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fUNK rEVIEWS
 
original illustration by Justin Countee
All content and images are © 2001 Justin J. Countee
   
 


(alphabetical by first name)
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

RATINGS KEY

-5 FUNKHEADS: I may not like EVERY last track, BUT the one, two, or even three that I don't like are COMPLETELY made up for by the others. A "5" is "master class" material as far as I'm concerned; I would consider any collection weaker without it.

- 4 FUNKHEADS: This time, the two or three weaker tracks take the rating down a notch. I still consider a "4" essential though.

- 3 FUNKHEADS:
This rating indicates an AVERAGE level of funk for a recording of its time in my opinion. A "3" is probably a "try-before-you-buy" although it will most likely provide a satisfying listen to most.

- 2 FUNKHEADS: A "2" is definitely a "try-before-you-buy" recording. In my view, these are recordings that tend to lack the super hard funk I crave, but I have found SOMETHING redeeming enough about them to list them. They often have a MAXIMUM of one to three songs (out of maybe 10) that I like.

- 1 FUNKHEAD: Don't waste your time unless you need shiny coasters.

A TOP

Albert King- I'll Play The Blues For You

Very nice R&B style blues workout. Includes a song which was sampled by one of hip hop's cream of the crop. If you don't dig the blues, this album may change your mind.

Andy Bey- Experience & Judgement (jazz funk)

Very strange groove, but it's sooooooo doggone fonky! You don't know, most of this recording has Bey singing in a strange spacey way over these funk grooves that are loose and tight AT THE SAME TIME! Weird. The overall effect is fascinating to say the least, and a little unsettling.

Average White Band- AWB
1/2
Pick Up The Pieces! The AWB attacks with the strong dance funk on this one. The CD ncludes a powerful live version of Pick Up The Pieces which is long and funky.

Average White Band- Cut The Cake

Has a cool overall dance funk style on most tracks. Pretty good effort that includes the classic "School Boy Crush."

Axelrod, David - 1968 To 1970 An Axelrod Anthology

Axelrod, David - Earth Rot

Axelrod, David - Song Of Innocence

Axelrod, David - Songs Of Experience


B TOP

Bama- Ghettos Of The Mind (jazz groove poetry)
1/2
This is a SERIOUS poet right here. This man spits socially conscious FIRE over some jazzy grooves and a couple funk arrangements. It's not chock-full of funk, but is an interesting historical american relic of emotionally charged verse.

Bar-Kays- Black Rock/ Gotta Groove (2-in-1)

Barry White- All-Time Greatest Hits

Betty Wright- The Best Of Betty Wright

Bill Conti- Rocky: Original Soundtrack

This is a winner. "Reflections" is the standout here, BUT the whole thing fits together so nicely. Don't sleep... The groove is deep.

Billy Cobham- Spectrum

Jazz funk-fusion masterpiece right here. If you dig fusion, this is a must have.

Billy Paul- Let Em' In

Nice soul groover with an ultimate message of love from the man Billy Paul. It has a nice mellow groove overall with a couple of good dance cuts.

Blackbyrds- Greatest Hits

Very nice compilation of work from a definitive jazz funk group. It lost a funkhead for being a little too short for my taste. I think it should have included at least three more tracks, but overall it's a great intro to the group that created "Rock Creek Park."

Blue Mitchell- Graffiti Blues
1/2
Nice funky work from a great trumpeteer. Some of the tracks seem a little prepackaged for my taste, but it does keep the funk alive. Definitely worth checking out.

Bob James- One

This has a nice mix of mellow groove oriented pop stuff which is very well done, but somehow seems a little unbalanced to me. It includes the classic funk beast "Nautilus."

Bobbi Humphrey- The Best Of Bobbi Humphrey

Bobby Byrd- Bobby Byrd Got Soul: The Best Of Bobby Byrd

The best of the man who stood by the side of JB for many years. 5 FUNKHEADS. Need I say more?

Bobby Womack- I Feel A Groove Comin' On (compilation)

This comp grew on me with its inclusion of some seemingly obscure and more widely heard BW cuts. The tracks give an overview of his music from the late 60s to early-mid 80s. The song "I Feel A Groove Comin' On" is a killer extended dance funk workout I don't think would disappoint any funk fan.

