The Ultimates In Funk

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the classification and appreciation of funk music, including its relationship with jazz and soul. Participants share their favorite tracks, artists, and personal experiences related to funk, while exploring the nuances of genre definitions and musical elements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express admiration for specific musicians and their contributions to funk, such as Catfish Collins and Bootsy Collins.
  • There are differing opinions on how to classify certain tracks, with multiple participants suggesting "jazz funk" while others mention "soul" and "funk" as overlapping genres.
  • One participant discusses the blurred lines between funk and soul, emphasizing the rhythmic nature of funk vocals compared to the melodic flow of soul vocals.
  • Several participants highlight the importance of genre classification in music distribution, noting how artists can become permanently associated with a particular genre regardless of their musical evolution.
  • There is a discussion about drumming techniques, particularly traditional grip versus matched grip, with insights shared about the potential and limitations of each style.
  • Some participants mention their favorite funk songs and artists, including Johnny Guitar Watson and the Ohio Players, while also referencing Frank Zappa's influence and preferences.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on genre classifications, with multiple competing views on how to categorize various tracks and artists. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the definitions and boundaries of funk, jazz, and soul.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the subjective nature of genre classification and the personal experiences shared by participants, which may not align with broader definitions or categorizations in music.

  • #31
Hornbein said:
Did you know that this was Frank Zappa's favorite guitar solo?


That is a horrible guitar sound (to me)
 
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  • #32
Pick up the Pieces

 
  • #33
Wild Cherry
 
  • #34
pinball1970 said:
Pick up the Pieces


I played in a funk/soul band in Roxbury in 1973. The drummer was 16 year old Junior Price. He used his bass drum as a lead instrument, new back then but common now. Robbie MacIntosh was his favorite drummer. Subtle yet irresistible. He makes the band. When he died young it was all over for AWB.
 
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  • #35
Funk -- and African music in general -- is all about dance. Here's a funk lecture by a former Soul Train dancer. She says the main goal of Don Cornelius, the engineer of the Soul Train, was to preserve a friendly atmosphere by keeping jealousy under control. While some dancers got more camera time than others, the top dancers had to have the same amount, otherwise there would be trouble on the train. Each shoot lasted seven to eight hours. Once she got to be thirty she couldn't do it any more.

This serves as funk education.



They don't say this, but white people were not welcome. They had plenty of opportunity already. Soul Train did have an Asian dancer, Cheryl Song. This was controversial, creating some tension, but she had the moves and the look, Cornelius stood by her, and the others eventually got used to it. Rick James' Super Freak is about an Asian, uh, friend.

Funk eventually went out of style, subsumed by techno. Techno came from Germany's Kraftwerk and Japan's Yellow Magic Orchestra, the latter appearing on Soul Train. Too bad, if you ask me.
 
  • #36
Hornbein said:
That's pretty good. But I never could get behind drum machines

Hornbein said:
Funk -- and African music in general -- is all about dance. Here's a funk lecture by a former Soul Train dancer. She says the main goal of Don Cornelius, the engineer of the Soul Train, was to preserve a friendly atmosphere by keeping jealousy under control. While some dancers got more camera time than others, the top dancers had to have the same amount, otherwise there would be trouble on the train. Each shoot lasted seven to eight hours. Once she got to be thirty she couldn't do it any more.

This serves as funk education.



They don't say this, but white people were not welcome. They had plenty of opportunity already. Soul Train did have an Asian dancer, Cheryl Song. This was controversial, creating some tension, but she had the moves and the look, Cornelius stood by her, and the others eventually got used to it. Rick James' Super Freak is about an Asian, uh, friend.

Funk eventually went out of style, subsumed by techno. Techno came from Germany's Kraftwerk and Japan's Yellow Magic Orchestra, the latter appearing on Soul Train. Too bad, if you ask me.

I would argue that funk didnt go out in style. But eventually became the background of the West Coast sound.
 
  • #37
Funk did survive into the 21st century.

 
  • #38
George Clinton's version of Walk The Dinosaur.

This was in the Super Mario Bros. movie of 1993.

It follows brothers Mario (Bob Hoskins) and Luigi Mario (John Leguizamo) in their quest to rescue Princess Daisy (Samantha Mathis) from a dystopic parallel universe ruled by the ruthless President Koopa (Dennis Hopper).



The new Super Mario Brothers film released in 2023 grossed 1.36 billion dollars(!).

Bowser frees himself and summons a "Bomber" Bill to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom, but Mario knocks it off course and directs it into the Warp Pipe, where it detonates, creating a vacuum that sucks Bowser's castle and its occupants into Brooklyn.

Uh...yeah.
 
  • #39
Then there's this nice groove. The main attraction though might be the gargantuan Afro at 1:26.



Wattstax.jpg


I went to a concert like this, Parliament/Funkadelic in a Roxbury stadium 1973, so this is a very nostalgic thing for me.
 
  • #40
 
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  • #41


Surprised this wasnt posted yet.
 
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  • #42
This made the Australian charts. The ebass player is really good.

 
  • #43
The thirteen-year-old drummer from China is the bomb.



I call this "white people funk." Hot fast and tight instead of loose. But hey it's good.
 
  • #44
 
  • #45
This ebass player is really good. It could be some electronic thing, but... so what?