Rickey Vincent (USA) - Five Star Albums from "FUNK: The MUSIC, the PEOPLE, and the RHYTHM of THE ONE"

[o.m.]

Well, I've tried to see this list but the link seems to be broken, so I went on archive wayback machine and here it is in all its glorious original form...

https://web.archive.org/web/20040709161 ... l/funk.txt


This list of essential funk recordings is from the book entitled FUNK
The MUSIC, the PEOPLE, and the RHYTHM of THE ONE' by mister Rickey Vincent.
The ISBN is: 0-312-13499-1.
Albums in this list are rated as follows:

*** = Superior - good grooves and good ideas, but could improve
**** = Monster - killer grooves, and a total listening experience
***** = Classic - Must listen to it, or you're faking the funk!

Some of the albums are diverse, while some are all-funk. Commentary explains
the flavor of each record. Compilations and greatest-hits packages are not
emphasized, and only referred to when an album extends the base of the
artist's catalog. Apologies to artists left off of this list. Albums
available on CD in the US market as of 1995 are noted at the right.


RATING YR ARTIST ALBUM TITLE COMMENTS

**** 63 James Brown / Live at the Apollo hottest jam of all time
**** 67 Aretha Franklin / Never Loved a Man the quintessential Aretha, features "Respect" CD
**** 68 Aretha Franklin / Aretha Now Aretha gets down and fonky
**** 68 Sly and the Family Stone / Dance to the Music undeniable vibe, monster grooves
***** 69 Sly and the Family Stone / Stand! the original funk album, a classic CD
*** 69 James Brown / Say It Loud breakthrough funk session, includes "Licking Stick" CD
**** 69 James Brown / It's a Mother scandalous proto-funk rhythms
**** 69 Isaac Hayes / Hot Buttered Soul extended soul/rock workouts CD
**** 67 The Beatles / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band groovy psychedelic rock and proto-funk CD

CHAPTER 6 / THE RHYTHM REVOLUTION: TIGHTEN UP Essential Rhythm Revolution Albums

*** 65 James Brown / Papa's Got a Brand New Bag rhythmic madness made sense
**** 67 The Bar-Kays / Soul Finger Memphis groove at its stankiest CD
**** 67 Mar-Keys and Booker T & the MGs / Back to Back utterly stanky jam session
***** 69 The Meters / Here Come The Meters classic nonstop hard-core funk riffs
***** 70 Charles Wright and the Watts / Express Yourself grooving masterpiece of soul and rhythm
103rd Street Rhythm Band
*** 73 Manu Dibango / Soul Makossa African funk at its best
***** 82 James Brown / Can Your Heart Stand It! one of the nastayest compilations ever
***** 85 Atlantic Rhythm & Blues / Atlantic Rhythm & Blues Vol. 6 (1966-69) all-star lineup of smelly soul
**** 88 Stax / Son of Stax Funk even more stankier Stax hits CD
*** 94 Rhino Roots of Funk Vol. 1/2 worthy proto-funk selections, includes "Funky Broadway" CD

CHAPTER 7 / THE GODFATHER: SOUL POWER Essential James Brown Funk Albums

***+ 68 Live at the Apollo Vol. II side two workout says it all about the birth of funk
*** 69 Say It Loud mixes proto-funk with soulful ballads CD
**** 69 It's a Mother primordial funk at its best
**** 70 It's a New Day... churning groove tracks define the original funk
*** 70 Sex Machine relentless funk workout featuring Bootsy and Catfish Collins CD
**** 70 Superbad uneven jam session features ten intense minutes of "Superbad"
**** 71 Hot Pants naked grooves that won't quit. CD has twenty-minute mix of hot pants CD
**** 72 There It Is tight, socially conscious and ruthless grooves CD
**** 72 Get on the Good Foot extended, uneven, but jams like crazy CD
**** 73 Black Caesar wicked if understated rhythm session CD
**** 73 Slaughter's Big Rip-Off instrumental teaser still packs a punch CD
***** 74 The Payback relentless double barrel of classic funk tracks. The BOMB CD
***+ 74 Hell extended, diverse selections that kick the groove CD
***+ 74 Reality great arrangements. Includes "Funky President" CD
**** 75 Sex Machine'75 forgotten masterwork of stanky, sweaty, extended jams
*** 76 Get Up Offa That Thang hits and misses
*** 77 Body Heat James still has it, but only here and there
*** 76 Mutha's Nature quirky and not well-produced
**** 78 Jam 1980s straight dance jams get the job done - "Nature", "Jam" and "Spank' all hit
*** 79 For Goodness Sakes... twelve-minute title jam one of the Godfather's nastayest
***** 72 JBs / Food for Thought masters of the rhythm tracks in full effect, including the grunt CD
**** 73 Fred Wesley & the JBs / Doin' It to Death title says it all CD
***** 74 Fred Westey & the JBs / Damn Right I Am Somebody funk rhythm masterpiece-taken from Payback sessions CD
**** 75 Fred Wesley & the JBs / Breakin' Bread the lost Fred Wesley sessions; complex yet loose
**** 74 Maceo & the Macks / Us complex and unrelenting funk assault
***** 83 Doin' It to Death wicked package of crucial '70-'73 selections
**** 84 Ain't That a Groove tight comp of '66 -'69 crucial jams
**** 85 Mother Lode unreleased gems from the hardcore funk archives
***** 88 In the Jungle Groove the Bootsy years and then some. Incredible CD
**** 86 CD of JB the JB hit parade. Still kicks CD
**** 88 CD of JB II irreverent classics like "Say It Loud" and "I Don't want Nobody To Give Me Nothin'" CD
***** 90 Star Time the mother of all compilations 4 CDs

CHAPTER 8 / THE FAMILY STONED: I WANNA TAKE YOU HIGHER Essential Sly and the Family Stone Albums