Bobby Womack- The Soul Of Bobby Womack

This is a great Bobby Womack compilation. If youv'e never heard of him, start with this. This CD exposes him as the funkmaster he truly is.

Boogaloo Joe Jones- legends Of Acid Jazz: Boogaloo Joe Jones
1/2
Soulful groove in this one. By the end of your listen to this, there should be no question in your mind about where Boogaloo Joe Jones got that name.

Boz Scaggs- Hits!

Put simply, "Lowdown" is the only song I picked this one up for, and it is also the only reason this one made the list. How Boz came up with a funk classic like "Lowdown" is a mystery to me after hearing the other songs on this recording.

Brian Auger & Julie Driscoll- Open

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express- Brian Auger's Oblivion Express
1/2

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express- Closer To It!

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express- Second Wind

Very groovy workout. I think it's definitely one of his best works. He lays down that classic Brian Auger organ funk.

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express- Straight Ahead

Brother Jack McDuff- Down Home Style

Buddy Miles- The Best Of Buddy Miles (funk rock)


C TOP


Caesar Frazier- Hail Caesar!/ ' 75 (2-in1)

Caesar is bad. He cooks up that greasy ol' dinner plate of funk! Funk fans, get this.

Cannonball Adderly- Phenix

Cannonball Adderly Quintet- Country Preacher

Cannonball Adderly Quintet- Inside Straight

Catalyst- The Funkiest Band You Never Heard
1/2

Charles Earland- Intensity

Crusaders- Chain Reaction

Crusaders- Scratch
1/2

Crusaders- Southern Comfort
1/2

Crusaders- Those Southern Knights

Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions- Indelible Impressions (compilation)
1/2

Curtis Mayfield- Curtis Live

Whoa. That's it. Whoa. If you see it, grab it

Curtis Mayfield- Living Legend

Curtis Mayfield- Superfly

Curtis Mayfield- The Very Best Of Curtis Mayfield
1/2

Cymande- Cymande


D TOP

Daktaris- Soul Explosion
1/2
Strong afrobeat here in the tradition of the great Fela Kuti.

Daryl Hall & John Oates- Private Eyes
3/4
'I Can't Go For That' is the reason for this entry...

David "Fathead" Newman- Lonely Avenue/ Newmanism
1/2

Deodato- Prelude
1/2

Dizzie Gillespie- Sweet Soul

Donald Byrd- Blackbyrd

Donald Byrd- Ethiopian Nights

Ooowee! The funk is smokin' on this recording. This is how the funk is done.

Donald Byrd- Places & Spaces

Donald Byrd- Stepping Into Tommorrow
1/2

Donald Byrd- Street Lady

Donny Hathaway- Donny Hathaway Live

If you don't get any other Donny Hathaway album you MUST get this one. Includes the soul-funk classic 'Little Ghetto Boy.'


E TOP

Eddie Harris- I Need Some Money

Eddie Harris- Plug Me In/ High Voltage (2-in-1)

This is worth getting just for the 'Plug Me In' album with its nice late sixties funky-pop grooves.

Eero Koivistoinen Music Society- Wahoo!

Tripped out funk on this one. If your looking for something a little different with the funk, check this out.

Electric Prunes- Release Of An Oath/ Just Good Old Rock & Roll (2-in-1)
1/2

Eugene McDaniels- Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse

Seminal funk work. You MUST have this masterpiece.

Eugene McDaniels- Outlaw


F TOP

Fatback- People Music

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti- Black Man's Cry
1/2

Femi Kuti- Shoki Shoki

Freddie Hubbard- Straight Life
3/4

Funk Inc.- Funk Inc./ Chicken Lickin (2-in-1)

Funk Inc.- Hangin' Out/ Superfunk (2-in-1)

Funkadelic- America Eats Its Young
3/4

Funkadelic- Funk Gets Stronger (compilation)
1/2


G TOP

Gene Ammons- Legends Of Acid Jazz: Gene Ammons
3/4

Gene Harris & The Three Sounds- Live At The 'It Club' Vol.1

Gene Harris & The Three Sounds- Live At The 'It Club' Vol.2

Gene Page- Blacula: Original Soundtrack
1/2

George Benson- Beyond The Blue Horizon

George Benson- Breezin'

