The Best of Funk and Soul from the 70’s and 80’s

Looking for the best of funk and soul from the 70’s and 80’s? Then check out our blog! We’ve got all the classics, as well as some hidden gems, that are sure to get you grooving.

Introduction

The 70’s and 80’s were a golden era for funk and soul music. Some of the biggest and best bands of all time came out of this period, including Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, James Brown, and many others. This was a time when music was truly about having fun and making people move, and these bands definitely delivered on that front.

If you’re a fan of funk and soul music, then you’ll definitely want to check out this list of the best songs from the 70’s and 80’s. From classic hits like “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye to masterpiece albums like “Super Fly” by Curtis Mayfield, there’s something here for everyone. So sit back, relax, and let these grooves take you back to a simpler time.

The Birth of Funk

Funk and Soul music from the 70’s and 80’s is some of the best music ever created. The sounds of James Brown, Parliament Funkadelic, Prince, and many others still get people up and dancing today. This type of music is the perfect mix of party and groove, and it is impossible to resist. If you are looking for something to get your body moving, look no further than funk and soul from the 70’s and 80’s.

James Brown and the Birth of Funk

James Brown is one of the most important figures in 20th century music. He is often credited with being the inventor of funk, and his influence can be heard in the music of artists as diverse as Prince, George Clinton, David Bowie, and Outkast.

Born in Barnwell, South Carolina, in 1933, Brown began his musical career singing gospel in the churches of Augusta, Georgia. He formed his first band, The Famous Flames, in 1953, and they had their first hit with “Please Please Please” in 1956.

Over the next decade, James Brown and The Famous Flames would score a string of hits on the R&B and pop charts, including “I Got You (I Feel Good),” “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine,” and “Super Bad.” These songs were defined by their propulsive rhythms, call-and-response vocals, and Brown’s signature style of shouting exhortations to the audience.

In the mid-1960s, James Brown began working with bassist Bootsy Collins and keyboardist Bernie Worrell to develop a new sound that would come to be known as funk. This distinctive style was characterized by its heavy grooves, complexsyncopated rhythms, and use ofPrepare to have your mind blown by some incredible funk tunes from the 70s and 80s!

George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic

Funkadelic was an American band formed in 1968. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music movement of the 1970s. Their distinctive funk soundfeatured heavy use of electric guitars, bass guitars, keyboards, and horns; intricate rhythms; and soulful vocals. Parliament-Funkadelic became one of the most commercially successful groups acts of the 1970s with their string of hits including “One Nation Under a Groove” and “Flash Light”.

Formed in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1956 as The Parliaments, an R&B vocal group named after Parliament cigarettes, they later expanded their lineup with multiple musicians and became Funkadelic in 1967. The group recorded their debut album Funkadelic in 1970. Lack of commercial success led them to signing with Westbound Records the following year where they released four albums between 1971 and 1975; these included two double-albums: Maggot Brain (1971) and Standing on the Verge of Getting It On (1974). The band began to experience wider acclaim after release of their single “(Not Just) Knee Deep” in 1979 which reached number one on Billboard’s R&B chart. Despite little mainstream success outside North America throughout most of their career, Parliament-Funkadelic remains one of the most sampled artists ever in rap music.

The Golden Age of Funk

The 1970’s and 1980’s saw the rise of Funk and Soul music. This was a time when African Americans were beginning to assert their identity and influence in the music industry. Funk and Soul was the perfect vehicle for this expression. The music was funky, soulful, and empowering. It was also a time when many of the greats of Funk and Soul were born. George Clinton, Parliament Funkadelic, and James Brown were just a few of the artists who defined this era.

The Funk Revolution of the 1970s

The Funk Revolution of the 1970s is a story of how a new style of music emerged from the margins to conquer the mainstream. It’s a story of how a group of black musicians took the music of James Brown and Sly Stone, added a dash of George Clinton’s psychedelic excess, and created something fresh, exciting and entirely new.

The result was a style of music that was raw, sexual and often political, with an undeniable groove that could get even the most reluctant dancer moving. It was music that spoke to the African-American experience, but it also had a universal appeal that crossed racial boundaries.