*** 68 Dance to the Music undeniable vibe, monster grooves
*** 68 Life silly and quirky even by Sly's standards
***** 69 Stand! the original funk album, a classic CD
***** 70 Greatest Hits catchy and relentless funk introduction CD
***** 72 There's a Riot Goin' On primordial funk ether. Absolutely crucial CD
***** 73 Fresh gurgling swamp of funk. All time killer CD
*** 74 Small Talk uneven but essential Sly experience nevertheless
**** 75 I Get High on You totally underrated seventies sound of Sly
*** 77 Heard Ya Missed Me ... didn't miss much
*** 79 Ain't But the One Way quirky and catchy as usual, just not gripping
***** 81 Anthology broader selection of infectious humps CD

CHAPTER 9 / BLACK ROCK: GIVIN' IT BACK Essential Black Rock Albums

***** 67 Jimi Hendrix / Are You Experienced? original psychedelic blues. The tip of the iceberg CD
***** 68 Jimi Hendrix / Axis: Bold as Love depressing and inspiring, throbbing and floating ... CD
***** 68 Jimi Hendrix / Electric Ladyland timetraveling, consciousness-warping opus CD
***** 70 Jimi Hendrix / Band of Gypsys Hendrix, Billy Cox, and Buddy Miles at their fonkayest CD
Jimi Hendrix / All other recordings
***** 70 Funkadelic / Funkadelic spacey, grooving, nastay classic CD
***** 70 Funkadelic / Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow searing, dark masterwork CD
***** 71 Funkadelic / Maggot Brain the ultimate Funkadelic CD
Funkadelic / All other recordings (See Chapters 17 and 18)
**** 71 Ohio Players / Pain twisting, swarming splatter of genius CD
**** 72 Ohio Players / Pleasure powerful and diverse features "Funky Worm"
**** 73 Ohio Players / Ecstasy nasty, stomping, sizzling fonk
*** 74 Ohio Players / Climax stanky instrumental workouts
*** 68 Muddy Waters / Electric Mud electric blues at its best
*** 70 Buddy Miles Express / Them Changes left Jimi and kept kickin'
**** 71 Buddy Miles Express / Message to the People ... grooving, soulful, and rocking
***** 69 Sly and the Family Stone / Stand! the standard for funk-rock fusion
**** 69 Isaac Hayes / Hot Buttered Soul extended brooding ballads redefine soul and rock CD
***** 70 Bar-Kays / Gotta Groove awesome instrumental jam session
*** 71 Isaac Hayes / Shaft soundtrack defined the seventies sound features Bar-Kays at their best CD
*** 71 Bar-Kays / Black Rock defining workouts for ex-backup act. Thick, but raggedy CD
*** 73 Bar-Kays / Coldblooded solid set of twisted brooding, bluesy funk
**** 70 Mandrill / Mandrill disarming extremes of Afro-pop, rock, and funk in one package
**** 72 Mandrill / Mandrill Is stirring synthesis and thick chops
**** 73 Mandrill / Composite Truth multifaceted and memorable, on the verge of superstardom
*** 73 Mandrill / Just Outside of Town catchy, punchy, creative, and tight
*** 71 Isley Brothers / Givin' It Back all acoustic covers 'If rock standards. Unique and compelling
*** 72 lsley Brothers / Brother, Brother, Brother folky, soulful and meaningful
*** 73 Isley Brothers / 3+3 Featuring "That Lady" introduces younger Isleys and jams CD
***** 74 Isley Brothers / Live It Up blends rock, funk, soul, and blues brilliantly. A masterwork
***** 71 War / All Day Music awesome latin funk mix features "Slipping into Darkness" CD
***** 72 War / The World Is a Ghetto Grammy-winning masterpiece of grooves and realism CD
**** 73 War / Deliver the Word no pop hits, but still hits powerful grooves CD
**** 74 War / War Live brilliant live set recorded in 1972 Chicago snowstorm 2 CDs
**** 75 War / Why Can't We Be Friends? catchy, charming, and diverse CD
***** 76 War / War's Greatest Hits all-time jams and disc logo a cultural artifact CD
***** 77 War / Platinum Jazz best of instrumental jams, plus many new ones. A monster CD
*** 70 Santana / Santana mind-blowing expanse of rhythm, rock riffs, and stirring vocals CD
**** 71 Santana / Abraxas fierce instrumental jams, and latin rock classic "Oye Como Va" CD
*** 72 Santana / Santana captures west-coast rock and soul flavors while still kicking jams CD
**** 73 Graham Central Station / Graham Central Station indescribably delicious soulful rock
**** 74 Graham Central Station / Release Yourself hard, deep, gospel-flavored rock and funk
**** 75 Graham Central Station / Ain't No Bout a Doubt It throbbing funk opus. Features "The jam"
*** 76 Graham Central Station / Mirror crazy funk and apocalyptic gospel-rock
**** 77 Graham Central Station / Now Do You Wanta Dance misnamed funk-rock blow-out
**** 78 Graham Central Station / My Radio Sure Sounds Good to Me old-school vibe in stellar funk age
**** 76 Johnny Guitar Watson / Ain't That a Bitch stylish and sassy masterpiece CD
**** 77 Johnny Guitar Watson / A Real Mother for Ya strong and snappy follow-up CD

