The Best of Funk Music From the ’70s
If you love funk music from the 1970s, then this blog is for you! We’ll be sharing the best tracks from this genre, so you can groove along at home.
Introduction to Funk Music
Funk music developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a way to combine the hard-hitting rhythms of R&B and soul with the psychedelic sounds of rock and jazz. The result was a new style of music that was both highly danceable and politically charged. Funk soon became the soundtrack of the Black Power movement, with artists like James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic using their music to speak out against racism and injustice. In the 1970s, funk continued to evolve, with artists like Sly and the Family Stone adding elements of pop and disco to create a new sound that was both commercially successful and culturally significant.
What is Funk Music?
Funk is a style of danceable, soulful music that originated in the African-American community in the mid-1960s. It is characterized by a strong, syncopated bass line, heavily accented percussion, and a style of singing that is often described as “dirty” or “raw.” Funk songs often have complex, catchy melodies and lyrics that are often sexually suggestive or political in nature.
Funk music was created by self-taught musicians who were influenced by the music of their culture, as well as the popular music of the day. James Brown, George Clinton, and Sly Stone were all early pioneers of funk music. Funk soon spread beyond its African-American roots and became popular with white audiences as well. In the 1970s, funk bands like Parliament-Funkadelic and Earth, Wind & Fire became mainstream superstars.
Funk has been a major influence on many other genres of music, including hip hop, disco, and rhythm and blues. Today, funk is enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.
The Origins of Funk Music
Funk is a genre of music 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 harmony and brings a strong rhythmic element to the foreground, creating an infectious, bodies-in-motion groove.
The word funk initially referred to a strong, pungent body odor. By the early 1970s, however, funk had come to mean something completely different in the world of popular music. The term was now used to describe a new style of R&B that incorporated elements of soul, jazz, and Latin music. This signature groove—often characterized bysyncopated basslines, choppy rhythms, and dense percussion—came to define the sound of 1970s funk.
The pioneers of this new sound were James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic, two hugely influential bands who helped to shape the course of popular music in the 1970s. Other important funk artists included Sly and the Family Stone, Kool and the Gang, Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, and Prince. Funk remained a major force in popular music throughout the 1980s and 1990s; by the early 21st century it had left its mark on genres as diverse as disco, hip-hop, house music, and even heavy metal.
The Best Funk Songs of the ’70s
The 1970s was a golden age for funk music. Parliament-Funkadelic, Sly and the Family Stone, and James Brown were just some of the pioneers that created this new sound. The best funk songs of the ’70s are a mix of all these different artists and styles, and they’re sure to get you up and dancing.
“Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
“Superstition” is a song by American musician Stevie Wonder, released as the lead single from his 1972 album Talking Book. One of Wonder’s most popular songs, “Superstition” was a critical and commercial success upon its release, topping the charts in several countries and becoming one of his signature songs. It was his first number-one single since “The Tears of a Clown” in 1970, and remained at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, his longest stay at number one since “Fingertips” in 1963.
“Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” by James Brown
Released in 1970, this song is one of the most iconic funk songs of all time. It was James Brown’s biggest hit single, reaching number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. The song is an uptempo call-and-response funk groove with a driving horn section that has been sampled countless times.
“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” by Michael Jackson
“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson from his sixth studio album, Thriller (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. The song was originally going to be for Quincy Jones’ album, The Dude, but Jackson chose it for Thriller instead. It was released on September 16, 1982, as the eighth single from the album. “P.Y.T.” is a funk song that contains elements of R&B and disco. Jackson’s young age at the time of recording aided him in bringing out a “naivete” in his voice that many other young R&B artists were unable to capture, according to music writer Nelson George.
The song received generally positive reviews from music critics; many praised Jackson’s vocal performance and quality of the song’s production. Some also called it one of the best tracks on Thriller. The song was also a commercial success; it peaked at number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and charted within the top forty in multiple international markets. It also performed well on various charts worldwide; it reached number three on the Hot Black Singles chart and number eight on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs chart in 1983 respectively. Additionally, it won a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 1984 ceremony. A music video for “P.Y
“I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5
“I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5 is one of the best funk songs of the ’70s. The song was released in October 1969 and became a huge hit, reaching the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The song features a catchy hook and funky bassline that are sure to get your feet moving.
“Le Freak” by Chic
“Le Freak” is a song by American disco band Chic. It was written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, and released in 1978 on the album C’est Chic. The song was inspired by a nightclub incident involving Rodgers. The single topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on January 21, 1979, becoming the group’s only number-one single in the United States.
Conclusion
After discussing the history of funk music and analyzing its key features, we can conclude that funk is a genre that is marked by its groove, its use of electric instruments, and its often political lyrics. Funk is a genre that has its roots in the African American community, and its popularity has grown in recent years. Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy funk music as much as we do!
The Legacy of Funk Music
The legacy of funk music is evident in today’s popular music genres. The ’70s were a time when the genre was at its peak, with artists like James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Sly and the Family Stone creating some of the most iconic funk tracks of all time.
While the ’70s may have been the golden age of funk, the genre has continued to influence music throughout the years. Today, you can hear elements of funk in everything from R&B to hip hop. And, as more and more people continue to discover the joys of listening to funk music, its popularity is only increasing.
If you’re looking to get into funk music, or just want to enjoy some classic tracks, check out our list of the best funk songs from the ’70s. You’re sure to find something that gets you grooving.
