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FUNK
Mod
Bentley, why not start another thread with Funk. SInce you got R&B, Soul and Blues separated I think that one deserves a thread too.
Bands like Parliament, Funkadelic, The Ohio Players, maybe even Kleeer or T-Connection
It's not Soul, not R&B, nor disco
Also Earth, Wind & Fire and The Commodores - with their great album Natural High - move in and out of this sub category.
Mod
Tribute to Funk Music 2004 Grammys
http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc...#
Oh this ought to be a fun thread, great idea Andre, and thanks for posting it Bentley. At the moment I have nothing to add but a note of enthusiasm, but that will change!
Mod
Mod
Music Video (pretty strange get ups - but good sound)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x14g...
now THAT's what I'm talkin' 'bout, oh yeah. Funk at its classic best! These guys invented funk! love it, thanks Bentley!!
Mod
I'm doing the happy dance in my living room! Maybe you didn't need that visual....hehehe
Mod
message 11:
by
André, Honorary Contributor - EMERITUS - Music
(last edited Sep 29, 2010 02:12PM)
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Mod
Thanks, Bentley, for putting this one up!
As to FUnk, I'm a purist. As stated above most bands went with the times and slipped back and forth between R&B, Disco and Soul - or created their own unique blend like f.e. Earth, WInd & Fire.
Exception to the rule:
George Clinton with his Parliament/Funkadelic Funk-fest.
Basically they were one, creating different albums as they saw fit. Parliament often had more distinct melodies with horns whereas Funkadelic was driven by Gary Shider's guitar.
But this was not all coming out of Clinton's Funk-Lab. Far from it. You had Bootsy Collins' base driven albums, The Brides of Funkenstein, Parlet, Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns, later even Zapp - etc.etc.
For anybody interested in George CLinton and his Gang's escapades I suggest Parliament's 2 most accessible albums as a first step: Clones of Dr.Funkenstein and Mothership Connection
If those don't make you wanna wiggle I don't know what ever would...
Anyway, a few other suggestions:
James Brown's earlier albums (on which you'll find a lot of the Parliament/Funkadelic musicians doing their thing)
Ohio Players: Honey, Fire, Skin Tight, Angel, Contradiction, Jass-Ay-Lay-Dee
The ISley Brothers: Winner Takes All
ConFunkShun: Candy
Rick James: Bustin Out of L Seven
T-Connection: T-Connection
The Commodores: Natural High (and the song Brick House on the album before that)
Slave
Betty Davis
Sly and the Family STone
The Undisputed Truth
Cameo
Keep those suggestions comin'!
Mod
André wrote: "This is fun!Thanks, Bentley, for putting this one up!
As to FUnk, I'm a purist. As stated above most bands went with the times and slipped back and forth between R&B, Disco and Soul - or created ..."
You mentioned this in your post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5EmnQ...
Garret wrote: "André wrote: "This is fun!Thanks, Bentley, for putting this one up!
As to FUnk, I'm a purist. As stated above most bands went with the times and slipped back and forth between R&B, Disco and Soul..."
Yes!! That got my Sunday morning off to a good start out here, another classic. I'm not sure I should admit that I *just* realized that is Lionel Ritchie on sax. Guess I just never dialed in on that before!
message 15:
by
André, Honorary Contributor - EMERITUS - Music
(last edited Oct 04, 2010 02:00AM)
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I would like to share with you a great Australian Band called the Cat Empire. I was not sure where to post this as the band encompasses and fuses so many genres, Funk being oneFrom Wikipedia
The Cat Empire is an Australian alternative band from Melbourne, Australia. Currently, the Cat Empire is composed of Felix Riebl (percussion and vocals), Harry James Angus (trumpet and vocals), Ollie McGill (keyboard and backing vocals), Ryan Monro (bass and backing vocals), Will Hull-Brown (drums) and Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwhala (decks, percussion). They are also commonly backed by the Empire Horns, a brass duo, and have recurring guest musicians.