CHAPTER 10 / FUNKY SOUL: EXPRESS YOURSELF Essential Funky Soul LPs

**** Ray Charles / The Essential Ray Charles works out in any format. Can't miss
*** 68 Temptations / Cloud Nine stirring breakthrough of psychedelic Motown CD
*** 70 Temptations / Psychedelic Shack spacey, deep, and grooving
*** 72 Temptations / All Directions grooving, kicking, and deep CD
*** 75 Temptations / Song For You monstrous. Features P-Funkers E. Hazel and B. Nelson
**** 70 Undisputed Truth / Undisputed Truth underrated psychedelic soul masterpiece. Features "Smiling Faces"
*** 71 Stevie Wonder / Music of My Mind oozing, subconscious exploration CD
**** 72 Stevie Wonder / Talking Book liquid soul-funk genius CD
***** 73 Stevie Wonder / Innervisions the all-time funk-soul album CD
**** 74 Stevie Wonder / Fulfillingness' First Finale meticulous, masterful creation CD
***** 76 Stevie Wonder / Songs in the Key of Life endless, elaborate opus CD
***** 71 Marvin Gaye / What's Goin' On political, moral manifesto of soul CD
**** 73 Marvin Gaye / Let's Get It On erotic, exquisite manifesto of sexuality CD
**** 75 Marvin Gaye / I Want You breathy package of grooving genius CD
**** 79 Marvin Gaye / Here, My Dear bittersweet palate of sweetly layered groove CD
**** 70 Donny Hathaway / Everything Is Everything flowing, strong, and deep. Features "The Ghetto"
***** 75 Barry White / Greatest Hits sexy, strong, and thick. Awesome
*** 72 Aretha Franklin / Young, Gifted and Black inconsistent but daring. Includes "Rock Steady"
**** 72 Curtis Mayfield / Superfly Soundtrack definitive funky soul soundtrack
**** 73 The New Birth / Birth Day grooving and raw
*** 73-78 MFSB / Best of Phase I compilation of catchy instrumetal grooves
**** 72 O'Jays / Back Stabbers intricate and compelling soul manifestos CD
**** 74 O'Jays / Ship Ahoy powerful, artistic, consciousness-raising session CD
*** 75 O'Jays / Survival punchy and street-smart package of soul-funk
**** 76 O'Jays / Family Reunion heartfelt synthesis of Gamble & Huff brilliance. Also jams

CHAPTER 11 / JAZZ-FUNK FUSION: THE CHAMELEON Essential Jazz-Funk Albums

*** 70 Miles Davis / Bitches Brew oozing, primordial proto-funk
**** 71 Miles Davis / Jack Johnson hard rock under the label of jazz
**** 71 Miles Davis / Live at Fillmore scorching, thrashing splatter
*** 73 Miles Davis / On the Corner Miles doing his best to reach the kids. Dissonant, irreverent jam session
*** 74 Miles Davis / Big Fun Miles trying again to reach the youth. Spacy, and slick
***** 75 Miles Davis / Aghartha and Pangea Live masterwork from Japan. His last for over five years
*** 81 Miles Davis / The Man with the Horn underrated comeback album for Miles. Features "Fat Time"
*** 83 Miles Davis / You're Under Arrest flashes of brilliance, flashes of the end to come
***** 93 Miles Davis / Doo Bop original hip hop jazz. Slickest, tightest, hardest jamsession of 1993!
***** 73 Herbie Hancock / Headhunters magnificent and defining fusion of jazz and funk CD
*** 74 Herbie Hancock / Thrust grooving and experimental workouts
**** 75 Herbie Hancock / Man-Child well-packaged, with slick and sharp funky jams CD
**** 76 Herbie Hancock / Secrets diverse masterwork of moods, grooves, and jazz-funk riffs CD
*** 77 Herbie Hancock / V. S. O. P. Very Special Onetime Performance includes nasty funk sides
*** 78 Herbie Hancock / Sunlight somewhat digitized treatment of jazzy dance music
***** 79 Herbie Hancock / Feets Don't Fail Me Now underrated masterpiece of disco and funk CD
***** 75 Headhunters / Surival of the Fittest vicious, scandalous, twisted funk stew
**** 74 Crusaders / Southern Comfort vast and intensely creative two-disc set of funky jazz
**** 75 Crusaders / Chain Reaction tight, thumping liquid flow
*** 73 Donald Byrd / Blackbyrd pioneering grooving jazz session with R&B backup
*** 75 Donald Byrd / Places and Spaces tight package of slick funk and easy jazz
**** 74 Blackbyrds / The Blackbyrds brilliant, fluid groove session introduces instant stars
**** 75 Blackbyrds / Flying Start smoothly packaged set includes pop hit 'Walking in Rhythm'
***** 75 Blackbyrds / City Life wild and highly creative set of Monster Jams. Essential
*** 76 Blackbyrds / Unfinished Business slicker and smoother. Kicks but doesn't elevate
**** 75 Ramsey Lewis / Sun Goddess wild flavors of jazz, funk and percussive groove CD
*** 76 Ramsey Lewis / Don't It Feel Good thumpinq, focused set of thick funk jazz
**** 77 Ramsey Lewis / Salongo elegant and diverse
**** 75 Minnie Riperton / Adventures in Paradise warm and joyous, deceptively funky, and sexy
**** 74 Quincy Jones / Body Heat steamy gurgling swamp of funky soul and jazz
**** 75 Quincy Jones / Mellow Madness varied and rich, with touches of nastayness
**** 75 Grover Washington, Jr. / Mr. Magic exquisitely groovy; definitive funky soul-jazz CD
***** 76 Grover Washington, Jr. / Feels So Good monstrous. Hard and thick CD
**** 77 Grover Washington, Jr. / Reed Seed blends with band Locksmith to bring funky jazz to its peak
***** 77 Grover Washington, Jr. / Live at the Bijou an elevated level of warmth, technique, and funk groove
**** 77 George Duke / Reach for It smorgasbord of styles, topped off with monster jam "Reach for It" CD
**** 78 George Duke / Don't Let Go slicker, smoother, and even nastayer CD
**** 76 Stanley Clarke / School Days most thoroughly, thumpalistic funk sessions CD
*** 75 Return to Forever / No Mystery elaborate and spastic set of funky jazz-fusion
*** 78 Weather Report / 8:30 best example of bassist Pastorious' mutant grooves and band's warped senses
*** 70 Tower of Power / East Bay Grease sloppy, and raggedly horn-heavy R&B. Smelly CD
**** 73 Tower of Power / Tower of Power unbridled mastery of funk, jazz, and soul styles CD
*** 74 Tower of Power / Back to Oakland inspired workouts
*** 74 Tower of Power / Urban Renewal can't miss session of catchy jams
*** 76 Tower of Power / Live and in Living Color out of control workouts still jam
***** 77 Pleasure / Joyous forgotten masterpiece of flavors and styles
*** 78 Pleasure / Future Now rugged and thumping jam session. Features "Glide"
**** 88 Ornette Coleman / Virgin Beauty twisted, grooving, harmolodic funk CD
***** 80 Defunkt / Defunkt propulsive and stinky CD
**** 82 Defunkt / Thermonuclear Sweat scandalous, rugged riffs. Features Vernon Reid's guitar CD
*** 81 James "Blood" Ulmer / Black Rock spastic and irreverent guitar noise
*** 92 Mike Clark and Paul Johnson / The Funk Stops Here the funk kicks here CD

