by Dam-Funk


Mtume, You Me & He (Epic, 1984)
Includes some dope melodic funk in joints such as “Prime Time” & “C.O.D.” A slept-on LP after their “Juicy Fruit” related releases a year earlier, but You, Me, & He is one of their best albums.

—


Kashif, Kashif (Arista, 1982)
Includes modern-funk/soul joints such as “I’ve Just Got To Have You” and “Stone Love,” which sound good while ridin’ in a car, on a dancefloor, or just simply relaxing.

—

Civil Attack, Civil Attack (Salsoul, 1983)
Rare full album spin-off project release from former members of Slave and Aurra. This LP offers INCREDIBLE modern-funk joints that absolutely smash most of the competition that came out around the original release of this album. Features Steve Washington on production (Slave, Jimmy G. & the Tackheads, George Clinton) and Sheila Horn (formerly of the P-Funk spin-off girl group, The Brides of Funkenstein, as well as Rick James). This album has smart lyrics and above-the-bar grooves throughout. Definitely essential.

—

Mazarati, Mazarati (Paisley Park, 1986)
Side project/group of Prince & the Revolution bass player, Brownmark. Contains awesome and hard-hitting, next-level (of that particular time period) funk grooves such as “She’s Just That Kinda Lady,” “Suzy,” “Stroke” & the Prince-penned, minor urban radio hit, “100 Mph.” Great record to own and listen to on occasion. Worth every penny.

—

Slave, Show Time (Cotillion, 1981)
A swan song for lead vocalist and drummer Steve Arrington (who went on to release such solo funk classics as “Nobody Can Be You But You,” “Week At The Knees” and “Way Out”) and one of their very best albums. By this time, original producer Steve Washington was gone and producing related groups like Aurra. Without buckling to the departure of their ‘fearless leader,’ Slave achieved a amount of respect among the funk community with the release of this album in 1981. The record was sophisticated, and at the same time, so funked out. They employed ‘real strings’ (i.e. Chic) to complement the melodic and serious funk they were already capable of presenting, adding a nice touch to the mix.

Highlights on this project include “Steal Your Love,” “Spice Of My Life,” “Wait For Me” and their summer of 1981 urban radio hit single and club banger, “Snap Shot.” From the cover to the content, this is definitely an essential funk album in my humble opinion. Long live the Slave Organization.

-Dam-Funk
[Edited 8/14/09 16:36pm]

stream Dam-Funk song..
http://fairtilizer.com/track/49263


Dam-Funk, holding up a frickin' André Cymone record, people!
[Edited 8/14/09 17:24pm]

Well, at least the list was quite surprising

LoveIsTheMessage said:

Well, besides co-signing a few org favorites, he brings up an album I'm not sure we've ever discussed, but would probably really enjoy. That's why I thought this post was relevant..

Dam-Funk said:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Civil....m20.l1116

Cinnie said:

I've heard of the album, but I've never seen it on sale anywhere or heard any of the songs.

I think the thread title should be Top 5 Essential 1980s Funk LPs.

You can't be serious about Mazerattis album being an essential funk album right?

Riverpoet31 said:

Who are you addressing?

Riverpoet31 said:

Yeah im a little confused.... well ALOT confused....

I am adressing the OP.

That Mazeratti album was so akward, halfbaken, NOT funky. Its like saying some plain mediocre local cover-band are the new Sly and the Family Stone.

and a Boogie classic

Cinnie said:

I have that album, but I didn't like it that much. I guess that given the Slave/Aurra connection, maybe my expectations were too high....I've listened to it a few times, but I dunno...I'm still waiting for sometin' on there to hit me.....






...

MrSoulpower said:

well, he is "The Ambassador Of Boogie Funk"

how is "Mazarati" not funky?

maybe its not "essential" but that album has some strong grooves

its hard to find an album tightly knit with so many jams and no filler (lonely girl on bourbon street' could be considered filler but thats about it)


*mazarati diehard signing out

Top 5 Essential Funk LPs IMO, lol!!

Mothership Connection - Parliament

Stretchin' Out In A Rubberband - Bootsy

Throwin Down - Rick James

Knights Of The Sound Table - Cameo

Hall Of Fame I. - Steve Arrington

paligap said:

This track does it for me




Damfunk's list is indeed focussed on 80's boogiefunk and it's also a very personal selection. Of course you're gonna get a lot of mixed reactions to it,
but which list will ever satisfy anyone in the end ? lol, we dig what we dig, or don't.

Slave's "Showtime" project is imo a worthy contestant, including the infectious groove "Steal Your Heart" which starts with a steady drumroll, followed by Mark Adams' solid bassline,
and has great string-arrangements mixed in there. That's what makes the track so special to me. I think it's guitarist Danny Webster doing the lead-vocals on this joint.

I feel that Kashif's album has more like "melodic grooves" instead of "hardhitting jams" (which i connect more to funk)

Mtume's album has another few wild jams which Damfunk didn't mention, such as "I Simply Like" (a mix of ruthless slap-bass, guitar-hooks and screaming synths),
and a groove with a mix of JB, called "To Be Or Not To Bop (That's The Question, Whether We Funk Or Not), with a guest appearance of jazz-saxophonist Sonny Fortune.
Mtume's connection to jazz is that he performed with Miles in the 70's, and his father and uncle were part of the Modern Jazz Quartet.
The extended version of "Tie Me Up" is mixed differently than the more laidback groove version on the album. Other mixes of "Prime Time" and "I Simply Like" are worth to check as well.
The album starts slow though, with quiet stormers like "C.O.D. (I'll Deliver)" , "You Are My Sunshine" and "You, Me And He".
[Edited 8/15/09 3:53am]

Riverpoet31 said:

The Maz sure weren't that

Shango said:

I have seen the 12" for Tie Me Up but I never bought it. I guess I thought it was good enough on the album and it's wasnt really like the music was going to change or be different in my judgement at the time. I guess i should track it down and take a listen. I didnt know I Simply Like had a different take on it too!? Even the Quiet Stormers were indeed dope. COD is the equivalent to "Would U Like 2 Fool Around" and the others are 80's slow jam heaven.

A great place to start



Next let's add this crucial element:



It feels natural to go here next:



I too LOVE the Showtime album by Slave. Let's call it the best SOULFUL funk album.



Finally - my favorite Bootsy album is this gem that includes "Takes A Lickin'", "Landshark", & "Shyne O Mite"

MrSoulpower said:

Now, now... don't be a Funk nazi.

My list of five essential Funk LPs.
























_____-
[Edited 8/16/09 3:16am]

paisleypark4 said:

Found 2 soundclips of "I Simply Like" The intro is different with Raymond Jackson slangin' that bass, and they mixed some extra jelly in there at other parts.

extended mix & album mix


With "Prime Time" the differences in mixes seem slightly less noticable, though the rhythm goes faster imo.

TD3 said:

Cool ! You don't this group mentioned much. One of Sugar Hill's treasures.

TD3 said:

Shango said:

flexin my upper neck to that clap

Shango said:

I have the Civil Attack album and would recommend it to any serious funkateer, though I'd say it's not worth spending more then like 20 bucks on it. It's one of those rare funk records that managed to sound cool although being recorded in the mid-80s, but it lacks a bit of memorable songwriting imo...

Apart from that, that top 5 listing is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen related to the term "funk".

Cinnie said:

FunkyDissCo said:

What funk is to one, ain't funk to another

Shango said:

George Clinton - "Funk is whatever it needs to be at the time that it is."