Today's Funk playlist

[Catcher10]

Was just listening to my newly arrived and new:
Parliment - Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrom.

Alway been one of my favorites. Kinda bummed that they cut Flashlight short. It is suppose to be like seven minutes long, but for some reason this one has it edited way down.

Album version is 5:45.....there was a 12" EP version at about 10min long, the disco cut
The radio cut was only like 4min long.

 

[jsisk]

Album version is 5:45.....there was a 12" EP version at about 10min long, the disco cut
The radio cut was only like 4min long.

That's what it is. I have the CD Funky Stuff and it does indeed state 12" single.
(you guys started making me think I was crazy)

]

 

[Catcher10]

Not crazy...just funky!!!

I remember the long version, back in the mid 70's there were some FM stations in So Cal that were disco oriented and used to play all the long versions of songs. The other one I remember was the 7-8min version of Heatwave's "Grooveline".....I have that one somewhere in the vault!

 

[E.Man]

OK Catcher that's twice in two posts you've said 'disco'.

Perhaps we might discuss what we think 'Fu nk' actually is. As much as can be done with any 'style' of music of course.

I see a progression from RnB > Funk > Disco. Running essentially from the late 1960s to the late 1970s. (Isley Brothers span those as an example).

The first age of funk that I focus on is basically the late 60s to early 1970s. Thereafter there is a lot of morphing into Disco which to my ears is much a style of Dance-Pop which isn't to my taste and I don't even consider as Funk.

Betty Davis agrees.

 

[steelglam]

I was made to believe for years that funk was good and disco was bad. Then when I actually started to investigate disco more, I realized how thin of a line and how much crossover there sometimes is between the two styles. I then realized that there is a lot of good disco music, and that funk and disco are a lot like.

Take Chic...it's like splitting hairs to distinguish between funk and disco on some of their stuff.

 

[jsisk]

Was listening to Rick James - Reflections earlier today and he wanders from funk, to disco, to soul.

Then you have the songs like this: Funkytown by Lipps, Inc.
(has funk in the name, but is actually disco)

And of course you have: Play that Funky Music by Wild Cherry
(Wild Cherry is to Funk, what Vanilla Ice is to Rap)

 

[steelglam]

Was listening to Rick James - Reflections earlier today and he wanders from funk, to disco, to soul.

Excellent example.

I mean, there are some thing that are clearly NOT disco. James Brown, P-Funk, etc...stuff that's clearly hard funk.

But Earth Wind and Fire, Ohio Players, Chaka Khan, The Isley Brothers, etc...these groups/artists had stuff that bridged the alleged funk-disco divide.

 

[noogies]

OK Catcher that's twice in two posts you've said 'disco'.

Perhaps we might discuss what we think 'Fu nk' actually is. As much as can be done with any 'style' of music of course.

I see a progression from RnB > Funk > Disco. Running essentially from the late 1960s to the late 1970s. (Isley Brothers span those as an example).

The first age of funk that I focus on is basically the late 60s to early 1970s. Thereafter there is a lot of morphing into Disco which to my ears is much a style of Dance-Pop which isn't to my taste and I don't even consider as Funk.

Betty Davis agrees.

The line of demarcation is simple: Funk is syncopated, Disco isn't.

 

[steelglam]

The line of demarcation is simple: Funk is syncopated, Disco isn't.

Disco songs often have syncopated bass and guitar lines.

 

[E.Man]

Yeh , there is a lot of morphing, blending and inclusions in the basic funk which keeps things interesting and is normal in music.
Disco seems to me to be a development after the basic funk has been established and is a sort of Pop-Funk.
Given that I also don't like the overly sappy love ballad downshift I tend to prefer uptempo Funk.

I have been mining the funk line for the last few years focusing mostly only on the 5 years 1970 -75.
Have been wondering about finding some Trumpet Funk. Blue Mitchell's Graffiti Blues is said to be Jazz-Funk. Has anyone heard it ?
(Not really keen to buy it without some idea how it sounds since I don't like Jazz 'noodling' hard bop style or even Miles Davis Bitches Brew particularly.)