They met when well-known Melbourne jazz identity Steve Sedergreen decided to form, mentor and develop a group of very talented young musicians from different schools and backgrounds. The band was called 'Jazz Cat', was a nine-piece and had its debut at the Manly Jazz Festival in Sydney in 1999. They gigged around Melbourne's jazz scene in clubs like Dizzy's (Sedergreen was a part owner of this club at this time). The Cat Empire, originally a three-piece, grew out of Jazz Cat - for a few months the two groups were performing alternate Thursdays at Dizzy's. Their sound is often described as a fusion of jazz, ska, funk and rock with heavy Latin influences. The band has toured extensively throughout Australia, the US, Canada and Europe and has released four distinct albums with the first two reaching double platinum status and the third receiving an ARIA Music Award for best world album. Their fourth album, So Many Nights, was released on 22 September 2007.[1] Their song, "Sly", was featured on EA Sports' FIFA 08 Soundtrack and has sold 3 million copies worldwide.
The band's name was taken from the title of a drawing by Felix Riebl's younger brother, Max,[2] and its distinctive cat's eye icon, which is also known as "Pablo", was created by Ian McGill, Ollie McGill's father.
Here is some of their music I hope you enjoy
Wine Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgkHd6...
Days Like These http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kctk45...
My favorite the Car Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uI_4U...
Hello http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl9yb1...
Days Like These http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNJ9xo...
This band is the best band live I have seen.
Mod
I had never heard of this band before.
I really like the music (but to be honest I don't like the singer's voice). But whatever you want to call it, it's not Funk. Which of course does not really matter. The most important thing is that music is being heard.
Thanks again!
True its not pure Funk, nor is it pure Jazz or Pop or Rock, it's a hard one to place.
Mod
Here is some New Orleans funk from the 1970s. (The Meters - Look-Ka Py Py, Jungle Man)
The Meters were a N.O. R&B and funk band in the 70s.
They had a big local hit in N.O. with this novelty.
Just nuthin' like some NOLA funk. Love it!!
Mod
What is funk with out the driving bass of Bootsy CollinsWikipedia:
1960s-1970s
With his elder brother Phelps, and Kash Waddy and Philippé Wynne, Collins formed a funk band called The Pacemakers in 1968.
In March 1970, after most of the members of James Brown's band quit over a pay dispute, The Pacemakers were hired as Brown's backing band and they became known as The J.B.'s. (They are often referred to as the "original" J.B.'s to distinguish them from later line-ups that went by the same name.) Although they worked for Brown for only 11 months, the original J.B.'s played on some of Brown's most intense funk recordings, including "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine", "Super Bad", "Soul Power", and "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing".
It is known that the young Bootsy clashed several times with the rigid system Brown used to discipline the young band whenever he felt they stepped out of line. After leaving the band Collins then moved to Detroit, following the advice of singer and future Parliament member Mallia Franklin.
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House Guests, P-Funk, Rubber Band and Sweat Band
After parting ways with James Brown, Bootsy returned to Cincinnati and formed House Guests with his brother Phelps Collins, Rufus Allen, Clayton "Chicken" Gunnels, Frank Waddy, Ronnie Greenaway and Robert McCullough. The House Guests released two singles on the House Guests label as well as a third as The Sound of Vision on the House Guess label.
Franklin introduced both Collins brothers to George Clinton, and 1972 saw both of the Collins brothers, along with Waddy, join Funkadelic. Bootsy played bass on most of Funkadelic and Parliament's albums through 1980, garnering several songwriting credits as well.
In 1976 Bootsy, Catfish, Waddy, Joel Johnson, Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, Robert Johnson and The Horny Horns formed Bootsy's Rubber Band, a separate touring unit of Clinton's P-Funk collective. The group recorded four albums together, the first three of which are often considered to be among the quintessential P-Funk recordings. The group's 1978 album "Bootsy? Player of the Year" reached the top of the R&B album chart and spawned the #1 R&B single "Bootzilla".
Like Clinton, Bootsy took on several alter egos, from "Casper the Funky Ghost" to Bootzilla, "the world's only rhinestone rockstar monster of a doll", as part of an evolving character, an alien rock star who grew gradually more bizarre as time went on (see P-Funk mythology). He also adopted his trademark space bass around this time.
Bootsy also released a 1980 album, Sweat Band, on George Clinton's Uncle Jam label with a group billed as Bootsy's Sweat Band.
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1980s and later
In 1984, Bootsy collaborated with Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads to produce "Five Minutes", a dance record sampled and edited from Ronald Reagan's infamous "Five Minutes" speech. The record was credited to "Bonzo goes to Washington" (also referenced in the 1985 Ramones song ""Bonzo goes to Bitburg"", derived from Reagan's starring role as Professor Peter Boyd in the 1951 comedy film Bedtime for Bonzo).
