Playlist 1: A Beginner's Guide to Funk

In the first of many end-of-week playlists, Sound Screen is to allow users of the excellent Spotify to embrace some of the best tracks selected by contributors that fit the theme of their choice. This week, Matt Gardner presents A Beginner’s Guide to Funk. Do you have a themed playlist worth sharing? Get in touch with us at soundscreenmusic@googlemail.com with your choices and explanation and you may feature on next week’s offering.

Funk is an undervalued genre, you know. Most people write it off as antiquated, but those who truly love it know that it is a style of music that is focused on one thing only: getting people on the dancefloor. It’s care-free, fun and harnesses the greatest sounds found in late 60s/early 70s soul.

The genre brought us some of the greatest artists from the black music scene of the US over two decades and continues to influence bands including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Outkast, Jamiroquai, Prince, Beyonce and even Rage Against the Machine.

I’ve selected a few tracks to get people to realise that while some funk may not appeal at all, a lot of other artists were putting in a lot of hard work to make you get your groove pants on and have you throwing some shapes in the Church of Dance on regular occasion.

Rick James, who was lampooned wonderfully by Dave Chappelle in his short-lived, highly-rated TV show, represents the opening three songs with two offerings from Street Songs. His uncompromising and somewhat filthy basslines worked with excellent brass to produce one of the most famous songs ever: ‘Super Freak’, which would later be used by MC Hammer in the immortal ‘U Can’t Touch This’.

Have faith, however, as Parliament - often referred to as Parliament-Funkadelic or P-Funk – demonstrated some of the most dance-worthy tunes of the entire period, with four included on here. Turning funk from a genre into an art form, ‘Flash Light’ and ‘Give Up The Funk’ forced people into trances in clubs around the world. ‘Aqua Boogie’ would later be sampled by Tupac Shakur in ‘Shit Don’t Stop’, while the famous opening from ‘Do That Stuff’ would be used by Royksopp in ‘Happy Up Here’.

Sly & The Family Stone were a textbook example of the dangers of in-fighting and drug taking, so it may surprise many that their music was so relaxed, particularly ‘Runnin’ Away’, which is arguably the most chilled song on this entire list. It’s been used in The Simpsons and all kinds of films and encapsulates a feeling that very, very few songs can deliver, despite their best intentions.

Ohio Players were immortalised when Red Hot Chili Peppers covered ‘Love Rollercoaster’ for the soundtrack to Beavis and Butt-head Do America. Nonetheless, their energy on stage was half-way between hilarious and so damn amazing that it nearly induced a funk attack on those who watched.

James Brown needs no introduction, and this is reflected by the omission of some of his much-loved songs. You’ve likely heard them to death, so I’ve not included them. Nonetheless, ‘Hot Pants’ is often overlooked.

The Isley Brothers make the list with one song alongside Maceo And The Macks, who are perhaps best known for the use of ‘Cross The Tracks (We Better Go Back)’ on the soundtrack to Snatch. You’ll recognise them, though you won’t have been able to put a name to the sound until now with both offerings.

It’s a great turn-out for both Kool & The Gang and Earth, Wind & Fire, who add extra substance to this playlist. Kool and co’s Wild and Peaceful is one of the definitive albums of the era and included the obvious choice ‘Jungle Boogie’ alongside the lesser-known yet just as funky ‘Hollywood Swinging’. ‘Shining Star’, as a tune, is exactly that for Earth, Wind & Fire, though that’s not to say that ‘Let’s Groove’ and ‘Boogie Wonderland’ pale in comparison.

To finish the selection, ‘Pick Up The Pieces’ by Average White Band is simply fantastic and a tune you’ll definitely know; if not, then you’ve either been living in a cave, Belize or a nuclear bunker. If you’re lucky enough to have never heard it at all, then you’re in for a treat.

There are tracks missing from the collection that will cause many people to be up in arms, but with this amount of funk at your doorstep, how will you be in the mood to feel so angry? Kick back and cast away the annoyances of working life and embrace funk. You know you want to.

By Matt Gardner

Full track listing:

Rick James – Ghetto Life
Rick James – Give It To Me Baby
Rick James – Super Freak
Parliament – Flash Light
Parliament – Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)
Parliament – Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)
Parliament – Do That Stuff
Sly & The Family Stone – Dance To The Music
Sly & The Family Stone – Family Affair
Sly & The Family Stone – Runnin’ Away
Ohio Players – Fire
Ohio Players – Love Rollercoaster
James Brown – Hot Pants
James Brown – Get Up Offa That Thing
The Isley Brothers – It’s Your Thing
Maceo And The Macks – Cross The Tracks (We Better Go Back)
Kool & The Gang – Hollywood Swinging
Kool & The Gang – Jungle Boogie
Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It
Earth, Wind & Fire – Boogie Wonderland
Earth, Wind & Fire – Let’s Groove
Earth, Wind & Fire – Shining Star
Average White Band – Pick Up The Pieces