Funk standards, is there a list?

[meterman]

1 hour ago, ossyrocks said:

That’s this evenings viewing sorted! Cheers

You are totally welcome!

 

There was dozens of great funk compilations released around the late 90s / early 2000s which were a brilliant source of rare one-off singles or hard to find gems that were yet to appear on CD. I don’t know if they’re all on streaming sites now but they might well be on YouTube and they’re definitely worth a look.

 

Total rabbit hole though, especially “Really Heavy Soul” for the inclusion of Funkadelic - “Come In Out Of The Rain”. Sparse, yet funky bassline, mostly on one note until the song starts to fade out, then the bassist goes full on Jamerson. One of those songs where you want to hear the band carry on jamming just for the bass playing. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

[meterman]

Oh, and something by Mandrill would have to be in a funk curriculum, maybe this:

 

 

 

[Leonard Smalls]

And don't forget the GoGo crew... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Old Man Riva]

To add to Meterman’s excellent compilation recommendations, here’s some that I’ve gotten a lot out of over the years.

 

They were a gateway into artists and tracks that I’d not previously been aware of.

 

So, slightly off the beaten funk track I’d definitely recommend these…

 

 

[BassBunny]

3 hours ago, ossyrocks said:

Tower of Power popped up in my Recommendations on YouTube last night. Wow, I’m embarrassed to say I’ve not listened to them before!

My favorite band of all time. Rocco and his 16th note bass lines are awesome.

Only so much Oil in the ground.

What is Hip

Squib Cakes

Digging on James Brown

Funk the Dumb Stuff

You Ought to be Having Fun

Ain't Nothing Stopping Us Know.

 

All worth a listen. I didn't mention them as they don't seem to be that well known in spite of going for 55 years.

Horn players seem to know them. Probably something to do with having a 5 piece horn section.

[SumOne]

If it's the ones most pub going public would recognise I'd try to include some of these mutha funkers:

 

Pass the peas

Sex machine

Rock steady

Pick up the pieces

I wish

Jungle boogie

Green onions

Express yourself

Apache

Cissy strut

Think

Melting pot

Funkin for jamaica

Give up the funk

Fire

War

Low rider

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ossyrocks]

4 hours ago, Old Man Riva said:

… and you could definitely lose yourself in this. It’s in E. Just E.
 

 

I used to gig this one, in my previous life as a guitarist about 20 years ago. The band was led by Les Walker (Warm Dust), fabulous singer and all round lovely man, RIP.

[itu]

If you need melody, lyrics, and bass notes, try this one (tabs included, too):

 

https://www.thomann.de/gb/hal_leonard_funk_bass_bible.htm

[itu]

It seems that I have this in my library, too:

100FUNKgroovesforELECTRICBASS

 

https://www.fundamental-changes.com/book/100-funk-bass-grooves/

 

There are recommended listening, gear checklists, tabs, and a spotify list.

[Rib13Bass]

On 29/07/2023 at 13:13, ossyrocks said:

 

 

Now, with Jazz Jam, there’s a pad of tunes provided, 95% of it from the Real Books. Is there a funk equivalent?

Mr. Magic is the "Mustang Sally" of jazz  😆

[G-Lo]

And if you want to listen to a FAST bassline, check out "Release Yourself" by the Bamboos