Final Fantasm Afunkalypse Soundtrack

Song Title

Artist

Notes

Theme from Shaft (live)

Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes wasn’t a funk artist per se, and even Shaft is more disco than funk, but it’s got one of the best openings of any tune and since the party just got started we might as well kick it off with this one.

Son of Shaft

Bar-Kays

You know a song is influential when it has a sequel.

Theme from Star Trek

Deodato

It’s a disco sci-fi manage a trois!

Star Wars Title Theme

Meco

Disco version of the Star Wars theme.

Theme from Close Encounters

Meco

Disco version of the Close Encounters theme.

F.U.N.K.

Betty Davis

Heavy duty funk from Miles Davis' ex-wife. Sort of a who's who in Funk lyrics.

Disco Dance Instructions

See notes.

See the walls for visuals. Disco dance instructions to the beat of Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me by Peter Brown.

Superstition

Stevie Wonder

Ah, little Stevie the Wonder.  Did you know he was born Steveland Judkins? Can you understand why he changed it?

Give It To Me Baby

Rick James

Funk, bitch!

Dazz

Brick

This is one of my earliest funk memories – this tune used to get my blood pumping, even at 6 years old, at the skating rink!

Blow Your Head

The J.B.'s

James Brown's ever-revolving backing band. Dig the synthesizer on this one!

Get Down Tonight

KC and the Sunshine Band

Proving that white men can funk, even in the age of disco.

Do It 'Til You're Satisfied

B.T. Express

Funk 'til you're satisfied.

Party Train

The Gap Band

80's Funk, perhaps the last of a dying genre before bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fishbone brought it back in a different form.

More Funky Stuff

Kool & the Gang

See my Kool & The Gang story under Jungle Boogie.

I Gotcha

Joe Tex

Funk from a soul master, pretty much forgotten save for this one hit resurrected for Reservoir Dogs by Tarantino, a fellow funk fetishist.

Love Rollercoaster

Ohio Players

Who hasn't been on a love rollercoaster? Another tune Red Hot Chili Peppers covered a bit too closely to the original to really contribute anything new to the genre.

I Turn You On

Latin Breed

From the CD Texas Funk, most of which is fairly derivative of James Brown. Not that that's a bad thing. Crap, anything with punchy horns and bouncing guitar lines works for me!

(not just) Knee Deep

Funkadelic

She's a freak, yeah. AKA Parliament, P-Funk, Dr. Funketstein, and, occasionally, George Clinton.

Don't Know What It Is But It Sure Is Funky

Ripple

Hola hola hola ay

Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine

James Brown

James Brown is the father of funk, period. Sure, he's the Godfather of Soul, Mr. Please Please Please, the hardest working man in show business, and the occasional crackhead. But without him there wouldn't be such a think as Funk. Bow down, puny mortal!

Talkin' Trash

Betty Davis

Heavy duty funk from Miles Davis' ex-wife. Who needs Miles?

Slippery When Wet

Commodores

If it weren't for Lionel Ritchie, they'd have been one of the funkiest bands of all time.

Lady Marmalade

Labelle

Funk, Voulez vous coucher avec moi?

Golden Years

David Bowie

Oh my God, it’s (funky) Bowie!

Time

Edwin Starr

Starr was the guy who sang the funkiest protest song of all time, War. Good God, what is it good for? Haliburton, that's what it's good for…

Sing a Simple Song

Sly & the Family Stone

There wouldn't be another James Brown or Sly until Prince, dammit.

Ffun

Con Funk Shun

The extra F is for Funk!

Pick Up The Pieces

Average White Band

On average, most of the artists on this list aren't white.

Baby Love

Mother's Finest

Burning for your touch. Or maybe it’s from your touch. Gotta get that checked…

Funkytown

Lipps Inc.

Perhaps the least funky song of all time containing "funk" in the title. But damn that hook…

Red Hot Mama

Parliament

One of the few groups on this list allowed more than 3 songs. You shouldn't have to ask why.

Funky Song

Ripple

Funk, but not as nasty as it should be.

Let's All Chant

Michael Zager Band

No, it’s not funk, it’s disco. But with the famed clapping and chanting this one is tough to resist.