CHAPTER 12 / POWER TO THE PEOPLE: IT'S JUST BEGUN Essential Black Power Albums

***** 71 James Brown / Revolution of the Mind quintessential live LP of Brown's political era CD
**** 70 Curtis Mayfield / Curtis scorching, purposeful, and rich
*** 70 Curtis Mayfield / Roots heartfelt and somber
**** 71 Curtis Mayfield / Curtis Live powerfully hopeful
**** 73 Bill Withers / Bill Withers Live radical, yet touching
**** 69 Gil Scott-Heron / Small Talk at 125 St. & Lenox vicious anti-establishment rap CD
**** 70 Gil Scott-Heron / Pieces of a Man from sentimental jazz to revolutionary poetry CD
**** 74 Gil Scott-Heron / The First Minute of a New Day richly musical, and deeply political
**** 75 Gil Scott-Heron / Winter in America bittersweet and introspective
***** 81 Gil Scott-Heron / Reflections cutthroat assault on Reagan
***** 70 The Last Poets / The Last Poets as nasty and truthful as it gets CD
***** 71 The Last Poets / This Is Madness thematic, truthful, and balls to the wall CD
*** 72 Lightnin' Rod / Hustler's Convention the original gangsta rap track CD

CHAPTER 14 / UNITED FUNK: THE SHINING STAR Essential United Funk Albums

**** 72 Jimmy Castor Bunch / It's Just Begun brilliant, grooving, and diverse
*** 74 Jimmy Castor Bunch / Butt, of Course silly, thick groove sessions
*** 75 Jimmy Castor Bunch / The Everything Man ruthless stomp-fest, like all his later LPs
**** 70 Kool & the Gang / Kool & the Gang rhythmic horn-heavy instrumental jam blowout
**** 71 Kool & the Gang / Live at the Sex Machine grooving, meaningful and meticulous funk session
**** 72 Kool & the Gang / Music is the Message catchy and polyrhythmic set of lovable jams
**** 73 Kool & the Gang / Good Times tight, snappy, soulful and brilliant
***** 73 Kool & the Gang / Wild & Peaceful masterful package of grooving funk, jazz, and messages. All-time
***** 74 Kool & the Gang / Light of Worlds jazz and funk fused with finesse. A classic, including "Summer Madness"
**** 75 Kool & the Gang / Spirit of the Boogie ruthlessly creative, deceptively spiritual. A crime it's not on CD
**** 76 Kool & the Gang / Love and Understanding classy jam sessions from New York and London. Icy
***+ 76 Kool & the Gang / Open Sesame spiritual, avante-garde, deep funk
***** 80 Kool & the Gang / Spin Their Top Hits best available package of KG favorites CD
**** 70 Earth, Wind & Fire / Earth, Wind & Fire snappy, well-balanced teaser of what's to come
**** 73 Earth, Wind & Fire / Head to the Sky extended, layered grooving and meaningful jams CD
**** 74 Earth, Wind & Fire / Open Our Eyes the complete package of soul, funk, and jazz CD
***** 75 Earth, Wind & Fire / That's the Way of the World has everything. The ultimate seventies album CD
***** 76 Earth, Wind & Fire / Gratitude the ultimate live sessions. An all-time classic CD
**** 77 Earth, Wind & Fire / All & All complex and intense package. Their funkayest CD
***** 74 Average White Band / AWB pulls it all together from the start. A classic CD
*** 75 Average White Band / Cut the Cake snappy hits, here and there CD
***** 76 Average White Band / Soul Searching underrated masterpiece of moods, soul, and funk CD
**** 76 Average White Band / Person to Person loose live sessions do the trick, but could have done more CD
*** 74 Rufus featuring Chaka Khan / Rags to Rufus wild, clumsy mix that includes classic Rufus funk
**** 75 Rufus featuring Chaka Khan / Rufusized total package of soulful funk, warm snappy grooves CD
**** 76 Rufus featuring Chaka Khan / Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan brilliant jam sessions and ballads CD
**** 77 Rufus featuring Chaka Khan / Ask Rufus classy and subdued work of art CD
***** 74 Isley Brothers / Live It Up underrated masterpiece of rock, blues, soul, and funk
**** 75 Isley Brothers / The Heat is On deserving classic. All jams on side A, ballads on B CD
**** 76 Isley Brothers / Harvest for the World classy package of some of their best material CD
***** 77 Isley Brothers / Go for Your Guns non-stop barrage of open-fire funk CD
**** 78 Isley Brothers / Showdown grooving, locked-tight package of A-1 funk tracks
*** 79 Isley Brothers / Winner Takes All extended workouts still fill 2 LPs with jams CD
**** 72 Ohio Players / Pleasure powerful and diverse. Features "Funky Worm"
***** 74 Ohio Players / Skin Tight fantastic fusion of slick and nasty, standard and strange jams CD
***** 75 Ohio Players / Fire even more originality, catchy licks, and killer jam factors CD
**** 76 Ohio Players / Honey intensely creative set of classic jams CD
*** 76 Ohio Players / Contradiction inconsistent but shows genius
**** 76 Ohio Players / Gold essential compilation of the best of the last four years CD
**** 77 Ohio Players / Angel inspired, slightly looser mix of band's magical vibe CD
***** 74 Commodores / Machine Gun unknown, brilliant package of vicious funk
**** 76 Commodores / Hot on the Tracks catchy, varied mix of uniquely funky soul jams CD
**** 77 Commodores / The Commodores tight, funky tracks with pop appeal, featuring "Brick House" CD