In 1990, Bootsy collaborated with Deee-Lite on their massive hit "Groove Is in the Heart" where he contributed additional vocals. Although he also appeared in the music video playing the bass, the bassline in the song is actually a sample of a Herbie Hancock song called "Bring Down the Birds". Bootsy's Rubber Band became the defacto backing musicians for Deee-Lite during a world tour.
Bootsy collaborated with bluegrass legends Del McCoury, Doc Watson and Mac Wiseman to form the GrooveGrass Boyz. They produced a fusion of bluegrass and funk that listeners either loved as a fresh take on tradition or hated as defiling that same tradition.
In 1994, Bootsy contributed extensively to the Soup Dragons' last album, Hydroponic[2]
In 1995, Bootsy played in the remake of Jimi Hendrix's "If 6 Was 9," for Axiom Funk, a Funkadelic-like one-off supergroup produced by Bill Laswell and featuring (Funkadelic members) George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, (the guitar of the late) Eddie Hazel, Gary Shider and Bill Laswell . The group released only one album, and the song also appeared in the soundtrack of the movie Stealing Beauty.
Bootsy has collaborated extensively with Bill Laswell and made appearances on two Fatboy Slim records, as well as reading a poem at the end of FatBoy Slims's release in the LateNightTales dj mix series. Bootsy provided "vocal spice" on the TobyMac album Welcome to Diverse City. He also appears on Nicole C. Mullens' latest album, "Everyday People". He has also worked with the Lo-Fidelity Allstars on the album 'Don't be Afraid of Love', with Praxis, and with Buckethead on several occasions, for example on Buckethead's first album, "Bucketheadland". Bootsy was featured in the 2002 film Standing in the Shadows of Motown. In 2004 he appeared on Snoop Dogg's Rhythm & Gangsta album and on the cover of "The Joker" on the Fatboy Slim album Palookaville.[3]
In 2005, Bootsy Collins added vocals to fellow bassist Victor Wooten's album Soul Circus. He also served as "Heineken's Amsterjam 2005" curator and master of ceremonies on Randall's Island, New York and appeared with Madonna, Iggy Pop, Little Richard, and The Roots' Questlove, in an American TV commercial for the Motorola ROKR phone.
In October, 2005, Collins co-wrote a song celebrating the resurgence of his hometown team, the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League called "Fear Da Tiger" which features "raps" written and performed by several Bengals players, including defensive end Duane Clemons, offensive tackle Stacy Andrews, and center Ben Wilkerson. An edited version of the song was made into a music video which features cameos by many other Bengals players. It has garnered tremendous local airplay and is viewable on Bengals.com Additionally, Cincinnati Bell is offering "Fear Da Tiger" as a free ringtone for its wireless customers in both polyphonic and MP3 formats. Collins appeared with Little Richard, Bernie Worrell, and other notable musicians as the band playing with Hank Williams, Jr. for the Monday Night Football opening during for the 2006 season. Collins was the only all star to return with Williams for the 2007 season.
He also sings "Marshal Law", the theme song of the Cincinnati Marshals indoor football team. He debuted the song on April 29, at halftime of a Marshals home game against the West Palm Beach Phantoms.
In 2006, ABC Entertainment / A Charly Films Release released a DVD/CD from Bootsy Collins and the New Rubber Band's concert at the 1998 North Sea Jazz Festival. In the same year, Collins split from long-time friend and guitarist Odhran "The Bodhran" Rameriz, citing creative differences as the reason.
Also in 2006, Collins recorded music for the animated television series Loonatics Unleashed. Collins also voiced the character Bootes Belinda in the episode The Music Villain.[4]
In April, 2007, Bootsy announced plans to begin a restaurant/club with Cincinnati area restaurateur Jeff Ruby. The restaurant is to be called "Bootsy's." It will feature live musical acts, a museum dedicated to Bootsy's musical career and Spanish, Central and South American cuisine. It is to open in December 2008.
In June 2007, Bootsy Collins, along with Phelps Collins, Clyde Stubblefield, John "Jabo" Starks, and Bernie Worrell, participated in the recording of the soundtrack for the movie Superbad.