George Benson- The Best

Gil Scott-Heron/ Brian Jackson- From South Africa To South Carolina

Gil Scott-Heron/ Brian Jackson- The First Minute Of A New Day
1/2

Gil Scott-Heron/ Brian Jackson- Winter In America

Groove Theory- Groove Theory (contempo-funk)
3/4

Grover Washington Jr.- Live At The Bayou

Grover Washington Jr.- Mister Magic


H TOP



I TOP

Isaac Hayes- Shaft

Isley Brothers- Isley's Greatest Hits Vol.1


J TOP

J.B.'s- Food For Funk (compilation)

J.B.'s- Funky Good Time: The Anthology

James Brown- Dead On The Heavy Funk 1975-1983

James Brown- Foundations Of Funk: A Brand New Bag 1964-1969

James Brown- Funk Power 1970: A Brand New Thang

James Brown- Hot Pants

James Brown- In The Jungle Groove

James Brown- James Brown Sings Raw Soul

James Brown- James Brown's Funky Christmas

James Brown- James Brown's Funky People Pt. 2

James Brown- James Brown's Funky People Pt. 3

James Brown- James Brown's Original Funky Divas
1/2

James Brown- Love Overdue

James Brown- Make It Funky: The Big Payback 1971-1975

James Brown- Say It Live And Loud: Live In Dallas 08.26.68

James Brown- Say It Loud- I'm Black And I'm Proud

James Brown- The Payback

Jimi Hendrix- Band Of Gypsys (funk rock)

Jimi Hendrix- Hendrix: Live At The Fillmore East (funk rock)

Jimmy Castor- The Best Of The Jimmy Castor Bunch
1/2

Jimmy McGriff- Dig On It (compilation)

Jimmy McGriff- Electric Funk

Jimmy Smith- Jimmy Smith Live: Root Down

John Scofield- A Go Go (contempo-jazz-funk)
1/2

Johnny Hammond- Gears


K TOP

Kool & The Gang- Good Times
3/4

Kool & The Gang- Kool & The Gang

Kool & The Gang- Kool Jazz

Kool & The Gang- Light Of Worlds

Kool & The Gang- Live At The Sex Machine

Kool & The Gang- The Best Of Kool & The Gang 1969-1976


L TOP

L.T.D.- Greatest Hits

Lakeside- Shot Of Love
1/2

Lauryn Hill- The Miseducation Of Lauren Hill (contempo-funk)

Lee Fields- Let's Get A Groove On

Les McCann- Another Beginning/ Hustle To Survive (2-in-1)

Les McCann- Layers

Les McCann- Talk To The People/ River High, River Low ( jazz funk 2-in-1)

Les Nubians- Princessses Nubiennes (contempo-funk)

Little Milton- Waiting For Little Milton

Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes- Cosmic Funk
1/2

Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes- Expansions
1/2

Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes- Visions Of A New World
1/2

Lonnie Smith- Live At Club Mozambique
1/2

Lonnie Smith- Move Your Hand

Lou Donaldson- Pretty Things

Lou Donaldson- The Scorpion: Live At The Cadillac Club

Love Unlimited Orchestra- The Best Of Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra
1/2

Lucy Pearl- Lucy Pearl


M TOP

Maceo & The King's Men- Doing Their Own Thing

Marlena Shaw- Live At Montreux
1/2

Meters- Crescent City Groove Merchants (compilation)
1/2

Meters- Look-Ka-Py Py

Meters- Rejuvenation

Meters- Struttin

Meters- The Best Of The Meters

Meters- The Meters

Mike Jackson- The Revenge Of Mr. Mopoji: Soundtrack

Miles Davis- Agharta (jazz-rock-funk fusion)

Miles Davis- Pangea (jazz-rock-funk fusion)

Mongo Santamaria- Mongo 70'/ Mongo At Montreux

Muddy Waters- Electric Mud


N TOP

Nino Nardini & The Pop Riviera Group- Rotonde Musique (contempo-funk)