CHAPTER 16 / DANCE FUNK: DO YOU WANNA GET FUNKY WITH ME? Essential Dance Funk

*** 74 K.C. and the Sunshine Band / K.C. and the Sunshine Band energetic breakthrough dance track sessions CD
*** 75 K.C. and the Sunshine Band / Part 3 brain-dead boogie at its best
**** 75 Brass Construction / Brass Construction surprisingly stanky. Classic jams "Movin'" and "Changin'" CD
**** 76 Brass Construction / II even more surprisingly diverse and original
***** 75 B.T. Express / Do It 'Til You're Satisfied utterly awesome dinosaur funk CD
*** 74 Fatback / Yum Yum stirring mix of funk and disco at the crossroads
*** 80 Fatback / Hot Box best session includes biggest hits "Backstrokin' "and "Gotta Get My Hands On Some Money"
*** 79 Chic / C'est Chic slick and tight. Too slick CD
*** 80 Chic / Good Times massive and influential at the time. Useless musically CD
**** 79 Michael Jackson / Off the Wall original and awesome funk sessions reclaim pop throne CD
*** 75 Rose Royce / Car Wash prototype of disco-dance soundtrack record. still kicks
*** 77 Rose Royce / In Full Bloom well-packaged funky soul
**** 77 Maze / Maze featuring Franky Beverly stirring, down home sound CD
**** 79 Maze / Inspiration best funky soul since Marvin Gaye CD
**** 80 Maze / Joy and Pain flowing, inspired funky soul masterwork CD
*** 76 Heatwave / Too Hot to Handle snazzy, soulful, and sharp CD
**** 77 Heatwave / Central Heating complete package of high-energy riffs and soulful snippets CD
***** 76 Brothers Johnson / Look Out for #1 unmitigated masterpiece
**** 78 Brothers Johnson / Right on Time well-produced session of lite-funk
**** 79 Brothers Johnson / Blam! thick and phat
**** 77 Cameo / Cardiac Arrest stanky, unique, and very happening CD
**** 78 Cameo / We All Know Who We Are meanly grooving, original sessions
**** 79 Cameo / Ugly Ego exquisitely stanky mess of throbbing funk licks
*** 80 Cameo / Secret Omen disappointing disco mishmash does salvage itself with "I Just Wanta Be"
**** 76 Brick / Good High catchy, creative, and quirky cuts support all time monster jam "Dazz"
***** 77 Brick / Brick delectable set of massively, thumping funk classics
**** 77 Slave / Slave ruthless groove workouts and outrageous effects
***+ 78 Slave / The Hardness of the World subdued yet lethal in parts
***** 79 Slave / The Concept awesome scorching workouts and brooding, hypnotic groove tracks
*** 80 Slave / Just a Touch of Love slick and uninspired, yet still kicks in places
**** 76 Bar-Kays / Too Hot to Stop non-stop session of all-beef funk and soul tracks
*** 77 Bar-Kays / Flying High on Your Love smoother mix still gets rough here and there
**** 78 Bar-Kays / Money Talks resurrected from Stax vaults delivers deadly dinosaur funk licks
**** 78 Bar-Kays / Light of Life tight mix of catchy and upbeat grooves
*** 77 Con Funk Shun / Secrets uneven showcase for first hit "Ffun"
**** 78 Con Funk Shun / Loveshine smooth, delicate masterpiece of weet funky soul
*** 79 Con Funk Shun / Candy rougher, thicker, and stankier set
*** 75 Undisputed Truth / Cosmic Truth out the box, Funkadelic wanna-bes still hit
**** 75 Undisputed Truth / Method to the Madness inspired lunacy
*** 77 Undisputed Truth / Higher Than High sloppy and comically nasty
*** 77 War / Galaxy unrelenting thump-fest proves band's resilience CD

CHAPTER 17 / THE P-FUNK EMPIRE: TEAR THE ROOF OFF THE SUCKER Essential P-Funk Hit Albums

***** 74 Parliament / Up for the Down Stroke unheralded erotic adventure CD
**** 75 Parliament / Chocolate City twisted, scalding sessions of harmony and groove CD
***** 75 Parliament / Mothership Connection divine funk CD
***** 76 Parliament / Clones of Dr. Funkenstein the resurrection of divine funk CD
***** 77 Parliament / Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome new age has dawned CD
***** 78 Parliament / Motor Booty Affair divinely inspired, drug-infested underwater fantasy CD
***** 79 Parliament / Gloryhallastupid preposterous CD
**** 80 Parliament / Trombipulation twisted and irreverent, yet wearing thin CD
***** 76 Bootsy's Rubber Band / Stretchin' Out rhythmically assaulting debut of number-one funkateer
***** 77 Bootsy's Rubber Band / Aah The Name Is Bootsy, Baby nastayest record ever made
***** 78 Bootsy's Rubber Band / Bootsy? Player of the Year bizarre and tight at the same time
**** 79 Bootsy's Rubber Band / This Boot Is Made for Fonkin' subdued and ill, yet underrated
***** 80 Bootsy's Rubber Band / Ultra Wave preposterous
**** 81 Bootsy's Rubber Band / The One Giveth ... rarely heard gems. A lost classic
***** 78 Funkadelic / One Nation Under a Groove funk-rock opus CD
*** 79 Funkadelic / Uncle Jam Wants You wild and ragged setup for fifteen minutes of "Knee Deep" CD
***** 81 Sweat Band / Sweat Band non-stop liquid Bootsy throb. Unbelievable
**** 79 Mutiny / Mutiny on the Mamaship scandalous manifesto of anti-P-Funk P-Funk!
*** 80 Mutiny / Funk Plus the One working, ripping rhythm session
**** 79 Quazar / Quazar utterly obnoxious funk chops from spinoff band featuring Brailey & Goins
**** 83 P-Funk All-Stars / Urban Dancefloor Guerillas underrated package of premo P CD
***** 82 George Clinton / Computer Games surprisingly groovalistic comeback for the Doctor featuring "Atomic Dog" CD
**** 83 George Clinton / U Shouldn't Nuf Bit Fish ridiculous CD
**** 85 George Clinton / Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends packaged synth-funk at its stankayest CD
*** 87 George Clinton / R&B Skeletons in the Closet brilliant concepts, not brilliant music CD
*** 89 George Clinton / Cinderella Theory forgettable CD
*** 94 George Clinton / Hey, Man, Smell My Finger endless and overproduced, but still stanky CD
**** 93 George Clinton & P-Funk All-Stars / Greatest Hits 1972-1993 endless live mixes all too short 4 CDs
***** 89 P-Funk All-Stars / Live at the Beverly Theater Awesome package of '83 L.A. concert 2 CDs
**** 94 Parliament / Tear the Roof Off: Parliament Funk Essentials standard set of hits and quirky jams 2 CDs

