Thursday, January 18, 2007

The ultimate funk songs?

I made this playlist on iTunes recently, burnt it onto a CD and it's now in my car blasting out of every speaker at every opportunity. My daily commute has rarely been as funky and my driving has rarely been as jerky, as my feet fly all over the pedals and my hands carve out the loose grooves on the steering wheel.

It's nearly all old school proper "greasy" funk. Most of the grooves could be written out on paper but the beauty is in the cracks, the way the notes are often played in between a swing and a straight feel. The older and wiser I get the more I realise that great musicians know it's not about what they play, it's about what they leave out.

Now I'm not like Mr Evil or one of these young techno chaps, I haven't got a Scooby how to put these songs up for you to listen to. But, if you can get them, then do it and have a listen to some masters at work.

There's one modern song on it but it's funky as hell and got onto the selection by merit alone.
If I managed to record or perform on just one song as good as any of these I'd be a happy little drummer. Check 'em out:



  1. Got to give it up (Part 1) - Marvin Gaye
  2. Foolish Man P2 - The Huck Daniels Co.
  3. Mesmerized - Faith Evans
  4. Live Wire - The Meters
  5. Chitlin' Street - The Backyard Heavies
  6. Kissing my Love - Cold Blood
  7. Brick House - Commodores
  8. Chug Chug Chug a lug (push and shove) - The Meters
  9. Clean Up Woman - Betty Wright
  10. Do The Popcorn - Andrew Williams
  11. I turn You On - The Latin Breed
  12. Right On Brother - (Part 1) - South Shore Commission


I don't know all the drummers but I'll tell you this.

They're some funky cats.

5 comments:

Arun said...

What about 'Atomic Dog' by George Clinton? It is a cliche but when I hear it, its like funk music personified.

Also, check out Erykah Badu's 'Danger'. You will not be disappointed.

Rhythmic Diaspora said...

Arun - Thanks for the tips mate, I'll check them out.

Anonymous said...

Dude, no Funkadelic? :-(

Rhythmic Diaspora said...

Hey Theena, Long time no comment!

No, I was going for that really old, loose and sloppy feel that I think was prevalent a bit before Funkadelic's time.

Rhythmic Diaspora said...

C - It didn't come through!!