Yes, another Biggirl music thread. I’m looking for good Funk. I’ve do have a pretty good collection of standards, PFunk’s Flashlight, Cameo’s Word Up! and now I’m looking for more. Here are a few of my favorites that may be slightly off the beaten funk path.
Cosmic Slop, I think it may be just Funkadelic without Parliament but I could be wrong. Hey, already this thread is helping me. I see the Red Hot Chili Peppers does a live version. I liked their Rollercoaster. Graham Central Station’s I Can’t Stand The Rain I could only find live versions of this. I was looking for the album version that has some very pretty percussion. The Gap Band, Burn Rubber. You did not want to be a black girl named Charlene when this song was out.
Any recommendations?
Check out Betty Davis. No, not the film star. Davis as in Miles Davis. Her biography is something else (married to Davis, divorced with a cloud of suspicion of an affair with Jimi Hendrix, thought to be the inspiration behind Bitches Brew…).
There was an awesome funk thread a few months ago with a slew of recommendations, but I can’t find it at the moment.
Ever been to a P-Funk show? There’s still no party like a P-Funk party. They constantly tour–Mrs. Devil and I catch them two or three times a year.
We saw a motley lineup at the Wetland Preserve in Tribeca many years ago. I remember that they were really, really loud. I never did get to see their huge spaceship production shows.
James Brown (if you need individual tracks: Get Up, The Payback, Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, Get on the Good Foot… all of it, it’s James Brown). The Isley Brothers (It’s Your Thing, Fight the Power). The Ohio Players (Fire). Marvin Gaye (Trouble Man), Dyke and the Blazers (Funky Broadway). Curtis Mayfield, the Meters, Sly & the Family Stone, Earth Wind & Fire.
OMG I miss the Wetlands!!!
They have harder and funkier nights, depending on who shows up. When Sativa, Belita, Kim, and Kendra are all there, you’re sure to have a smooth night. Favorite place in the city to catch them now is B.B. Kings; they were just there a few months back. Our next outing will be in July, they’re playing somewhere in Jersey. There are a few other local dates around then as well, depending on where you are.
Grand Funk Railroad fooled me with their name. Still an awesome song though.
A little bit obvious - Prince - I Like Funky Music. I’ll have to dig through the Prince vaults and see if I can find some more funk songs by him (that don’t have “funk” in the title).
Reading sort of an “official” definition of funk, the bass line is integral to funk, so I think Prince’s definition stands. He was just using shorthand.
My current Funk playlist (I’m slowly building it):
Shining Star
Jungle Boogie
Brick House
Pick Up the Pieces
Lady Marmalade
Mr. Big Stuff
Kung Fu Fighting
Car Wash
Tell Me Something Good
Superfly
Shaft
Fire
Flash Light
Good Times
Word Up
Early in the Morning
Super Freak
I Got You (I Feel Good)
Get Up Offa That Thing
Groove is in the Heart
I definitely need to get Atomic Dog.
Also, Superstition seemed to be leading in the argument over Funkiest Song Ever. Lots of good ideas in that thread.
