SCOTTS HIDDEN TREASURES #39 - FUNKIFICATION

[Scott]

FUNKIFICATION

START WIKI PLAGARISM...

Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground. Funk songs are often based on an extended vamp on a single chord, distinguishing it from R&B and soul songs centered around chord progressions.

END WIKI PLAGARISM...

So what happens when Rock artists blend styles? Lets take a look at some cool treasures from the "Funk-Rock" category.  Many instruments may be incorporated into funk-rock, but the overall sound is defined by a definitive bass or drum beat and electric guitars. The bass and drum rhythms are influenced by funk music but with more intensity, while the guitar can be funk-or-rock-influenced, usually with distortion.

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Heres your playlist...

http://www.podsnack.com/playlists/8c899f3fb6853bbdc4f308b32a447653

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TITLE: Jam (Footstompin' Music)
BAND: Grand Funk Railroad
ALBUM: Survival/Greatest Hits
YEAR: 1971
(Pulled from Greatest Hits)
Essentially this the same song that's on Survival but mastered way way better.  Cool way to get this list started.

 

TITLE: Low Rider
BAND: War
ALBUM: Why Cant We Be Friends
YEAR: 1975
Maybe not a "Hidden" Treasure, but a Treasure that fits this list perfectly!  The song was the perfect backdrop in 13 movies, my favorite of which is a scene in Cheech and Chong's "Up In Smoke".  It has been covered by tons of artists ranging from Barry White to Korn.  Admit it your tapping your feet aren't you?

TITLE: Hot Legs
BAND: Rod Stewart
ALBUM: Foot Loose & Fancy Free
YEAR: 1977
This song has been re-recorded by Tom Jones and Tina Turner. Why am I not surprised by either one of those.  More interestingly, Cheap Trick quotes "Hot Legs" in "I Love You Honey But I Hate Your Friends" and "Can't Stop Fallin' Into Love".  Probably more on the rock side than funky, but you can feel the driving bass beat real strong.  High Cheese factor in the video version if Niels wanted to post sometime.

TITLE: My City Was Gone
BAND: The Pretenders
ALBUM: Learning To Crawl
YEAR: 1984
Pretty politically charged tune and used by Rush Limbaugh as his theme, but that's not why its on this list. The bass line is cool and nice driving beat.

 

TITLE: Need a Little Taste of Love
BAND: The Doobie Brothers
ALBUM: Cycles
YEAR: 1989
A reunited Doobies comprised of the band as they were in the Toulouse Street/Captain and Me incarnation.  Funk influence, however, is all over any version of the Doobies Brothers, and heres proof. A remake of a 1974 Isley Brothers tune, it has a great funk undertone and feel with the expected Doobie's sound and twists.  Strong guitar, production and perfect execution.

TITLE: Soul Drifter
BAND: Lindsey Buckingham
ALBUM: Out Of The Cradle
YEAR: 1992
I always like to slow it down a little in the middle of the playlist before we hit the home stretch.  And this is a great tune to do that with.  Nice melodic flow and consistent beat to this song, but it has a real nice and natural feeling bass line that compliment this list nicely.

TITLE: Cruel
BAND: Toto
ALBUM: Mindfields
YEAR: 1999
One of their best albums ever!  Toto fans really started to get a feel for who they really are on Mindfields, as this style permeates their late catalog.  A really cool fusion of Rock guitar, jazz, funk beats and rhythms.

 

TITLE: Surrender
BAND: The J. Geils Band
ALBUM: Monkey Island
YEAR: 1977
Described as "wall-shaking-funk" this is a really cool song on a really strong album.  Probably my favorite release from them by a large distance.  It had been some time since I heard it, but when I picked it back up, it was still fresh sounding and strong from beginning to end.  I know there's at least 2 other J. Geils fans on this site, so this album is a recommended "buy".

TITLE: Cruisin'
BAND: Jefferson Starship
ALBUM: Spitfire
YEAR: 1975
I'm double dippin' on this one.  I tried to post this song on SHT #1, but it failed to load in the FileFactory player and I never resolved that issue... until now!  It fits better on this list anyway.  Great bass line and tempo.  Craig Chaquico's guitar work is some of best, most unique and soulful work I can think of.

TITLE: Mississippi Delta City Blues
BAND: Chicago
ALBUM: XI
YEAR: 1977
A fitting end to this playlist.  Terry Kath revived his old live favorite "Mississippi Delta City Blues" for the album which sadly tuned out to be his last.  XI is my personal favorite from this band, and tracks like this only call out the reason why.  I love the fusion of styles and overriding rock guitar.  Probably one of my favorite tracks of all time.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Just at first glance, I'm surprised there is no Mother's Finest on this list.

