I wanna add to my list of the funkiest songs ever. To make the cut, the song must give you the "ugly face" - i.e. when listening to it, you screw your face up with a pissed off sorta expression, and you can't sit still to it.

Excluding Prince, I know of two songs that can do that to me:

"The Payback" - James Brown
"Flashlight" - Parliament Funkadelic

Please suggest further funky-ass songs, but keep in mind the criteria. I'm looking for about 10 songs of pure funk.

Thanx.

ecnirpnz said:

Okay... here's my share of funky songs

no black mf in the house (NPG)
superfly (curtis mayfield)
let's groove (earth wind & fire)
atomic dog (george clinton)
get up offa that thing (james brown)
hair (graham central station)
it ain't nothing but a warmer bros party (graham central station)
thank you falettime be mice elf again (sly & family stone)
don't you worry bout a thing (stevie wonder)

damn! there's so much funk... this is a good start I think

Here ya go

Sly and The Family Stone - Thankuforletinmebmicelfagain
James Brown - Superbad
Stevie Wonder - Superstition
Wild Cherry - Play that funky music
Curtis Mayfeild - Superfly
Marvin Gaye - Got to give it up
Fred Wesley and The JBs - Pass the peas

In my order;

1. Prince Lemon Crush

2. Elvis Costello Oliver Army

3. Kylie Minogue Get you out of my head or lucky

4. Adam Ant Prince Charmings

5. Justin Timberlake I Love You

James Brown - Talkin' Loud And Sayin' Nothin'
Parliment - Flashlight
Sly & The Family Stone - Thank You (Faletinme Be Mice Elf Again)
Stevie Wonder - Superstition
The Ohio Players - Love Rollercoaster
James Brown - Get Up Offa That Thing
The Commodores - Brick House
Parliament - P. Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)
Kool And The Gang - Funky Stuff
Tower Of Power - Squib Cakes
The JB's - Pass The Peas
Stevie Wonder - I Wish
James Brown - (Get Up, I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine

If those jams don't give you da funky-face, nuttin' will.
[This message was edited Sun Oct 27 14:11:18 PST 2002 by BorisFishpaw]

"I'm looking for about 10 songs of pure funk."

I'll warn u now that i'm not 2 sure just exactly what constitutes pure funk but i'll list some funky cuts anyway,though they r by no means all dance-floor fillers. Well, as the saying goes, 1 man's meat is another man's poison & u've probably heard them all b4 but here goes:

"Right On" Clarence Wheeler & the Enforcers
"Soul Limbo/Green Onions" Booker T & the MGs
"Pickin' Up The Pieces" Average White Band
"Fopp/Love Rollercoster" The Ohio Players
"Theme From Starsky & Hutch" James Taylor Quartet
"Squib Cakes/What Is Hip?" Tower Of Power
"Dance 2 The Music/Thank U" Sly & the Family Stone
"Higher Ground/Superstition" Stevie Wonder
"Say It Loud/Mother Popcorn/Sex Machine" James Brown
"Soul Island/Cissy Strut" The Meters
"Move On Up" Curtis Mayfield
"In Walked Bud" Thelonius Monk
"Respect" Aretha Franklin
"Give More Power 2 The People" The Chi-Lites
"It's Ur Thing" The Isley Brothers
"Theme From SHAFT" Isaac Hayes
"Pass The Peas" The J.B.s
"Hair/The Jam" Graham Central Station
"Peace Of Mind" S.O.U.L.
"Kid Charlemagne/Peg" Steely Dan
"Freedomland" Yellowjackets
"Le Freak" Chic
"Glad" Traffic
"Right Place,Wrong Time" Dr.John
"Think Twice" Donald Byrd
"Express Yourself" Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
"Spanish Moon"(live) Little Feat
"Ain't That A Bitch" Johnny Guitar Watson
"Soulful Strut" Young Holt Unlimited
"Rockit/Chameleon" Herbie Hancock

DorianGray said:

Nice little collection of funky tunes. Props.