CHAPTER 18 / THE METAPHYSICS OF P: THE MOTHERSHIP CONNECTION Essential Cosmic P-Funk Albums

***** 70 Parliament / Osmium trashy country funk and apocalyptic gospel-rock anthems of salvation CD
***** 77 Parliament / Live P-Funk Earth Tour stanky, and sanctified, the ultimate live P-Funk recording CD
***** 70 Funkadelic / Funkadelic spacey, grooving, nastay classic CD
***** 70 Funkadelic / Free Your Mind & Your Ass Will Follow searing, dark masterwork CD
***** 71 Funkadelic / Maggot Brain the ultimate Funkadelic CD
**** 72 Funkadelic / America Eats Its Young crunchy and country-fried filth CD
**** 73 Funkadelic / Cosmic Slop coherent package of sick, twisted flesh CD
***** 74 Funkadelic / Standing on the Verge of Gettin' It On inspired and anthemic CD
***** 75 Funkadelic / Let's Take It to the Stage massive groovallegiance. Ultimate P-Funk CD
***** 76 Funkadelic / Tales of Kid Funkadelic swarming liquid stinkfest CD
**** 81 Funkadelic / Electric Spanking of War Babies politically charged rhythm riot CD
***** 93 Funkadelic / Music for Your Mother compilation of warped Westbound 45s includes great notes 2 CDs
***** 78 Eddie Hazel / Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs forgotten slab of divine funk
***** 95 Eddie Hazel / Rest in P unearthed posthumous guitar grooves CD
***** 79 Bernie Worrell / All the Woo in the World eclecticism at the height of P-Funk popularity
*** 92 Bernie Worrell / Funk of Ages creative yet meandering comeback project CD
*** 94 Bernie Worrell / Blacktronic Science clumsy mix of jazz and digital funk is still memorable CD
***** 92 Praxis / Transmutation modern funk fusion masterpiece, features Bootsy, Bernie and others CD
**** 94 O.G. Funk / Out of the Dark Billy "Bass" Nelson goes for his

CHAPTER 19 / FUNK IN THE 1980S: SUPER FREAKS Essential Naked Funk Albums Eighties Funk

**** 78 Rick James / Come Get It monstrous debut of a funk dominator CD
*** 79 Rick James / Bustin' Out of L-7 stomping showcase for hit singles
*** 80 Rick James / Fire It Up nasty and on target
***** 81 Rick James / Street Songs inspired anthems of street smart eighties funk CD
*** 82 Rick James / Standing on the Top uninspired, yet hard-driving
*** 83 Rick James / Coldblooded well-packaged and uniquely arranged
**** 86 Rick James / The Flag surprisingly deep and hard comeback album
**** 79 Prince / Prince subtly titillating exploration of identity of little-known artist CD
*** 80 Prince / Dirty Mind wicked and wild, definitive naked funk CD
*** 81 Prince / Controversy overtly political, overtly nasty CD
***** 82 Prince / 1999 epic album of social unrest and self-expression CD
**** 84 Prince / Purple Rain pop standards, absurd and incoherent riffs all in one CD
**** 85 Prince / Paisley Park quirky, consistent fantasyscape CD
*** 86 Prince / Sign O' The Times grooving, licking, churning, grinding CD
**** 88 Prince / Lovesexy stirring, stunning, and sharp CD
**** 91 Prince / Diamonds and Pearls daring diversity, deeper funk. Features "Gett Off" CD
*** 80 The Time / The Time locked tight. As simple as they wanna be CD
*** 81 The Time / What Time Is It? redefined rightness in a band. Introduces Morris Day's persona CD
**** 84 The Time / Ice Cream Castles surprisingly complete and kicking CD
*** 89 The Time / Pandemonium ... works, but times have changed CD
*** 85 Jesse Johnson / Jesse Johnson's Revue slick, liquid, nasty nasty nasty licks
*** 86 Jesse Johnson's Revue / Shockadelica standard set features Sly Stone duet "Crazay"
*** 88 Morris Day / Color of Success ridiculous, pretentious, and totally grooving CD
*** 80 Zapp / Zapp quirky and cute grooves. Features "More Bounce to the Ounce" CD
***** 81 Zapp / Zapp II monstrous hooks, ruthless licks. A masterpiece CD
*** 82 Zapp / Zapp III stanky and swanging digitized blues
*** 83 Zapp / Zapp 4 U original and energetic. Features "Computer Love"
***** 81 Roger / The Many Facets of Roger brilliant artist packages, brilliant album
*** 80 Slave / Just a Touch of Love slick and uninspired, yet still kicks in places
**** 81 Slave / Stone Jam thumpasaurus jam session puts it all together
**** 82 Slave / Showtime awesome package of grooving, nastay dance funk
*** 83 Steve Arrington / Hall of Fame ex-Slave singer deservedly kicks his own flavor
*** 85 Steve Arrington / Feel So Real born-again funk in full effect
*** 94 Slave / Best of Slave features Arrington solo hits, but not enough stomping Slave jams CD
**** 80 Cameo / Cameosis complete package of band renewing itself and redefining funk CD
**** 81 Cameo / Knights of the Sound Table masterful, unrelenting groove session CD
***** 82 Cameo / Alligator Woman underrated stroke of new-wave funk genius
*** 84 Cameo / She's Strange catchy rap flavor and hard riffs on inconsistent album CD
**** 86 Cameo / Word Up sparse, swanging monster hit parade CD
*** 94 Cameo / Best of Cameo Funk Essentials tired mix of eighties funk only
*** 81 Lakeside / Fantastic Voyage thumping, grooving, smelly set
*** 83 Lakeside / Untouchables thumping, grooving, smelly set
*** 84 Lakeside / Outrageous thumping, grooving, smelly set
**** 81 Bar-Kays / Nightcruising slick, new, nasty sound elevates ageless band
*** 82 Bar-Kays / Propositions assertive, soulful package of naked funk
*** 84 Bar-Kays / Dangerous derivative even by Bar-Kays' standards
**** 89 Bar-Kays / Animal surprisingly tight and energetic comeback of funk Methuselahs CD
**** 94 Bar-Kays / Best of Bar-Kays Funk Essentials comprehensive and entertaining package CD
**** 81 Earth, Wind & Fire / Raise! tough and rugged no-nonsense comeback CD
*** 83 Earth, Wind & Fire / Powerlight still strong, but running on fumes CD
*** 87 Earth, Wind & Fire / Touch the World quirky, digitized comeback yet again CD
*** 82 S.O.S. Band / S.O.S. Band tight and catchy funky pop
**** 84 Midnight Star / No Parking on the Dancefloor polished, pumping funky pop
**** 83 Michael Jackson / Thriller greatest-selling LP ever still true to funk roots CD
*** 87 Michael Jackson / Bad could have been stronger CD
**** 86 Janet Jackson / Control surprisingly, strong, tight, and nasty CD
***** 89 Janet Jackson / Rhythm Nation conscious crossover funk album of the decade CD

