Get to know music: Funk
By hicks91 16 Comments
This blog is in tribute to Phelps "Catfish" Collins, Garry "Starchild" Snider and Marvin Isley, all of whom passed away this year.
The Origins of Funk
Funk can trace its roots back to R n B, Jazz and soul music though it often used elements of harder rock and rock n roll music. The distinctive sound, which emphasises the down beat and holds true to the 4 4 timing of blues was developed by James Brown and his backing band, The JBs. By the mids 60s James Brown had his style down to a T, with syncopated guitar riffs and a swing that defined his hits such as the Classic "Papas got a brand new bag".
Following his lead, other bands started to play like Brown, Bands like the Isley Brothers, Sly and the Family Stone and even Jimi Hendrix (who once played for the Isleys, and taught their guitarist how to play) owed a lot of their sound to Brown. Their success's were, however, very much their as they carried on to develop the genre in different ways from the more straight RnB of the Isleys
To the more Psychedelic Sly
Their incorporation of influences that felt more "real" to them allowed funk to blossom, with scores of other bands starting to play in their styles.
The 70s: Disco and Pfunk
Arguably the biggest funk band of the 70s was George Clinton with parliament/funkadelic. Fresh from working for motown he envisaged a funk where he had a revolving line of musicians, and rather than a genre they had a philosophy and a mythology, and on they went. Their mainstream penetration must've surprised even Clinton, as they US went crazy for them with some fans even reporting transcendent experiences at concerts. Such was their cultural impact, their music is still used today, notably to advertise pringles or even appear on glee
Other bands such as the ohio players and labelle appeared, creating instant classics that i bet you all know and love
You all know these songs
Funk began to take a more electric edge at this time, and was a very very direct influence on the emerging disco scene, with obviously george clinton being at the forefront
However disco represented the death of funk, with several bands like the red hot chilli peppers playing the style but never gaining success with that sound (RHCP got success with a more alt rock sound)
Essential listening
Funkadelic
One nation under a groove
cosmic slop
Parliament
Mothership connection
Funkentelechy Vs the Placebo Syndrome
The Motor Booty Affair
George Clinton
Computer games
James Brown
Live at the apollo
Love Power Peace
Sex Machine
Bootsys Rubber Band
Bootsy? Player of the year
The Isley Brothers
Brother, Brother,Brother
3+3
The Ohio Players
Honey
Fire
loads more, have a listen and give funk a chance!