The Funk Revolution of the 1970s produced some of the most iconic artists in popular music history, including Parliament-Funkadelic, Kool & The Gang, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Prince. These artists took funk to new heights with their innovative sounds and exciting live shows, and they continue to influence musicians today.

The Legacy of Funk

The legacy of funk music is often debated among music lovers and historians. Some say that the golden age of funk was the 1970s, while others contend that the 1980s was the true heyday of the genre. Either way, there’s no denying that funk and soul from these two decades have had a lasting impact on pop culture.

Funk first emerged in the early 1970s, with bands like Parliament-Funkadelic and Sly and the Family Stone paving the way for a new sound that blended elements of soul, R&B, and rock. This new style of music was often associated with African-American culture and was embraced by many as a sonic representation of black pride.

In the 1980s, artists like Prince and Michael Jackson helped to bring funk to a wider audience. Their catchy hooks and timeless melodies propelled them to superstardom, while also helping to keep the sound of funk alive.

Today, the influence of funk can be heard in all sorts of music, from hip-hop to pop to electronic. It’s clear that the genre has left a lasting mark on popular culture, cementing its place in history as one of the most influential sounds of all time.

The Soul of Funk

The birth of Funk can be traced back to the African-American community in the late 60’s. Funk is a mix of Soul, R&B, and Psychedelic Rock. The late 60’s and early 70’s was a time of great political and social turmoil in the US, and Funk was the perfect musical response to the times. Funk was a way to get people up and dancing, and to forget about their troubles for a while. Some of the best Funk and Soul artists came out of this era, and they are still revered today.

The Roots of Soul

The origins of soul music can be traced back to the late 1950s and early 1960s, when a hybrid of rhythm and blues, gospel, and jazz came together to form a new style. One of the most important innovators was James Brown, whose groundbreaking recordings in the mid-1960s helped to define the genre. Other key figures include Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Smokey Robinson, and Marvin Gaye. By the 1970s, soul music had become one of the most popular genres in the world, with artists like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Al Green, and Curtis Mayfield achieving commercial success. In the 1980s and 1990s, soul underwent a resurgence thanks to artists like Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, and Mariah Carey.

The Sound of Soul

The term “soul” refers to a variety of different music styles that evolved out of the African-American experience. It is a broad genre that includes music with elements of gospel, R&B, and even rock. Funk is a subgenre of soul that developed in the late 1960s. It is characterized by a heavy groove and often features horns and strings.

The sound of soul and funk became popular in the 1970s and 1980s, when artists like James Brown, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder dominated the charts. These artists incorporated elements of gospel, R&B, and pop to create a sound that was both soulful and funky. Today, the sound of soul and funk can be heard in the music of artists like Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, and others.

The Future of Funk

The term “funk” was first used in the music industry in the 1960s. It is a style of music that is characterized by a strong bass line and a groove that is often contagious. Funk is a genre of music that has continued to evolve over the years.

The New Funk Movement

Funk music has been around for decades, but it experienced a resurgence in popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This new funk movement was led by artists like Prince, Outkast, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, who mixed funk with other genres like rock, hip hop, and R&B.

The new funk sound was fresh and exciting, and it quickly gained a loyal following among music fans of all ages. These days, there are dozens of fantastic funk bands out there keeping the genre alive and thriving. If you’re looking for some great new funk to check out, here are a few of our favorite artists.

The Return of the Funk

Funk and soul music from the 70’s and 80’s is making a comeback, and there’s no denying it. The sound of the times is being revitalized by modern artists, who are giving it a new twist that incorporates elements of hip-hop, R&B, and pop. This updated sound is fresh and exciting, and it’s getting the attention of music lovers all over the world.

The return of the funk is evident in the popularity of modern artists like Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, Anderson .Paak, and Kendrick Lamar. These artists have embraced the sound of the past and made it their own. They’re creating catchy songs with relatable lyrics that make people want to get up and dance. They’re also collaborating with other artists to create even more innovative tracks.

The resurgence of funk and soul music is important because it reminds us of a time when life was simpler and people were more connected to each other. The sound brings back memories of good times with friends and family, dancing at parties, and just enjoying life. It’s a reminder that we can all have fun no matter what’s going on in the world around us.

We’re thrilled to see the return of funk and soul music, and we can’t wait to see what these modern artists do with it next.