s stage show. The popularity of breakdancing in the early 1980s helped to ensure that funk remained a part of hip hop culture.

Today, funk is no longer as commercially successful as it once was, but its influence can still be heard in hip hop. Many modern producers are heavily influenced by classic funk beats, and many rappers continue to sample funk tracks in their songs.

The Influence of Funk in Electronic Dance Music

Funk music is often thought of as a relic of the 1970s, but its influence can still be felt in today’s electronic dance music. In the early 1980s, a new breed of funk called “electro-funk” emerged, led by artists like Afrika Bambaataa and Planet Patrol. This music combined the driving beats of funk with the synthesized sounds of early electronic music, laying the foundations for what would eventually become EDM.

Today, many modern EDM producers incorporate elements of funk into their music, keeping the legacy of this influential style alive.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the obscure funk music of 1983 was a genre of music that was not well known at the time, but is now considered to be a classic by many. The style of funk music changed drastically in the early 1980s, and this is reflected in the obscure funk music of 1983. This style of funk was not as commercialized as other genres at the time, but has since gained a cult following among fans of underground music.