Not sure what period the songs had to be from (the 70s,the 80s,or both?) but here's a list of some really really funky jams...


"Hollywood Swinging" Kool & The Gang (1974)
"Funky Stuff" Kool & The Gang (1973)
"Slippery When Wet" The Commodores(1975)
"Gimme My Mule" The Commodores (1976)
"(You Got To) Keep On Bumpin" The Kay-Gees (1974)
"Getaway" Earth Wind & Fire (1976)
"Tee Nine Chee Bit" Earth Wind & Fire (1974)
"Rock Creek Park" The Blackbyrds (1976)
"Happy Music" The Blackbyrds (1976)
"Girl Callin" Chocolate Milk (1978)
"Jupiter" Earth Wind & Fire (1977)
"School Boy Crush" Average White Band (1975)
"Love Your Life" Average White Band (1976)
"The Big Payback" James Brown (1974)
"Maybe Your Baby" Stevie Wonder (1972)
"All Day Sucker" Stevie Wonder (1976)
"Send Out For Sunshine" Heatwave (1978)
"Flashlight" Parliament (1978)
"Hey Man/We Gotta Get You A Woman" The Four Tops (1972)
"Mighty Mighty" Earth Wind & Fire (1974)
"Outta Space" Billy Preston (1972)
"I'd Rather Be With You" Bootsy Collins (1976)
"Once You Get Started" Rufus and Chaka Khan (1974)
"Dazz" Brick (1976)
"Play That Funky Music" Wild Cherry (1976)
"Do It (Til You're Satisfied)" B.T. Express (1974)
"Ain't We Funkin Now" Brothers Johnson (1978)
"Slide" Slave (1977)
"Bustin Out" Rick James (1978)
"Agony Of Defeet" Parliament (1980)
"Rigor Mortis" Cameo (1977)
"Shake Your Pants" Cameo (1980)
"Superstition" Stevie Wonder (1972)
"Ain't Nobody Baby" Con Funk Shun (1982)
"Shake & Dance With Me" Con Funk Shun (1978)
"Square Biz" Teena Marie (1981)
"I'm Freaky" O'Bryan (1983)
"Slow Dancin" Chaka Khan & Rick James (1983)
"Your Love Is On The One" Lakeside (1980)
"Fantastic Voyage" Lakeside (1980)
"Mary Jane" Rick James (1978)
"Me & Baby Brother" War (1973)
"(Not Just) Knee Deep" Funkadelic (1979)
"Hit And Run" The Bar-Kays (1981)
"Holy Ghost" The Bar-Kays (1978)
"She's Just A Groupie" Bobby Nunn(1983)
"Cutie Pie" One Way (1982)
"Fire" Ohio Players (1975)
"Give It To Me Baby" Rick James (1981)
"Get Off" Foxy (1978)
"Hot Number" Foxy (1978)
"Ridin' High" Faze-O (1978)
"Wide Receiver" Michael Henderson (1980)
"Sling Shot" Michael Henderson (1981)
"Overnight Sensation" Jerry Knight (1980)
"Remote Control" The Reddings (1980)
"Welcome To The Club" Brothers Johnson (1982)
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" Roger (1981)
"More Bounce To The Ounce" Zapp (1980)
"Shake Your Rump To The Funk" Bar-Kays (1976)
"Give Up The Funk" Parliament (1976)
"I Feel Sanctified" The Commodores (1973)
"She Blinded Me With Science" Thomas Dolby (1983)
"For Those Who Like To Groove" Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio (1980)
"Push" One Way"(1981)
"Let's Get Crackin" Shock (1981)
"Call Me" Skyy (1981)
"I Got My Mind Made Up" Instant Funk (1979)
"Pick Up The Pieces" Average White Band (1974)
"Central Heating" Heatwave (1978)
"Shining Star" Earth Wind & Fire (1975)
"I Can Understand It" The New Birth (1972)
"Future Shock" Curtis Mayfield (1974)
"Behind The Groove" Teena Marie (1980)
"Genuis Of Love" Tom Tom Club (1982)
"Hang It Up" Patrice Rushen (1978)
"Be Yourself" Cameo (1982)
"Jungle Boogie" Kool & The Gang (1973)
"Open Sesame" Kool & The Gang (1976)
"Disco Inferno" The Trammps (1977)
"The Groove Line" Heatwave (1978)
"September" Earth Wind & Fire (1978)
"Do You Love What You Feel" Rufus and Chaka Khan (1979)


I could name dozens more,but I'll stop here before I get carried away...lol...