In July 2007, Bootsy also told Billboard magazine that he's working on a project by the name of Science Faxtion and an album called Living On Another Frequency in which he serves as bassist and co-producer along with his lead vocalist Greg Hampton. The band also features guitarist Buckethead and drummer Brain.[5] The album was released in November 2008.[6]
Bootsy Collins and Fatboy Slim, 2008
Collins promoted Rock the Vote for its 2008 campaign together with Buckethead.[7]
Bootsy produced Junkyard Waltz by funk band Freekbass from Ohio came out October 27.
Bootsy has been mentioned in the song "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club in the line "Clinton's musicians such as Bootsy Collins raise expectation to a new intention", while "Got more bass than Bootsy Collins" is a line in the song "Rumble in the Jungle" by the Fugees. His influence in popular culture is seen in that he has been referenced by a number of television series. In The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode "Sooooooul Train", Geoffrey sneaks into the Soul Train tapings posing as Bootsy Collins, while in The Mighty Boosh episode "The Legend of Old Gregg" an alien creature named 'The Funk' lands on Bootsy's house, giving him his ability to play the bass guitar "like some kinda delirious funky priest", as well as the ability to see around corners. His song I'd Rather Be With You was featured in the movie Baby Boy and on January 26, 2007, Bootsy, a native of Cincinnati, gave the commencement address at the graduation ceremony at The Art Institute of Ohio - Cincinnati.. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who cited Collins as one of his primary influences, appeared in unmistakably Bootsy-esque clothing in the video for RHCP's "Dani California", and Bootsy's "What's a Telephone Bill?" was sampled for 2Pac's "Str8 Ballin'" track off the THUG LIFE album..
In 2009 Collins collaborated with Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek on the track "Internet Connection".[8]
[edit]
Bass Guitars
Collins' signature instrument is a custom-built star-shaped bass guitar he calls the "Space Bass". Currently built for him by Manuel "Manny" Salvador of GuitarCraft in 1998. In 2006 Collins made an agreement with Traben to make a signature Bootsy Collins model bass called the "Bootzilla". During the 2010 NAMM Show Collins' new signature bass guitar was released by Warwick Warwick , a customized Infinity Bass called "Bootsy Collins Black Star Signature Bass" or "Bootsy Collins Orange Star Signature Bass", depending on the color of the stars on it.
[edit]
Bootsy Collins' Funk University
In July 2010, Collins, in partnership with former child actor Cory Danziger[9], launched Funk University ("Funk U"), an online-only bass guitar school in which he also serves as curator and lead professor. Funk University offers an intense curriculum tailored for intermediate to advanced bass players as well as anyone interested in a deeper understanding of funk. The curriculum is based on bass theory, history of funk, and Collins' own musical history given by Collins himself, augmented by lessons and exercises in bass and rhythm from guest bassist professors such as Les Claypool, Meshelle Ndegeocello, John B. Williams and Victor Wooten. Enrolled students gain access to the virtual campus which, in addition to the multimedia lectures, includes a comprehensive subject library containing audio and multimedia music files, tablatures, and articles. Students participate in interactive questionnaires, polls, competitions (including track submissions), and are subjected to regular reviews by faculty members, who have designated "office hours" during which students can ask questions. Students and faculty can post or reply in the university's online forum (the Cafeteria).[10] Eventually, the curriculum will be expanded to include other instruments.[11]
[edit]
Bass technique
Collins' bass playing is driving, rhythmic and groovy, and has been very influential in the development of funk. His characteristic juicy sound, produced by envelope filters (for example the Mutron), is one of his distinguishing traits as a bass player. He also uses highly syncopated 16th note patterns combined with a very strong slap technique, highly influenced by Larry Graham.
Bootsy's bass patterns are often up-front in the mix and more often than not, drive the song (rather than the guitars or horns).
Stertchin out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIHrdL...
Bootsy's how to funk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHE6hZ...
Mod
Another great bass player with his own unique slapping style: Louis Johnson of the The Brothers Johnson
message 27:
by
André, Honorary Contributor - EMERITUS - Music
(last edited Dec 05, 2010 03:19AM)
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Mod
The folks from Soul Brother, an English record shop, have hired the necessary people to remaster Brass Construction's best and funkiest album from 1979, titled "5" (the also brought out the band's first and second albums)
The remaster is well done and the booklet includes liner notes by Randy Muller, leading band member who wrote most of the songs and arranged the album.
