[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 (1–10)
FireOhio Players
The Ohio Players’ Fire, by the American funk band, is an essential masterpiece when discussing the history of funk.
It kicks off with the wail of a siren on the title track, then flips into a groove where tight drums lock in with a powerful horn section, sending the listener’s excitement soaring.
The key to fully experiencing this scorching sound is to surrender yourself to the irresistibly undulating bassline.
The album’s overwhelming intensity throughout has influenced countless artists across eras, letting you feel the power of funk with your whole body.
Pieces of a ManGil Scott-Heron
Gil Scott-Heron, the American artist often called the “Godfather of Rap,” fused poetry with soul and funk to create a unique style.
His Pieces of a Man, released in 1971, is an early masterpiece—an essential work not only in funk and soul, but, as noted, in the history of hip-hop as well.
Often described as progressive soul, its melodious yet innovative sound provides a vivid stage for Scott-Heron’s lyrics, showcasing his brilliance as a wordsmith—an approach that has perhaps been even more appreciated in the present day than at the time of its release.
It may feel a bit challenging at first, but there are tracks where he delivers assured, expressive vocals.
If you’re into funk—or if you’re a hip-hop listener—definitely lend an ear to Scott-Heron’s voice, his words, and his sound.
Theme from ShaftIsaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes’s signature work—and arguably his most famous—Shaft.
Created as a film soundtrack, it won an Academy Award and has been sampled frequently in later hip-hop.
Packed with thrilling elements like funky rhythms, jazzy horns, and sweeping strings, this album is a tour de force.
Above all, its defining feature is the rock-solid groove that runs through the entire record.
While it’s easy to focus on the memorable vocals of the title theme, be sure to pay attention to the cool, taut tension of the instrumental tracks as well.
[Western Music] Tracing the Roots of Funk: Essential Albums You Should Hear at Least Once [For Beginners] (11–20)
Maggot BrainFunkadelic
A pioneering American band essential to any discussion of soul and funk, Funkadelic created the historic masterpiece Maggot Brain.
Its eponymous title track—ten breathtaking minutes of Eddie Hazel’s guitar weeping and wailing—defines the album.
The solo, said to have been born from the instruction “Play as if your mother had just died,” leaves an unforgettable impact after a single listen.
At the same time, the album includes tracks with gospel brightness and heavy, rock-inflected numbers, giving the record a kaleidoscopic range of expressions.
Why not dive headlong into this intense yet beautiful sonic world that far surpasses the boundaries of funk?
The PaybackJames Brown
The Payback, a signature work by legendary American artist James Brown, was originally produced as a film soundtrack and is also known as a towering landmark of funk.
The title track has been sampled countless times in later hip-hop, and its influence can be felt across a wide variety of songs.
The massive groove born from the band’s perfectly tight performance and Brown’s soul-baring shouts deliver an overwhelming impact.
Letting yourself be carried away by the flood of intricately interwoven rhythms and savoring the tension that runs through the entire piece are key ways to enjoy this album.
Immerse yourself in this music experience brimming with anger and power from the Godfather of Funk!
What Is HipTower Of Power
The California-born funk band Tower of Power’s third album, Tower of Power, is renowned as the masterpiece that propelled their name around the world.
From the moment their signature, rock-solid horn section ignites “What Is Hip?”, you can’t help but start moving to the beat—it’s packed with an irresistibly powerful groove.
Over the complex, tightly locked rhythms laid down by the drums and bass, layers of horns race and weave in breathtaking fashion.
On top of that, the newly joined vocalist Lenny Williams delivers a deeply emotive performance on “So Very Hard to Go,” whose aching, heart-tugging melody resonates in stark contrast to the heat of the funk.
Body BaitSymba
No matter the genre, there are countless groups that disbanded after releasing just one album, which is exactly why the deeper you get into a genre, the more you want to dig up those obscure one-offs.
Symba’s only album, Body Bait, released in 1980 and produced by Al Johnson—a singer-songwriter and producer who’s especially popular among Japanese soul fans—is one I highly recommend for anyone who loves hidden gems.
From the title track, with its bouncing bassline, percussive rhythm track, and flashy horn section, the album is packed with high-quality songs.