Introduction to Funk -- Any Suggestions?
 

Been a loooong time since I listened to funk (Motor Booty Affair was a favorite), but was watching Roll Bounce the other day (yeah, I know -- more disco than funk) and got the itch again.

Being pretty funk-ignorant myself, can any Pelicans out there suggest some must-listen tracks / albums / artists?

Thanks in advance

Brick House - The Commodores
Wild Cherry -
George Clinton
James Brown
Recently - The Heavy - How you like me now

I was going to suggest "run away!" ;)

Fred Wesley

Bootsy Collins
George Clinton / Parliament & Funkadelic
Sly and the Family Stone
Rufus & Chaka Khan
Ohio Players
Con Funk Shun
The Bar-Kays

Parliament-Funkadelic (Mothership Connection or One Nation Under Groove)
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
The Meters
The JBs
Me'Shell Ndegeocello (Plantation Lullabies)
Tower of Power
War
Marcus Miller

That was fast . . . thanks all.

Would the Funk Brotherhood of Pelican Off Topic (FBoPOT) consider The Meters to be funk?

(Edit, I see that Todd has the Meters in his list. The Meters are Funk, it's definitive! Todd knows Funk!)

Yes, Tower of Power.

There was a thread on this a few months back. The Meters Cissy Strut was references... I love that tune now. Heard a cool song by Lou Johnson called "the Beat". Its in that southern comfort ad with the guy in the salon. Don't know if it's funk...if there's roolz, but I like it.

Damn, now we're gonna have to get t-shirts made . . .

George Clinton and that's about it...

That wouldn't happen to be President George Clinton would it?

Clinton Threatens To Drop Da Bomb On Iraq | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Definitely James Brown and The Meters. They're really all you'd need for solid, pure funk. Parliament if you want to go "out there" with a more embellished funk... "gilding the lily," so to speak.

And here's something just for fun; if you're ever out on the town at a place with a DJ and very few people are dancing, just ask the guy if he has any funk and to please play some if he does.

You will see the dance floor come alive. :)

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Don't forget Larry Graham & Graham Central Station

You need to listen to the Roots! Sound amazing live!

The Roots in The Chapelle Show - YouTube

Don't forget Curtis

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"Funk" covers a pretty broad spectrum and mixes with soul, R&B, disco, jazz, hip hop, and rock.

Then there is funk, and there is funky. This is the funkiest player you've probably never heard of: J.D. Blair: The Groove Regulator - DRUM! Magazine

J.D. was funky even back @ Lee High School in Huntsville. Great kid.

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I love this stuff

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I saw JD play once using only kick drum, high hat, and iron skillet on a snare stand. It was sick.

how about a little Johnny Guitar Watson

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i'm a big fan of Mahavishnu Orchestra's funky stuff. Love the bass line at around 3:15 in this song. Plus, it has a killer Cobham drum solo...

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Keziah Jones
Tower of Power as mentioned (my last drum teacher's band).
Carter

Other than George Clinton and Parliament, early Red Hot Chili Peppers (when they were a California garage band) has some nice funk elements to it.

Thanks everyone for the input. Sampled a few tracks from suggestions here and am starting with a little each of:

Parliament
Gap Band
Ohio Players
War
George Clinton
Cameo

Again, I appreciate your suggestions.

Two versions of one of the funkiest tunes written

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^^ Live version is great!

Funk? or Fusion?:

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I was going to mention the Chili's. They sure did know how to bring the funk in their early days. Good choice!

I've been a HUGE funk aficionado all my life...

I recently came accross this gem: probably one of THE funkiest songs ever (check out the change-ups at 2:20 and 4:20):

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I'll throw in a few of the more recent stuff I've come across...
A lot of the good NEW funk these days is being produced in Europe:

Haggis Horns from Leeds (lots of great music from them):
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The Soul Snatchers from the Netherlands:
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Laura Vane & the Vipertones from the UK:
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Loads of good suggestions. You might also check out some of the area favorites such as "Papa Grows Funk" and "Dumpstafunk" (Ivan Neville carrying on in true "Meters" form

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arS97G5G0nc

Papa Grows Funk - Shakin' - 5/5/12 New Orleans, LA @ The Howlin' Wolf - YouTube

Dumpstaphunk - Lt. Dan, Put It In The Dumpsta, Everybody Want Sum, Fight The Power 5/5/11 NOLA @ CAC - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYY6gfA6-jo

Both have been favorites of mine every since they came on the scene. For more old school 'Nawlins style, check out Robert Palmer's "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley" which had the Meters and Lowell George as a backing band :D

Robert Palmer - Sneakin Sally Through The Alley (with lyrics) - YouTube