Friday 5 August 2016

The Story Of Funk: 1. Funk Used To Be A Bad Word

BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 13th July 2016

From the 1960s through to the present day, funk music reverberates through popular culture. Whether it's in fashion, street language, TV, the movies or pop music, the far reaching influence of funk is everywhere. In this three-part series American actress Pam Grier takes listeners on an historic funk odyssey. She's been a fan of the music since she starred in the so-called Blaxploitation movies of the 1970s. Back then, funk was not only the soundtrack to her films but also to a vital time in American history. It was a time of self-discovery, struggle and social change. The music reflected all of that.

In this first part, Pam goes back to the source, when funk - in the words of George Clinton - "used to be a bad word." Pam reveals how jazz and the R&B music of the 50s informed the rhythms and energy of funk music. As well as the all important architects of the sound like James Brown and Sly Stone, the programme also shines a spotlight on some of the unsung heroes such as Charles Wright and the Last Poets.

The series features contributions from Earth Wind & Fire, Kool and the Gang, Sly and the Family Stone, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, P-Funk musicians, Average White Band, Cameo, Clyde "Funky Drummer" Stubblefield, Charles Wright, The Last Poets, Beverley Knight, Matt Fink, Acid Jazz's Eddie Piller and rapper Shock G.

First broadcast in 2011.

James Brown - Make It Funky [Polydor]
Sly & The Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) [Epic]
George Duke - Reach For It [Castle Collector Series]
Funkadelic - Let's Take It To The Stage [Westbound]
Jelly Roll Morton - Funky Butt [Lord Circle]
Little Richard - Ready Teddy [Universal]
James Brown - Introduction & Opening Fanfare [Polydor]
Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s - Doing It To Death [Polydor]
James Brown - Please, Please, Please [UM3]
James Brown - Try Me [Polydor]
James Brown - Papas Got A Brand New Bag [Polydor]
James Brown - Make It Funky [Polydor]
James Brown & The Famous Flames - Cold Sweat [Polydor]
James Brown - You've Got The Power [Polydor]
The J.B.’s - Hot Pants Road [Polydor]
James Brown - Say It Loud I'm Black And Proud
James Brown - Medley [Polydor]
Bill Doggett - Honky Tonk Popcorn [BGP]
The Last Poets - Wake Up, Niggers [Carrere]
The Last Poets - Niggers Are Scared Of Revolution [Carrere]
The Last Poets - Black Thighs [Carrere]
The Supremes - Baby Love [Motown]
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Dancing In The Street [Tamla Motown]
Four Tops - Bernadette [Motown]
The Temptations - Cloud Nine [Motown]
Booker T. & The MG’s - Red Beans And Rice [Atlantic]
Rufus Thomas - Do The Funky Chicken [Stax]
Isaac Hayes - Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic [Stax]
Charles Wright - Brown Sugar [Rhino]
Jesse Belvin - One Little Blessing [Ace]
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Spreadin' Honey [Rhino]
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Till You Get Enough [Rhino]
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Do Your Thing [Premier Soundtracks]
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself [Warner]
Sly & The Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) [Epic]
Ray Charles - Let's Go Get Stoned [Arcade]
Sly Stone - Frisky [Epic]
Marie "Queenie" Lyons - Fever [BGP]
Sly & The Family Stone - You Can Make It If You Try [Epic]
Sly & The Family Stone - Dance To The Music [Epic]
Sly & The Family Stone - I Want To Take You Higher [Sony]
Sly & The Family Stone - Life [Sony]
Sly & The Family Stone - Stand [Epic]
Sly & The Family Stone - Everyday People [Epic]
Sly & The Family Stone - Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey [Epic]
Sly & The Family Stone - M'lady [Sony]
Sly & The Family Stone - Thank You For Talkin' To Me Africa [Epic]
Sly & The Family Stone - Running Away [Epic]
Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me To Stay [Epic]
The J.B.’s - Hot Pants Road [Polydor]
James Brown - Funky President [Polydor]
James Brown - (Get Up I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine [Connoisseur Collection]
James Brown - Soul Power [Universal]
James Brown - Talking Loud And Saying Nothing [Polydor]
Fred Wesley And The J.B.'s - If You Don't Get It The First Time, Back Up And Try It Again [Polydor]
James Brown - Super Bad [Polydor]

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