Customer Reviews

Pure Funk

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't use phrases like "instant party" lightly but this disc was an immediate hit from the moment it arrived! With the exception of "Tell Me Something Good" all the songs are upbeat, get up and dance grooves. All are `radio edits,' aka the short version. Collectors looking for long-play versions and rare tracks would want to look elsewhere. I've owned other disco/funk compilation albums that are available on Amazon and this one got the best response at parties by far. It's also excellent to listen to when I find myself getting tired and need to energize. It's a compilation for all the reasons you want a good compilation album; you couldn't mix one better yourself!

With all the subtlety of "not!" these Funk classics taught us a new vocabulary for getting down and getting across our nasty intentions. "Brick House," "Super Freak," and "Shaft," were just a few of the many reasons why momma didn't want us listening to the funk. Plus, don't say "Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir" to someone who speaks French unless you really mean to deliver!

For those not of the `clams on the half-shell and roller-skate' generation, you'll discover the origin of many samples from your favorite songs (you mean they didn't write that rif themselves?!?!) plus you'll discover how Will Smith's "Men In Black" is an exact replica of Patrice Rushen`s "Forget Me Nots," number 16 on this disc.

Not everything is from the 70's however, most notably the above mentioned "Forget Me Nots," Cameo's "Word Up," and "Early In The Morning" by The Gap Bad --no relation to the mall store. "Don't Stop the Music" by Yarbrough & Peoples, and Rick James' anthem and Hammer pleaser "Super Freak" also come right in at the turn of the decade.

This disc also has many of the slightly-harder-to-find yet still mainstream hits like "Kung Fu Fighting" and the theme from "Shaft" that aren't all available on other compilations. Overall a very well put together disco/funk compilation!

Don't fear the funk; enjoy the disco! Tear off the roof and get down!

Absolutely anybody can get into this CD. I'm a techno fan myself, but it's near impossible to listen to this without getting into the groove. It's all great, but some of the highlights among highlights include tracks from Chic, Parliament, Labelle, Commodores, Kool & The Gang, Rick James, and the theme from "Shaft". Highly recommended if you have any sort of appreciation for this music at all.

In spite of disco (or maybe because of it), this sound of Funk has been alive for years and the best songs of the most winning era of funk (early '70s to about the mid '80s) are all making this CD come alive and wake you up. Ever kind of Funky R&B beat is on here.

From great bands like the Commodores and their admiration of the female body in "Brick House" to the cool street jazzy number from Average White Band in "Pick Up The Pieces". Groups in the Eighites relied more heavily on keyboards than bass and sax as seen in the cool dance track of "Word Up" by Cameo. R&B Royalty like Patti and Chaka shine on hits in their early bands Labelle and Rufus, repsectively. Also, a sister of Funk Jean Knight's biggest hit "Mr. Big Stuff" is a classic in any genre. Don't forget the delicious hot bass synthesizer blend on "Don't Stop The Music" (Many Thanks to Yarbrough and Peoples).

How about this for a one two punch? Two classic themes from some of two of the hottest movies of the seventies. It's "Shaft" vs. "Superfly" as seventies poets of the street, Isaac and Curtis, have two of their best known song go head to head. Truly inspiring. All that and eighties fun found in Patrice Rushsen's sweet "Forget Me Nots" and Rick James raunchy yet honest "Super Freak". Every song on here is essential funk and the groups and artist are all at their peak in performance. A fun piece that is bursting with some of the best music ever.

Ahoy hoy Ok, I am into Manson/Deicide stuff, but damn, this CD is GREAT! When I got this, I just wanted Brick House and Super Freak. I listened to it and the whole CD was great. Since then, I have gotten Commodores, Isaac Hayes, Average White Band... and these guys have a much more challenging style of drumming I can practice to! I Recommend to EVERYONE.

For a Christmas Office Party, I emailed my colleagues a list (Excel Spreadsheet) of song names (but not the name of the CD each song was from) from over 100 CDs. The CD with the most songs chosen was "Pure Funk."

1/4/06 Update: The age range was 30-something to the late 50s.

Ironically, if this CD did not contain "Early in the Morning" and "Don't Stop the Music" it would rate five stars, because a good case can be made that the other 18 cuts are the cream of each particular artist's crop, and even the few one-hit wonders are time-capsule relevant to the essence of 70s funk. I bought it because it saves me the trouble of burning my own greatest funk hits CD,and believe me, anyone with even a modest collection from this era probably has the majority of these songs in their CD rack already.

This CD is also a perfect introduction to 70s funk for younger persons who are just discovering the joy of tearing the roof off the sucka. My 15 month old daughter can attest to the fact there's just no way to not dance to this stuff. Word up!

This CD rocks the house. It's got all the classic funk songs, from Shaft to Superfly to Brickhouse and Car Wash. It is excellent. The tunes just keep bouncing around in my head. It's great dance music as well. This is a classic, buy it today.

Pure Funk is the best compilation CD of funk I've seen. Although there are a couple of misses and boderline songs (Cameo, Yarbrough and Peoples), the disc holds up very well. It would be hard to include more funk hits into one disc, but a glaring missing-in-funk-tion is James Brown's "Get on Up" or "Hot Pants". The first four songs are worth the price of the album.

This album is gauranteed to make you smile. I've worn out two CD's already and actually got a speeding ticket when I lost myself singing Lady Marmalade (the original, of course) on the freeway. Great for parties.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best Funk compilation ever created for the Funk genre. It is one for true funk fans and/or ones wanting to start out. No matter who you are, this CD will interest you..."Flashlight", "Super Freak", and "Brickhouse" are some of the classics on this one. Don't pass this one up...very highly reccomended.