5 has the band at their creative peak, doing what they wanted and did best: funk. (3 and 4 had their producers and record company trying to move them into the disco mainstream. The guys wanted something else and created 5)
A taste of the goodie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtqE7O...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNNl72...
of course the albums are available on Soul Brother's website (high shipping costs and no refund when lost...) but also through amazon.co.uk
Andre, thank you for this fine addition. This is making my Sunday morning badass!
Mod
Mod
It was one of those gray days this morning. Freezing, rain, didn't want to get out of bed. Still, I knew I needed to get that writing done. Damn! Needed fresh air - like an hour of running or so, and some laughs.
So I put on this Parliament cd, watched those suits do their job thing and had a blast.
Best!
Awesome, I love it! These dudes know how to funk it up.
Mod
Mod
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MMkrb...
message 34:
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André, Honorary Contributor - EMERITUS - Music
(last edited Feb 04, 2011 07:40AM)
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The album never really made it - although it has some great songs
(the photograph is misleading. it's actually from In Full Bloom, the band's second album which came out after they hit big time with Car Wash. It still has Gwen Dickey who was replaced by Richee Benson for Golden Touch).
You're A Winner is typical for Whitfield's taste in funk. Not as pure as Parliament/Funkadelic - but still nice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lzAZF...
message 35:
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André, Honorary Contributor - EMERITUS - Music
(last edited Feb 04, 2011 07:41AM)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5gFAi...
Of course, Rose Royce. Great addition, thanks Andre! I love the stuff you are adding to the line-up, things I remember once I hear them and have otherwise faded from memory. Awesome!
message 37:
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André, Honorary Contributor - EMERITUS - Music
(last edited Feb 04, 2011 02:03PM)
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Compared to most of what is being produced today it was all so much more creative. Of course the record companies basically cared about the money - and then some more of that money - but at least quite a few producers/writers/musicians knew what they were doing and found ways to get it out.
Mod
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snV80f...
Mod
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOAHKm...
Mod
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPyO3W...
there's also a fantastic version by Stargard from their 78 album produced by Mark Davis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaLsKW...
and my favorite song from the same album:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rynMB...
Mod
message 44:
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André, Honorary Contributor - EMERITUS - Music
(last edited Feb 22, 2011 06:28AM)
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message 45:
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André, Honorary Contributor - EMERITUS - Music
(last edited Feb 22, 2011 06:41AM)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fvbzl...
the song has terrific guitar, horns and vocals
the original lp cover had a double spread with a nice looking lady enjoying some honey - photographed by Richard Fegley
message 46:
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André, Honorary Contributor - EMERITUS - Music
(last edited May 07, 2011 10:29AM)
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Desciples of Funk... it has the entire gang: George CLinton, Fred Wesley incl. the Horny Horns, Maceo Parker, the Brides, Berney Worrell, etc.etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_uGfA...
message 48:
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André, Honorary Contributor - EMERITUS - Music
(last edited May 07, 2011 10:26AM)
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Here he is paying a visit to my birthplace:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkxnvL...
Mod
by DAVID C. BARNETT
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/09/1343352...
Mod
Dr. John
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct4sVV...
Dr. John performs "Right Place, Wrong Time" on PBS' Soundstage.
Source: YouTube
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Glow: The Autobiography of Rick James (other topics)Authors mentioned in this topic
Rick James (other topics)Chaka Khan (other topics)
Joe Tex (other topics)
Chaka Khan (other topics)
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, soul jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music.
Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground.
Funk songs are often based on an extended vamp on a single chord, distinguishing it from R&B and soul songs centered around chord progressions.
Like much African-inspired music, funk typically consists of a complex groove with rhythm instruments such as electric guitar, electric bass, Hammond organ, and drums playing interlocking rhythms. Funk bands sometimes have a horn section of several saxophones, trumpets, and in some cases, a trombone, which plays rhythmic "hits".
Many of the most famous bands in the genre also played disco and soul extensively. Funk music was a major influence on the development of disco music and afrobeat, and funk samples have been used extensively in genres including hip hop, house music and drum and bass. It is also the main influence of go-go.
Source: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk