Funk Help
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Well spzretent and Bza turned me onto Funkadelic. The albums they recommended (1st one, Maggot Brain, Free Your Mind) are all really fantastic. But I'm guessing these albums aren't traditional funk as they are well psychedelic and full of Hendrix-ish squalling guitars.
But I am pretty much clueless on this stuff apart from the above albums - others will be far more informative.
But I am pretty much clueless on this stuff apart from the above albums - others will be far more informative.
I too am looking forward to see where this goes...
my starter for 10 is new orleans funk http://www.blahdvd.com/blah/CD_Product. ... 930c1a4b00
tremendous cd. every track is great.
Its got a track by Alan Touson on who I know a little of, but have never investigated further, if anyone has recommendations of his other stuff, I'd be keen to hear it.
my starter for 10 is new orleans funk http://www.blahdvd.com/blah/CD_Product. ... 930c1a4b00
tremendous cd. every track is great.
Its got a track by Alan Touson on who I know a little of, but have never investigated further, if anyone has recommendations of his other stuff, I'd be keen to hear it.
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Which set is it you have jadams? I have a Curtis Mayfield that has the incorrect tracks listed - it might even be a bootleg.
However, depending on the tracks you like on your collection I would find the albums these are on and go from there...
Personally - go and find 'Roots' which to me is the best of all his albums. There are some mellow ballads on there but also the hardest, tightest funk tracks he might have recorded. It starts with 'Get Down' which is guaranteed to lift your spirits. Some beautiful singing and playing on there.
His solo debut 'Curtis' is great as well. Like 'Roots' it has a raw, live sound which he moved a bit away from on later albums. It has the awesome '(If There is a Hell Below) We're All Gonna Go' on it which is not as bleak as it's title suggests! It also has the immortal 'Move On Up' which ahs to be heard in the full length album style. Amazing!
If you like 'Superfly' you definitely ought to get the soundtrack album 'Superfly' itself. Probably the best starting point - probably the classic Curtis record. Its like a greatest hits in itself, 'Freddie's dead', 'Pusherman', 'Give me your love', the title track...
However, depending on the tracks you like on your collection I would find the albums these are on and go from there...
Personally - go and find 'Roots' which to me is the best of all his albums. There are some mellow ballads on there but also the hardest, tightest funk tracks he might have recorded. It starts with 'Get Down' which is guaranteed to lift your spirits. Some beautiful singing and playing on there.
His solo debut 'Curtis' is great as well. Like 'Roots' it has a raw, live sound which he moved a bit away from on later albums. It has the awesome '(If There is a Hell Below) We're All Gonna Go' on it which is not as bleak as it's title suggests! It also has the immortal 'Move On Up' which ahs to be heard in the full length album style. Amazing!
If you like 'Superfly' you definitely ought to get the soundtrack album 'Superfly' itself. Probably the best starting point - probably the classic Curtis record. Its like a greatest hits in itself, 'Freddie's dead', 'Pusherman', 'Give me your love', the title track...
O P 8
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I'm no expert on funk, but i'd also second the vote for 'Curtis', sonically its very advanced for its time- strings, harps, the lot. The full extended version of Move On Up is sublime.
There was also a free CD with UNCUT a while back that had loads of great funk stuff i've always been meaning to investigate further. I will be watching this thread with much interest!
There was also a free CD with UNCUT a while back that had loads of great funk stuff i've always been meaning to investigate further. I will be watching this thread with much interest!
"Curtis" is easily my favorite Mayfield album. Buy it now. Also, you should check out Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings for newer, but totally authentic soul/funk. She has a new one out in September and her new 7", I'm Not Gonna Cry, is my favorite release so far this year.
Check out http://www.numerogroup.com. They do stellar reissues of obscure funk and soul. You can pretty much buy any of the Eccentric Soul releases and you won't be disappointed.
Check out http://www.numerogroup.com. They do stellar reissues of obscure funk and soul. You can pretty much buy any of the Eccentric Soul releases and you won't be disappointed.
agreed on the numero group - I've got some great releases from them, most recently, completely non-funk, but very worthwhile was Catherine Howe, what a beautifull place. - Did anyone else hear that? I'm thinking it might be up Spamual's street.TheWarmth wrote:"Curtis" is easily my favorite Mayfield album. Buy it now. Also, you should check out Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings for newer, but totally authentic soul/funk. She has a new one out in September and her new 7", I'm Not Gonna Cry, is my favorite release so far this year.
Check out http://www.numerogroup.com. They do stellar reissues of obscure funk and soul. You can pretty much buy any of the Eccentric Soul releases and you won't be disappointed.
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Clewsr do you mean Allen Toussaint?clewsr wrote:I too am looking forward to see where this goes...
my starter for 10 is new orleans funk
tremendous cd. every track is great.
Its got a track by Alan Touson on who I know a little of, but have never investigated further, if anyone has recommendations of his other stuff, I'd be keen to hear it.
He really is a genius in being producer, singer, songwriter, arranger and amazing piano player on so much southern funk, including him and his brothers band The Meters.
He did a solo album called 'Life, Love & Faith' which is funk but played on a big band scale. Its a brilliant album and contains for me at least one all time classic ['Goin' Down'].
I'd also suggest checking out The Meters as well if you haven't - the self titled album is excellent.
O P 8
yes, thanks. What terrible spelling I have.BzaInSpace wrote:Clewsr do you mean Allen Toussaint?clewsr wrote:I too am looking forward to see where this goes...
my starter for 10 is new orleans funk
tremendous cd. every track is great.
Its got a track by Alan Touson on who I know a little of, but have never investigated further, if anyone has recommendations of his other stuff, I'd be keen to hear it.
He really is a genius in being producer, singer, songwriter, arranger and amazing piano player on so much southern funk, including him and his brothers band The Meters.
He did a solo album called 'Life, Love & Faith' which is funk but played on a big band scale. Its a brilliant album and contains for me at least one all time classic ['Goin' Down'].
I'd also suggest checking out The Meters as well if you haven't - the self titled album is excellent.
both suggestions ordered. Cheers bza.
I'm sure I couldn't be any more obvious if I suggested you check out James Brown, if you haven't already.... any of the later comps should be comprehensive enough.
There's a fantastic series of compilations called "Funkaphonix", collated from a stack of rare 45s from the 60s and 70s. 6 volumes, each with 20 or so tracks. They're not too difficult to get a hold of on amazon/ebay/soulseek...
Also keep an eye out for the self titled Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul record, which was reissued on 12" not that long ago.
As far as recent stuff goes, you could do a lot worse than to get a hold of the two Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings records. They can even get the funk into a danceophobic white boy like me.
There's a fantastic series of compilations called "Funkaphonix", collated from a stack of rare 45s from the 60s and 70s. 6 volumes, each with 20 or so tracks. They're not too difficult to get a hold of on amazon/ebay/soulseek...
Also keep an eye out for the self titled Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul record, which was reissued on 12" not that long ago.
As far as recent stuff goes, you could do a lot worse than to get a hold of the two Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings records. They can even get the funk into a danceophobic white boy like me.
hey bza. Cheers for these recommendations. Got them last night. On first listen the Allen Toussaint one is excellent. The Meters cd has at least 3 or 4 tracks on that New Orleans cd I mentioned, so it was pretty familiar [and right up my street, as it must be my favorate compilation cd ever]. Gona investigate some more of this methinks.BzaInSpace wrote:Clewsr do you mean Allen Toussaint?clewsr wrote:I too am looking forward to see where this goes...
my starter for 10 is new orleans funk
tremendous cd. every track is great.
Its got a track by Alan Touson on who I know a little of, but have never investigated further, if anyone has recommendations of his other stuff, I'd be keen to hear it.
He really is a genius in being producer, singer, songwriter, arranger and amazing piano player on so much southern funk, including him and his brothers band The Meters.
He did a solo album called 'Life, Love & Faith' which is funk but played on a big band scale. Its a brilliant album and contains for me at least one all time classic ['Goin' Down'].
I'd also suggest checking out The Meters as well if you haven't - the self titled album is excellent.
I am a huge fan of Miles Davis' On the Corner. It's an unexpected funk classic in my opinion. It even contains enough wah-wah to kill an elephant!
I can't believe no one has mentioned the obvious: Sly and the Family Stone! I would recommend looking into Fresh, Small Talk, and There's a Riot Going On. They are all brilliant albums.
I can't believe no one has mentioned the obvious: Sly and the Family Stone! I would recommend looking into Fresh, Small Talk, and There's a Riot Going On. They are all brilliant albums.