get deep, down and funky with Luke

Par Luke | January 21st, 2011 | 1
George Clinton

George Clinton, no.1 Badass

Once upon a while, people be askin’ me, “Luke, do you got the funk?” To which I answer: Motherfucker, I ain’t posin’ up there! I’m a bass player goddamit! I don’t got the funk, I don’t own the funk, I am the funk!

But, lemme tell you, this was far from a given, at any time. I’ve had to sweat blood and sharp sixteenths to get there! I’ve paid my dues to the Funk, and in many ways, I still do today. But I do what I likes: I play music. And, sometimes, I get to tell stories.

Is the funk a bit like the mojo?

Pam Grier

Not at all. The mojo is a magical spell related to voodoo, while “funky” only means stinky. As in, stinky business. Stinky business you can have on the back seat of a car. So that’s how you make funky music: by thinking of your girlfriend, on the backseat of a (seventies) car. None more to it.

Well, actually a couple of things more! I’ve set you up with some tunes to get your funk going, but those tiny little computer speakers ain’t goina do ’em justice. You see, the Funk, it happens in your lower regions — where the bass lives. The bass, when it’s really low (like from a subwoofer), you don’t really hear it, but you feel it moving the air around, rumbling the floor, all the way up to your butt! That’s when you can really let go, and let the sub-vibes guide you to the deepest of grooves.

Stone Cold Funk

Stone Cold Funk
Stone Cold Funk
A Galaxy of Original Grooves
funk | 2000
Amazon
A funky song — Ripple (1973)

There it is, right here, maybe the best funk compilation I’ve heard! There’s Ann Sexton, the Meters, Ripple, Aaron Neville; it’s all first class funky miracles! My choice tune is “A funky song” from Ripple: listen to how amazingly tight that rhythm section is! No machines here my friend!

Hercules — Aaron Neville

Aaron Neville’s “Hercules” is also mindbogglingly excellent; a groove as sultry as can be! Although the style’d be closer to soul than to funk — but what’s the difference? Funk tunes are generally jam-style songs, going for maybe 5-10 minutes, sometimes without even a chord change — like African music. Soul numbers feature a great singer (think Marvin Gaye), and have a more pop “verse/chorus” structure.

Mr. Isaac Hayes

Hot Buttered Soul
Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
soul, funk | 1969
iTunes
Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquidailymistic

Mr. Isaac Hayes is the undisputed Moses of Funk; he’s up there with Messrs. George Clinton (of Parliament) and Barry White. Hayes is mostly known for his cinematic soul “Shaft” theme, but he has quite a few funky albums — and one of the best, deepest voices in the business. In a word, he the Man! Look for “Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquidailymistic”; “Do your thing”; “Run Fay run”; “Ultimate collection” and “Issac Hayes XL” are two seriously good compilations.

Shaft MovieTheme from Shaft (live)

Isaac Hayes (1973)

Cinematic Soul?

All of this great music got me thinking — maybe I should write songs for movies! I have this great TV series in the back of my head, who knows if I’ll ever write it, but I could definitely start working on the score! Geez, I could have Nanette Workman as the Queen Funkster… but don’t tell anyone just yet!

Keep it deep and funky!
Luv, Luke

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Commentaire | Comment

  1. goldfishka says:
    May 12, 2011 at 1:03 am

    Thank you very interested in everything.

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