Can anyone recommend me some funk?

[MartinC]

Pretty much all additions to my CD collection have been blues/blues-rock/jazz oriented for about 3-4 years (Erotic Cakes a notable exception). I love the stuff. But I'd really like to broaden my horizons and get a few discs at the funky end of the street. Trouble is, I don't know where to start.

Can anyone recommend me some artists and albums? Compilations might give me a good smorgasbord.

If you're feeling adventurous then read on and I'll give you some clues as to what I'm looking for ...

Clue 1

I like the funky stuff that Matt Schofield has been doing in amongst his blues/jazz stuff. "Room at the Back" from "Ear to the Ground" would be my favourite of his funky tunes. You can hear a clip of it on this page: http://www.nugenerecords.com/catalogue.php?page=listen&id=NUG702&PHPSESSID=708473aee9d97e97baa248bbcfc8b307. More of that would be great.

Clue 2


The Puretone demo on the Hughes & Kettner website is the kind of thing I'm looking for. It only lasts for a minute or so ... and it's also a demonstration of a clean tone that really had me sitting up.

Click on this link http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/products.php?mode=prod&id=4# (http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/products.php?mode=prod&id=4)
Click the Demo link in the product information section on the right hand side of the page that comes up.
A flash demo will start in a new window, accompanied by a soundtrack (that's not the demo I'm talking about!)
After a few seconds you'll get a menu appearing with three items in it, one of which is Sounds
Click on Sounds (you may have to click twice to activate the menu on the first click)
Two sound clips will appear. Play the second one ("Time to spank the funky plank!...") by clicking the play icon.
Clue 3

As far as jazz goes, I'm more a fan of the straight ahead variety. If it starts getting too weird/angular then it loses me. I expect the same might be true of funk, if there is a weird/angular portion of the funk world.

Clue 4

This being TGP, I may not have to spell this out, but just in case ... I'm looking for significant guitar content ... rythmn and solos.


If you're still reading this THANKS ... and could you let me know if your recommendations have been made after listening to the above clips.

:AOK

[Mackerusa]

Start with Curtis Mayfield.

[jumpnblues]

For pure funk Tower Of Power is T.O.P.S!!! Then check out The Meters.


Tom

[GlueMan]

Maceo Parker - Life on Planet Groove

[Bluewail]

For pure funk Tower Of Power is T.O.P.S!!! Then check out The Meters.

Absolutely. Listen to Jeff Tamalier's work on Tower's live CD. The guy's a Monster! He also has a funk instructional book/cd that's pretty good. Speaking of instructional videos, if you can find the one by Al McKay, the ex-guitarist of Earth, Wind and Fire, that should get your funky juices flowing.

[derekd]

Ain't nothing better than James Brown. Jimmy Nolen wrote the primer for funk guitar.

[pthacker]

+1 for Curtis Mayfield with a side of Sly & The Family Stone.

[Lance]

Another Meters fan here! Or the sort, second generatiuon Meters called, "Dumpstaphunk! Not one, but two groovy, funky bass players. One of them doubles on guitar some times with Ivan Neville.

[cber1517]

Based on Clue 2 and the really clean funk tone, I would recommend Oz Noy and especially Carl Burnett's "Life Before Midi." Great clean spank and funk!

Since people are recommending the Meters, check out Jimmy McIntosh "Orleans to London."

:dude

[Neill]

maggot brain.

[TNJ]

http://www.papagrowsfunk.com/multimedia/audio.html

Check out, "My Man".

You can thank me later. :cool:

S.
j

[Pags]

Soulive (Have a sound like "Room at the Back" but funkier)
Galactic
Addison Groove Project (no longer together)
Guy Smiley Blues Exchange
Stevie Wonder
Jimmy Smith

[amc]

I'm a fan of The Meters as well.

also, James Brown is as funky as he wanna be....

[Andrew D.]

James Brown, the Meters, and Booker T & the MGs are great places to start. Booker T & the MGs are especially cool to listen to since they backed nearly every Stax/Volt artist in the 60s and wrote and produced many of the label's hits.

[Sweet T]

Here are some CD's I like. I think it's the same guy that puts all of these compilations together. They're a little off-the-mainstream sort of funk...

Texas Funk (http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Funk-Black-State-1968-1975/dp/B000A2H7EA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222374606&sr=8-1)

Midwest Funk (http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Funk-45s-Tornado-Alley/dp/B0002YCUYS/ref=pd_bbs_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222374606&sr=8-5)

Carolina Funk (http://www.amazon.com/Carolina-Funk-First-Various-Artists/dp/B0012BWESW/ref=pd_bbs_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222374606&sr=8-6)

Florida Funk (http://www.amazon.com/Florida-Funk-1968-1975-Various-Artists/dp/B000MR9C6E/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222374606&sr=8-2)

Cold Heat (http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Heat-Heavy-Rarities-1968-1974/dp/B0007A2G6Y/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222374639&sr=8-1)

[Frankee]

Once again.......

Maceo, Fred, and the J.B.'s
Ozone
The Graingers
The Bar Kays
Fatback
Parliament/Funkadelic
One Way
Pre-sellout Cameo
Bootsy's Rubber Band
Tom Browne http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuUy2ShGLyo
M' Tume
The Evasions did a fun takeoff of Tom Browne's hit with "Wikka Wrap" ca. 1981 .....good stuff.
etc.........enjoy.

[rockinrob]

Most definitely get some early Meters (not the Funky Meters), and anything where they were backing Lee Dorsey.

[MartinC]

Thanks so much people. I had second thoughts about my OP, given it was a bit war and peace-ish ... long posts sometimes just don't get read. I really appreciate your time ... and I'll be sure to check out your recommendations.

[MartinC]

Well, it's been a couple of months ... but I picked up a Meters compilation yesterday. The kids (3 1/2 and 14 months) and I are loving it.

[shane88]

i believe james brown invented funk but just about any negro will point you in the right direction
m jackson. j jackson, stevie wonder, any hip hop..............

[Rick51]

iTunes is a great place to explore this stuff.

Try Ohio Players - Skintight.

James Brown live at the Apollo volume 2

Wilson Pickett - Funky Broadway

[kojdogg]

Definitely agree with the Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, P-Funk, Meters, and JB's recommendations. I'd add pre-80's Kool and the Gang, some Earth, Wind and Fire, and the Jimmy Castor Bunch

[Bikedude]

Check this out www.bumpcity.com (http://www.bumpcity.com) T.O.P.'s site, with many greasy links to great funk bands. Check out Dr. Funk, great band in the Tower vein.

[lagomorphian]

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.

[Brooks]

defunkt- in america.
james brown- funk power 1970.
funkadelic-harcore jollies.
the 1st 4 chilli peppers albums.