CHAPTER 20 / HIP HOP AND BLACK NOISE: RAISING HELL Essential Eighties Underground Funk

*** 82 Afrika Bambaataa / Planet Rock absurd and irreverent Nigs in space vibe
*** 84 Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown / Unity (12") noisy and chaotic tribute to the Godfather
**** 86 Afrika Bambaataa / Beware, The Funk Is Everywhere vicious, throbbing industrial fonk
**** 88 Afrika Bambaataa / The Light exquisitely enlightened, ruthless grooves
**** 82 Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five / The Message original album packed with jams CD
*** 84 Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five / Beat Street boldest political rap of the decade CD
**** 84 Run-D.M.C. / Run-D.M.C. here come the heavyweights CD
***** 86 Run-D.M.C. / Raising Hell awesome package of catchy hooks, funny raps, and thick funk CD
**** 86 Beastie Boys / License to Ill trashy white boys mix the funk like pros CD
**** 83 Herbie Hancock / Future Shock groundbreaking industrial funk sessions. Killer CD
**** 84 Herbie Hancock / Hardrock a second helping of rough-edged industrial funk CD
*** 88 Herbie Hancock / Perfect Machine slick, overproduced collaboration with Bootsy and Sugarfoot
**** 84 Malcolm X / No Sellout (12") groundbreaking Tackhead beat track featuring Malcolm X voice
**** 84 Tackhead / The Game (12") insanely hard industrial funk beat
*** 83 Fats Comet / Eat the Beat (12") bizarre, thumping throb track
***** 85 Artists United Against Apartheid / Sun City magnificent political message; monstrous funk
*** 86 Sly & Robbie / Language Barrier wicked extended riffs, yet somewhat confined CD
**** 87 Sly & Robbie / Rhythm Killers ridiculous, rock hard riffs, expanded by P-Funk guest players CD
*** 85 Bill Laswell / Basslines oozing funk jazz from industrial funk pioneer and producer
***** 88 Various / Celluloid Trilogy awesome cross-section of best underground grooves of the decade
**** 88 Gettovetts / Missionaries Movin thoroughly noisy and conceptual industrial New York rap CD
***** 92 Praxis / Transmutation modern funk fusion masterpiece, features Bootsy, Bernie, and others CD
*** 83 Art of Noise / Who's Afraid Of ... best and most thumping industrial funk from Britain
*** 82 Kraftwerk / Numbers quirky and ethereal digitized funk beats from German trio
**** 81 Talking Heads / Remain in Light scandalous, offbeat, nastay new-wave funk CD
**** 84 Talking Heads / Speaking in Tongues deeply thumping funk disguised as modern rock CD
*** 85 Talking Heads / Stop Making Sense live session features keyboard work of guest Bernie Worrell CD
*** 82 Tom Tom Club / Tom Tom Club complex, silly, and cute mix of grooves. Features "Genius of Love" CD
***** 82 Trouble Funk / Drop the Bomb relentless and totally hype percussion overload CD
**** 84 Trouble Funk / In Times of Trouble awkward mix of studio efforts and vicious live tracks
***** 85 Trouble Funk / Saturday Night Live incredible live session. Absolutely essential
*** 87 Trouble Funk / Trouble Over Here overproduced disappointment CD
**** 85 Various Go Go bands / Paint the White House Black strong and stirring set of nasty funk
**** 85 Various Go Go bands / Good to Go soundtrack scattered samplings of Go Go from movie Short Fuse
**** 88 Looters / Flashpoint unheralded political funk rock of the future CD
*** 85 Red Hot Chili Peppers / Freaky Stylee wicked and ridiculous. Produced by George Clinton
***+ 88 Red Hot Chili Peppers / Mother's Milk tight and yet still preposterous
**** 92 Red Hot Chili Peppers / Blood Sugar Sex Magik deep, strong, and stanky CD
*** 88 Primus / Suck On This grungy and thick, like all their stuff
*** 89 Fishbone / Truth & Soul tight and spastic, like all their stuff
*** 88 Living Colour / Vivid tight and noisy black-rock breakthrough
*** 91 Brand New Heavies / Brand New Heavies noble effort to bring back real funk and soul CD
**** 94 MeChell NdegeOchello / Plantation Lullabies ruthless bass-driven rap and funk CD

