[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)
Papa Was A Rolling StoneThe Temptations
It’s a psychedelic soul song by The Temptations, released in 1972.
It reached No.
1 on the Billboard chart and won three Grammy Awards in 1973.
Even today, it is regarded as an influential classic.
Atomic DogGeorge Clinton
Speaking of George Clinton, he is the leader of groups like Parliament and Funkadelic and is also known as the founder of so-called P-Funk—one of the most important figures in the soul and funk music scene.
The album he released under his solo name in 1982 is Computer Games.
It includes tracks like Atomic Dog, which was released as a single and hit No.
1 on the U.
S.
R&B chart, and it skillfully fuses traditional funk with the then state-of-the-art electronics and synthesizer sounds.
It can be said that the work was made possible by Clinton’s youthful curiosity even in his forties.
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.
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.
[Western Music] Tracing the Roots of Funk: Essential Albums You Should Hear at Least Once [Beginners] (41–50)
Knee DeepFunkadelic
This track by Funkadelic, which established the P-Funk genre and fused funk with psychedelia, is famous as the original song sampled in De La Soul’s 1989 hit “Me Myself and I.” The sampled track is great, but the original really is the best!
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get EnoughMichael Jackson
A song produced by Michael Jackson and co-produced with Quincy Jones.
It held the No.
1 spot on the Billboard Soul chart for six weeks.
With this song, he won his first solo Grammy Award and American Music Award.
It was the first track to showcase his talent as a singer-songwriter and has been covered by many musicians.