[Western Music] Tracing the Roots of Funk: Essential Albums Beginners Should Hear at Least Once
This may be sudden, but are you familiar with the music genre called “funk”? Even if you aren’t, you’ve probably heard the word “funky” in everyday life.
As a music genre, funk took shape in the 1960s and reached its peak from the 1970s onward, when many popular bands released hit funk tracks.
Funk music has had a major influence on later generations—modern hip-hop artists still love sampling songs from that era.
In this article, especially for beginners, we’ll introduce must-listen classic funk albums to get you started!
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[Western Music] Tracing the Roots of Funk: Must-Listen Classic Albums for Beginners (51–60)
Tight JeansPrince Charles And The City Beat Band
This is the band from the days when Prince Charles Alexander—who later left behind outstanding work as a studio engineer and producer and even won a Grammy in 2003—was active on the front lines.
The jacket of their 1980 debut album, “Gang War,” exudes a decidedly gimmicky vibe that, for funk listeners, is less off-putting than it is exciting.
And the content doesn’t betray those expectations either: it delivers solid, B-grade electro-funk heavily influenced by P-Funk.
Tell Me Something GoodRufus & Chaka Khan
Produced and created by Stevie Wonder, this song was released in 1974.
Rufus won a Grammy Award for it.
The track is notable for its raw, metallic guitar sound, beautiful bass line, and deep groove.
Pick Up The PiecesAverage White Band
Average White Band is a Scottish funk and R&B band.
This song, released in 1974, initially received little attention in the UK, but later became a major hit after American radio stations began playing it.
James Brown’s band, The J.B.’s, released an answer song to it titled “Pick Up the Pieces One By One.”
Love RollercoasterOhaio Players
When it comes to quintessential Ohio funk bands, the aptly named Ohio Players lead the way! This Gold-certified track, known in Japanese as “Love Rollercoaster,” also became highly popular in Japan.
It might be fun to compare it with the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ cover version.
Dance to the musicSly & The Family Stone
A funk band led by Texas-born Sly Stone, made up of a mixed group of Black and white men and women.
In 1968, following advice from their record label’s producer to give the song a pop finish, this track became, in my opinion, the classic that put Sly & the Family Stone on the map.