[Scott]

Never really got into them, so I own none....  Maybe someone should introduce us to them?

[RJhog (Admin)]

K.  Give me a few weeks.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Scott, I must say that I really enjoy the themes that you choose for SHT.  They are always rock, but usually with a little twist.  However, I must honestly say that my initial read of this weeks playlist didn't thrill me (not the actual write-up of course, just the songs listed).  But I should have known you'd come through pretty well. 

 

Grand Funk Railroad - Probably my least favorite song here.

War - For some reason, I always enjoy hearing this song.  Don't really know why.

Rod Stewart - This song I love.  Always have.  I love the way he says "vitamin E", and tell me, does he say pu***-whipped?

The Pretenders - I'm no fan of The Pretenders.  I've heard this before and it's just okay to me.

The Doobie Bros. - Cool song from these guys that I'm not familiar with.

Lindsey Buckingham - This is a song I've never heard, but I definitely like it.  I've got to get some of his solo work.

Toto - This is another one that's just okay to me.

The J. Giels Band - Awesome song.  Again, it's new to me.  I only have Freeze-Frame from them, but this one is an absolute perfect fit for your theme.  I would definitely be interested in hearing more of this album.  Maybe I'll run across it at the used CD store next week for very few dollars.

Jefferson Starship - Another awesome song that's new to me.  Again, I only have one JS album, that would be Modern Times.  But what stands out to me on that record and this song is the magnificent playing of Craig Chaquico.  The bass line to this song is probably my favorite on this playlist.

Chicago - It's okay, but nothing that I couldn't live without.

 

So there it is.  Some definite treasure discoveries for me on this playlist, the biggest two being the J. Giels and Jefferson Starship tracks.  Thanks for the post and the very nice (as usual here lately) banner.

 

[Scott]

Thanks RJ - I have some playlist set aside that Ive worked over a bit and for whatever reason decided to not go with ...  This is one that spent some time in the "potential" bucket, but never got any traction until I picked that J Geils release.  It really made me go back and rethink this theme.  I loved the way it came together after sitting for so long...

 

J Geils is sooo much better than Freeze Frame, go back and listen to Love Stinks and Monkey Island.  And as far as Jefferson Starship goes, the Grace Slick/Marty Balin/Paul Kantner version kill the Mickey Thomas version.  Check out Red Octopus and Spitfire, classics!

 

If I had posted this when I created it would be something like SHT 20 and would have had other tracks on it like - White Lightning and Wine by Heart, and Rivers of the Hidden Funk by Joe Walsh, but sorry, no Mothers Finest.

 

Thanks for the great insight alway enjoyable!

[Niels (Mod)]

Before. I listen, I have to say, I'm not a big fan of funk-rock, but....

1. An okay song. I don't know much about Grand Funk Railroad, but it's okay. Good speed.

2. I know this one, and I like it!! VERY good rythm, I can't stand still, while I'm listening  

3. Probably my favorite song from Rod Stewart. Good drums by Carmine Appice.

4. It's not bad, and Pretenders are an okay band, but nothing special.

5. Not the best from The Dobbie Brothers, sounds a bit like "Listen to the music" (love that song!), but it's not bad. 

6. I like this one. Not the best, I've heard from him, but he has a good voice, and play's a good guitar. I don't know, why I never bought an album by him.

7. I like Lukather's guitar-sound, but that's about it. It aint that bad, but I really never was a fan of Kimball's voice. I like Fergie Frederiksen much more. "Isolation" is by FAR, the best Toto-album IMHO, but I guess, not many funk-rock tracks there!!

8. I don't really like this one. I guess, that's the kind of Funk-rock, I'm not a fan of!!

9. Again, I don't like it. I'll guess I'm fed up with Funk-rock right now. Sound's a bit like Santana, and I don't like him either. Love "We buildt this city", though, but I guess, that was only Starship, and not Jefferson.

10. Like I said, I'm FED up with Funk-rock right now!!!!

I missed something from The B-52's.

[Jon]

Funk rock. Yum!

[Niels (Mod)]

You could play a little with the letters in that sentence....

[Jon]

Funky rockum?

[Niels (Mod)]

Yep, or My Fur Conkuk. My wife's fur, is called that, by coincidence.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Her fur huh???

[Scott]