O TOP

Ohio Players- The Best Of Ohio Players (20th Century Masters The Millenium Collection)


P TOP

Parliament Funkadelic- Parliament Live P. Funk Earth Tour

Persuaders- Thin Line Between Love And Hate

Politicians- Psycha-Soula-Funkadelic

Prince- 1999


Q TOP


R TOP

Reuben Wilson- Blue Breakbeats

Roy Ayers- Evolution: The Polydor Anthology

Roy Ayers- Good Vibrations

Roy Ayers Ubiquity- Everybody Loves The Sunshine

Roy Ayers Ubiquity- Live At The Montreux Jazz Festival

Roy Ayers Ubiquity- Mystic Voyage

Rufus- Rags To Rufus

Rufus- Rufusized

Rufus Thomas- Funky Chicken


S TOP

Serge Gainsbourg- "vu de l' ecterieur"

Serge Gainsbourg- Histoire De Melody Nelson
1/2

Serge Gainsbourg- Initials B.B.

Simply Red- Greatest Hits

Skull Snaps- Skull Snaps

Sly & The Family Stone- Fresh

Smokey Robinson- A Quiet Storm
3/4

Sonny Rollins- Nucleus

Soulive- Turn It Out (contempo-jazz-funk)

Stevie Wonder- Innervisions
1/2


T TOP

Talking Heads- Remain In Light

The Other Side- (Don't Look Back) Behind The Shack

Tim Maia- Tim Maia
1/2

Tony Williams Lifetime- The Collection (fusion-jazz-funk-rock)

Toshi Kubota- Nothing But Your Love (contempo-funk)
1/2

Tower Of Power- Bump City
1/2

Tower Of Power- Tower Of Power
1/2

Twenty-Four Carat Black- Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth

Tyrone Davis- Greatist Hits
3/4


U TOP


V TOP

Various Artists- All Platinum Funk

Various Artists- Birth Of The Cool Funk: Vintage Jams And Serious Grooves Pt.1 (jazz funk)

Various Artists- Birth Of The Cool Funk: Vintage Jams And Serious Grooves Pt.2 (jazz funk)

Various Artists- Birth Of The Cool Funk: Vintage Jams And Serious Grooves Pt.3 (jazz funk)

Various Artists- Birth Of The Groove

Various Artists- Blue Breakbeats Vol. 1

Various Artists- Blue Breakbeats Vol. 2

Various Artists- Blue Breakbeats Vol. 3

Various Artists- Blue Breakbeats Vol. 4

Various Artists- Bombay The Hard Way: Guns, Cars, And Sitars
1/2

Various Artists- Capitol Rare Vol. 1

Various Artists- Capitol Rare Vol. 2

Various Artists- Even More Original Raw Soul

Various Artists- Funky Tales
3/4

Various Artists- Fuse One: The Complete Recordings
1/2

Various Artists- Groove Jammy 2
1/2

Various Artists- Kaleidoscopica: Obsessive Psychedelic, Funk-beat 70's Italian Music Library
3/4

Various Artists- More Original Raw Soul

Various Artists- Move To Groove: The Best Of 1970s Jazz-Funk

Various Artists- New Jazz Spectrum Vol.2

Various Artists- Sound Of Funk 2

Various Artists- Spike's Choice Pt.2

Various Artists- Spike's Choice: The Desco Funk 45' Funk Collection

Various Artists- Stax Funx

Various Artists- Stone Cold Funk

Various Artists- The Sound Of Funk Vol. 5 (compilation by Keb Darge)

Various Artists- This Is Acid Jazz: Back To Basics

Various Artists- This Is Acid Jazz: Back To Basics 2

Various Artists- This Is Acid Jazz: Original Raw Soul


W TOP

Wanda Robinson- The Soul Jazz Poetry Of Wanda Robinson

Webster Lewis- Live At Club 7

Weldon Irvine- Liberated Brother

Weldon Irvine- Time Capsule

Willie Hutch- Foxy Brown

Willie Hutch- The Mack


X TOP


Y TOP


Z TOP

Zapp & Roger- All The Greatest Hits

 

All content and images are © 2001 Justin J. Countee

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