For an anti-Disco funk track check out Betty Davis' Bottom Of The Barrel.

 

[noogies]

Yes, but compare the drums in KC and the Sunshine Band to Tower of Power ... and bass slapping was invented by Larry Graham, whose work with Sly could be considered seminal Funk.

 

[Catcher10]

OK Catcher that's twice in two posts you've said 'disco'.

Perhaps we might discuss what we think 'Fu nk' actually is. As much as can be done with any 'style' of music of course.

I see a progression from RnB > Funk > Disco. Running essentially from the late 1960s to the late 1970s. (Isley Brothers span those as an example).

The first age of funk that I focus on is basically the late 60s to early 1970s. Thereafter there is a lot of morphing into Disco which to my ears is much a style of Dance-Pop which isn't to my taste and I don't even consider as Funk.

Betty Davis agrees.

In no way do I consider Funk Disco or vice versa. Funk spans a long time frame....Parliament ie, to me is Funk at the core. But...in my post I said FM disco stations that morphed from playing a lot of soul and funk/R&B to playing a lot of disco. So rather than play the "short" radio versions of certain songs, they played the long versions that were featured in dance or disco clubs at the time.
The Bar-Kays were ALL funk...till about 1978 and Money Talks was released with a long version of "Holy Ghost". Then a year later Injoy was released and was pretty much disco influenced..."Move Your Boogie Body", huge dance hall song. Even EW&F with all their funk/R&B mastery, did the disco thing in 78-79.

I was merely mentioning what the FM stations were doing at the time disco was huge...and Betty Davis would also agree with that.

 

[E.Man]

I thought you were perhaps saying Funk and Disco were synonymous but I see now we are in agreement that they are not the same.

When it comes to what is Funk Betty Davis says This Is It.

 

[poppachubby]

I thought you were perhaps saying Funk and Disco were synonymous but I see now we are in agreement that they are not the same.

When it comes to what is Funk Betty Davis says This Is It.

Betty Davis?? Pfffft. Clinton said "Everybody funkin and they don't know how"... much more encompassing don't ya think? If you ask me genres only serve to weed out the shitty music, because great music generally defies and bends or melds genres together. The main issue with disco was saturation, so everyone became really sick of all the clone groups and non stop radio play. I think once "rock" groups like KISS and The Stones began messin with it people said "enough"!

Here's a toast to tha boogie!! And please people, always keep it on the one.

 

[VorlonFog]

A band that blurred (and still blurs) the lines between hard funk and hard-driving rock is Mother's Finest. I still love listening to them.

 

[E.Man]

Betty Davis?? Pfffft. Clinton said "Everybody funkin and they don't know how"... much more encompassing don't ya think? If you ask me genres only serve to weed out the shitty music, because great music generally defies and bends or melds genres together. The main issue with disco was saturation, so everyone became really sick of all the clone groups and non stop radio play. I think once "rock" groups like KISS and The Stones began messin with it people said "enough"!

Here's a toast to tha boogie!! And please people, always keep it on the one.

Yeh , that's pretty much about it. Davis is distilled and Clinton cavernous.

 

[E.Man]

A band that blurred (and still blurs) the lines between hard funk and hard-driving rock is Mother's Finest. I still love listening to them.

I've only heard the Live album. Altho it was quite rythmic rock it didn't sound too funky to me. Do they have a more funky album or is that a good representation of their sound ?

Have been listening to the Live! Commodores . Not heavy and some would say soul but enjoyable none the less. Very competent and professional. I keep forgetting it's live the music is so well played.

 

[Cool_Manchu]

Parliament - The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein
Casablanca (1976)

 

[libertycaps]

 

[Gang-Twanger]

Some of the best jazz-funk I've ever heard right here...

O'Donel Levy - "Bad, Bad Simba"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB-qtxcvnco

I'm listening to a 2CD collection called "Superfly Soul"... Good stuff... Listening on the following: Sansui 2000x, HRT MSII, Wharfedale W60's (early ones), plus my desktop PC.