CHAPTER 21 / FUNK IN THE NINETIES: RETURN OF THE FUNK Essential P-Funk Hip Hop Albums

**** 86 Schooly D / Saturday Night, The Album loud and comical. One of the original P-funk samplers
***** 87 EPMD / Strictly Business icy and thick. Devastating breakthrough LP, first Zapp sample CD
*** 88 EPMD / Unfinished Business monsterjams and nasty samples CD
***** 88 Boogie Down Productions / By All Means Necessary brilliant and funky political manifesto CD
**** 89 Boogie Down Productions / Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop crucial political education
All Boogie Down Productions
**** 87 Public Enemy / Yo Bum Rush the Show! crucial rock-hard street beats CD
***** 88 Public Enemy / It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back anthem of conscious Hip Hop CD
**** 90 Public Enemy / Fear of a Black Planet scandalous issues sensibly delivered CD
**** 91 Public Enemy / Apocalypse '91: The Empire Strikes Black sinister and smart
All Public Enemy
***** 89 De La Soul / 3 Feet High and Rising psychedelic hard-core hippie trip of the highest order CD
*** 90 Jungle Brothers / Done by the Forces of Nature accessible Afro-centric rap CD
***** 90 X-Clan / To the East, Blackwards assaulting, Afro-centric raps and killer funk loops CD
**** 93 Digable Planets / A New Refutation of Time ... eccentric, streetwise, and jazzy, but deep into funk CD
***** 93 Miles Davis / Doo Bop original hip hop jazz. Slickest, tightest, hardest jam session of 1993! CD
*** 93 Arrested Development / 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life of ... liberated, southern-fried rap and country funk CD
**** 89 Ice-T / Power brilliant, historically minded package of nasty L.A. attitude CD
***** 90 Digital Underground / Sex Packets indescribable cartoon-minded funk genius rap CD
**** 92 Digital Underground / Sons of the P powerful, far-reaching statement of funk authority CD
**** 88 The D.O.C. / No One Can Do It Better scandalous Dr. Dre produced tracks put west coast on the map
**** 93 Dr. Dre / The Chronic apocalyptic niggerish manifesto, the dominant rap record of '93 CD
**** 91 Too Short / Life Is Too Short breakthrough pimp-rap from Oakland's own CD
**** 89 N.W.A. / Straight Outta Compton devastating gangsta rap showcase CD
**** 91 N.W.A. / NIGGAZ4LIFE cutthroat tracks and rhymes CD
*** 90 2-Live Crew / As Nasty As They Wanna Be ridiculous, filthy, and uneven, but historically important CD
**** 91 Paris / The Devil Made Me Do lt articulate, grooving debut of "Black Panther of Hip Hop" CD
***** 92 Kam / Neva Again politically charged yet street strong and funky masterpiece CD
***** 91 Ice Cube / Death Certificate the ultimate in urban indignation CD
*** 94 Ice Cube / Lethal Injection well-packaged and deeply funk-centered CD
Essential Funk Compilations
****** 91 K-Tel "Superbad" One of the earliest pkgs gets it right the first time. CD
****** 91 Priority "All Star Funk" out of print ace of rare extended P-funk goodies. CD
***** 94 Priority "All Star Funk vol. I" well-known humps, little p CD
***** 94 Priority "All Star Funk: Vol. 2" Thumpasorus tracks for all occasions. CD
****** 93 Polygram "Best of Funk Essentials" One of the strongest packages ever. CD
*** 94 Polygram "Funk Funk: Best of Funk Essentials" vol. 2 lots of leftovers CD
****** 93 Rhino "History of Funk" Vol 1 All-purpose early funk starter kit CD
***** 93 Rhino "History of Funk" Vol 2 Much stanky all-time early 70's classics CD
***** 93 Rhino "History of Funk" Vol 3 Clumsy mix and edits, but still rocks CD
***** 93 Rhino "History of Funk" Vol 4 Tasty outrageous mix of late 70's jams CD
****** 93 Rhino "History of Funk" Vol 5 Monster pile of raw-dog rare & classic shit CD
***** 94 Rhino "Phat Trax" Vol 1 Awesome lineup and rocking mix CD
**** 94 Rhino "Phat Trax" Vol 2 'One Nation' 12" and other monsters CD
**** 94 Rhino "Phat Trax" Vol 3 Hits getting too thin CD
**** 95 Priority "Da Funk" Some bombs, some quirky misses CD
**** 95 Priority "Funkdafied" Crazy splatter of oldies. Who did those notes? CD

[VacantJoy]

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/137463.Funk
Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One

(1996)

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/Rockabil ... dations/1/
The ratings are also covered here


FUNK: It's the only musical genre ever to have transformed the nation into a throbbing army of bell-bottomed, hoop-earringed, rainbow-Afro'd warriors on the dance floor. Its rhythms and lyrics turned bleak urban realties inside out with distinctive, danceable, downright irresistable music.

Funk hasn't received the critical attention that rock, jazz, and the blues have-until now. Colorful, intelligent, and in-you-face, Rickey Vincent's Funk celebrates the songs, the musicians, the philosophy, and the meaning of funk. The book spans from the early work of James Brown (the Godfather of Funk) through today, covering funky soul (Stevie Wonder, the Temptations), so-called "black rock" (Jimi Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, the Isely Brothers), jazz-funk (Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock), monster funk (Parliament, Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band), naked funk (Rick James, Gap Band), disco-funk (Chic, K.C. and the Sunshine Band), funky pop (Kool & the Gang, Chaka Khan), P-Funk Hip Hop (Digital Underground, De La Soul), funk-sampling rap (Ice Cube, Dr. Dre), funk rock (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primus), and more.

Funk tells a vital, vibrant history-the history of a uniquely American music born out of tradition and community, filled with energy, attitude, anger, hope, and an irrepressible spirit.

[VacantJoy]

INFO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickey_Vincent


nice find o.m.


pfff it's already included

[antonius]

May the Funk be with you, o.m.!
Thanks!