[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 (31–40)
Jungle BoogieKool and The Gang
It’s a funk song released in 1973 by the American soul, R&B, and funk band Kool & the Gang.
It was very popular in nightclubs at the time.
It’s also known for being used by ECW wrestler 2 Cold Scorpio as his entrance theme song.
I’d Rather Be with YouBootsy Collins
Bootsy Collins, who hails from James Brown’s backing band and also thrived as a core member of George Clinton’s P-Funk, is renowned as one of the quintessential bassists in funk music.
Under the name Bootsy’s Rubber Band as well as his own, he has released numerous hit songs.
The compilation we’re featuring here, released in 1994, covers most of the hit singles put out between 1976 and 1982, making it a perfect one-stop pick for anyone who wants a quick introduction to his peak-era work.
Word UpCameo
It’s a 1986 hit by the American R&B and funk band Cameo, which won the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul.
The song has been covered by many musicians, including the American metal band Korn.
Sex MachineJames Brown
Known by many nicknames and enshrined in music history as the “Godfather of Soul,” James Brown—JB—left an impact on the music world that is nothing short of colossal, extending far beyond soul and funk.
His overwhelming vocal power, innovative musicality, and a larger-than-life career—so dramatic it inspired a documentary film—defy easy summary.
Here, however, we’ll highlight a live album that showcases JB’s greatest appeal: his electrifying live performances.
Sharing its title with his 1970 hit “Sex Machine,” the album was released the same year.
Centered around performances in JB’s home state of Georgia, it compiles live recordings from 1969 to 1970 and features master players such as Bootsy Collins and Maceo Parker.
It stands as a pivotal record marking the dawn of JB’s 1970s era.
SuperflyCurtis Mayfield
A song from the soundtrack of the 1972 film “Superfly.” It celebrates the cunning and determination of the film’s main character.
The soul musician Curtis Mayfield, who created and produced the song, also appears in the movie.