Stevie "Boogie On Reggae Woman"
Zapp"More Bounce To The Ounce"
Prince"Let's Work"

DavidEye said:

yup! you da man!

as for Tibor's list, i don't think he gets the FUNK concept somehow!

How could I forget these...


"Brick House" The Commodores (1977)
"Funky Situation" The Commodores (1977)
"She's A Bad Mama Jama" Carl Carlton (1981)
"Funkin For Jamaica" Tom Browne (1980)
"Thighs High" Tom Browne (1981)
"Burn Rubber On Me" The Gap Band (1980)
"Shake" The Gap Band (1979)
"Anti-Funky World" The Nation Funktasia (1990)
"Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" Michael Jackson (1979)
"For The Love Of Money" The O'Jays (1973)
"I Get Lifted" George McCrae (1974)
"Sound Your Funky Horn" KC & The Sunshine Band (1974)
"Pusherman" Curtis Mayfield (1972)
"Kung Fu" Curtis Mayfield (1974)
"Release Yourself" Graham Central Station (1975)
"ThankYouFaLettinMeBeMyselfAgain" Sly & The Family Stone (1970)
"Gigolette" Ozone (1981)
"Standing On The Top" Rick James & The Temptations (1982)
"Action Speaks Louder Than Words" Chocolate Milk (1975)

No order:

Get on The Floor and Dance with Me - Michael Jackson
(MJ,Quincy Jones, The Brothers Johnson[mostly], Heat Wave)

Aquabougie - Paliament Funkadelic
(awsome live with Maceo)

Still A Thrill - Jody Whatley
(Andre Cymone, Bobby Z, David Z?, Mr. Nelson? Hmmm)

Freddy's Dead - Curtis Mayfeild
(This is Curtis's funkiest song)

Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
(Got to give it to 'em)

She's Strange - Cameo
(Love the percussion breakdown near the end..Great bass and gutiar combo)

Cold Blooded - The "Original" Slick Rick James
(Hey, he was funky. He produced this one at his "highest"
I know "Mary Jane" is funkier, but it's a smokers song)

The Rapture - Blondie
(That "chicken grease"...They stole this song!)

Calhoun Square - Prince and The NPG Gold

Anotherloverholenyohead - Prince
(Although Parade wasn't a very funky CD, this was a reward. It is still better than "Housequake". The 12" is lethal!)

The Time - The Walk
(Anyone who has heard this played live [soundcheck or concert] knows why]


Strawberry Letter 22 - Brothers Johnson
(This song has got to be a major influence on Prince. He should cover this song live!)

Square Biz - Teena Marie (w/Rick James)

Fight The Power (That Be) - Isley Brothers
(No R Kelly or Mr. Bigs)

The Ballad of Dorothy Parker - Prince
(Lethal combo of bass and Linn beats. He has never come close to reproducing the "funk" of this recording in concert [and never the bass]).

My Drawers - The Time (Starr Company)

I Can't Go For That - Hall and Oates
(see "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker")

Method of Modern Love - Hall and Oates
(Nice bassline)

When Doves Cry
(Better live with that "rolling bassline")

BabyGogo - Prince

Burn Rubber on Me - The Gap Band
(This song must've influenced Prince and The Time in '82')

Grooveline - Heat Wave

Computerlove - Roger and Zapp

Can You Help Me - Jesse Johnson

Flirt - Cameo

In The Ghetto - Rick James, Mary Jane Girls, Temptations, The Stone City Band
[This message was edited Wed Oct 30 11:59:00 PST 2002 by NGSPW7200]

twennynine (featuring lenny white) - peanut butter
shotgun - mutha funk
slave - stone jam
cameo - soul army
bar kays - holy ghost
foxy - hot number

wow... you guys have impeccable taste. seriously! dayum!!!

GeneMohawk said:

Hey,

Your have good taste as well. I'm glad you remembered Slave for me.


Here's more:

Watching You - Slave

Just a Touch of Love - Slave

A Love of Your Own - The Average White Band
[This message was edited Wed Oct 30 11:55:45 PST 2002 by NGSPW7200]

Awww...you took my Slave choices, but here's one more to the list and some others that I love...

Slave - Weak At the Knees
Brothers Johnson - I'll Be Good To You
Teena Marie - Square Biz
A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie
S.O.S.Band - Take Your Time Do It Right
Yarbrough & Peoples - Don't Stop the Music
Average White Band - Pickin' Up the Pieces/School Boy Crush
Funkadelic - (Not Just) Knee Deep
James Brown - Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
The Gap Band - Shake / Burn Rubber (Why You Want to Hurt Me)

Did anybody mention Fatback's 1980 hit "Backstrokin"? That thing is FUNKY as hell!!

"I'm not so bad,I just like to do what the bad folks do,yeah"

Thecherryloon said:

You not a man! You not get funk! I am funky.

Cutey Pie - One Way

James Brown - Licking Stick
(Prince's favorite song by JB)

James Brown - The Black Caesar Movie Score and Soundtrack

(This CD must be a major influence to Prince. Bits of influence are all over D'angelo's, Saadiq's, and most early 90's Rap CDs)

Cool Like That(Live version) - The Toni Rich Project

(it's a shame this guy may only be known for "Nobody Knows"

Chameleon Herbie Hancock
Jean-Pierre Miles Davis
The Chicken Jaco Pastorius
I Wish Stevie Wonder
Que Sera Sera Sly and the Family Stone
Ego Tripping Out Marvin Gaye

GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION - JAM
PLEASURE - GLIDE
OZONE - GIGOLETTE
BOOTSY'S RUBBER BAND - AHHH THE NAME IS BOOTSY
PARLIAMENT - MOTHERSHIP CONNECTION
FUNKADELIC - GOOD TO YOUR EARHOLE
SLAVE - SNAPSHOT
THE COMMORDORES - FANCY DANCER (LIVE VERSION)
PRINCE - TAMBOURINE
CAMEO - RIGOR MORTIS
THE TIME - GET IT UP
JAMES BROWN - THE PAYBACK

THESE ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBURG BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY!!!

The list continues...


***"Firecracker" Mass Production(1979)---2 Live Crew sampled this music for their 1989 hit "Me So Horny".

***"Gotta Get My Hands On Some (Money)" Fatback (1980)---A funk classic!!

***"One Nation under A Groove" Funkadelic (1978)---But of course

***"Pull Fancy Dancer/Pull" One Way (1981)

***"Bon Bon Vie" T.S. Monk (1980)

***"Whatcha Gonna Do For Me" Chaka Khan (1981)

***"Body Lovers" Con Funk Shun (1981)

***"Keep It Live" Dazz Band (1982)---Oh yes!!!

***"Move Your Boogie Body" The Bar-Kays (1980)

***"No Parking On The Dance Floor"(1983)---Midnight Star---Y'all remember this jam..."It's so easy,it's so right,it's so easy to rock it with your body baby...it's so easy,it's so right,it's so easy,you can rock it all night".

***"Don't Stop The Music" Yarbrough & Peeples(1980)

***"Walking Into Sunshine" Central Line (1980)---a synth-funk jam that just intoxicates you

eldog98 said:

Oh,how could forget a song like "Glide" by Pleasure (1979)? That song has one of the most distinctive basslines in ANY funk hit!!

And,The Commodores "Fancy Dancer (LIVE)" is GREAT,as is the entire "Live" album from 1977."Come Inside" also kicks ass.
[This message was edited Fri Nov 1 2:34:40 PST 2002 by DavidEye]