Jungle Boogie

Kool & the Gang

I saw Kool & The Gang at Music Midown in the mid 90's, not long after Pulp Fiction reminded us all why Kool was cool. Just before they went on, two girls next to me looked at me and said "We're going to head over to see Cracker," implying an invitation. I was torn - they were cute, but shit - it was Kool & the Gang. I shrugged and said "Have fun" and watched them leave. A couple of college guys took their spot. Kool & the Gang came on and rocked the whole goddamn park. We were close to the front of the crowd and during Jungle Boogie I turned and looked back up the hill behind me and as far as the eye could see everyone was jumping around like crazy. It was a funk orgy, I tell ya. After Jungle Boogie everyone almost collapsed in a sweaty heap. The college guys next to me yelled sarcastically, "Cracker, wooo!" We all laughed, long and hard. To this day the band Cracker still makes me giggle. Cracker…

Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On

Edwin Starr

Starr was the guy who sang the funkiest protest song of all time, War. Good God, what is it good for? Haliburton, that's what it's good for…

Burn Rubber (Why You Wann Hurt Me)

The Gap Band

80's Funk, perhaps the last of a dying genre before bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fishbone brought it back in a different form.

Holy Ghost

Bar-Kays

If the Catholics were this funky I'd be a believer.

That Lady

Isley Brothers

Groooovy, man.

Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)

Parliament

One of the few  groups on this list allowed more than 3 songs. You shouldn't have to ask why.

Le Freak

Chic

Disco freak out, originally conceived as a protest song against Studio 54 with a slightly different chorus.

Shut Off the Light

Betty Davis

Heavy duty funk from Miles Davis' ex-wife. Who needs Miles?

Psychedelic Shack

The Temptations

You might only think of The Temptations in their Motown soul sound, but they could lay down a groove with the best of 'em.

Higher Ground

Stevie Wonder

Funk the Chili Peppers tried to do justice to. Miscarriage of justice, more like it...

Fire

Ohio Players

Ohio Players reunited after Red Hot Chili Peppers covered Love Rollercoaster for the Beavis and Butthead soundtrack, appearing at Music Midtown along with Kool & the Gang and Morris Day & Time. The Ohio Players lead singer wore a bad wig and had obviously pulled some of his old clothes out of the closet for the show, stuff from the mid-80's. The visual presentation was lacking but audibly they were fantastic. An older black man next to me said, "Wow. It's just like being in high school again."

Get Up Offa That Thing

James Brown

Do what the man says 'cause you know what'll happen to you if you don’t.

Dance Across the Floor

Jimmy "Bo" Horne

Funk with a splash of disco.

Brick House

Commodores

A lot of people's favorite funk tune, for good reason.

Stayin' Alive

Bee Gees

No, it's not funk. Disco is the white man's answer to funk. Disco killed funk. Disco tried to kill rock and roll too but thank God for Punk. Notice that Punk rhymes with Funk? Anyhow, disco, for the most part, sucked. But you can't talk about the death of funk without providing an example, and even Alice Cooper likes this example. Shit, it’s tough to deny this one.

I Call My Baby Pussycat

Parliament

One of the few groups on this list allowed more than 3 songs. You shouldn't have to ask why.

Boogie Shoes

KC and the Sunshine Band

Proving that white men can funk, even in the age of disco.

Below the Funk (Pass the J)

Rick James

Funk, bitch!

Check Me Out

Kittie Denise

I highly recommend the Bay Area Funk CD. It's packed with artists unheard of outside the area (and pretty much after 1975.) Great stuff.

The Grunt, Pt. 1

The J.B.'s

James Brown's ever-revolving backing band.

Serpentine Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire

Known as much for their costumes on stage as their disco licks. One of their funkier tunes.

Flashlight

Parliament

One of the few groups on this list allowed more than 3 songs. You shouldn't have to ask why.

Chase Me

Con Funk Shun

Funk in the Commodores or Earth, Wind and Fire vein.

This Is It!

Betty Davis

Heavy duty funk from Miles Davis' ex-wife. Who needs Miles?

There's Got To Be Somebody For Me

The Groove Merchants

From the CD Texas Funk 1968-1976. A lot of the CD is fairly derivative of James Brown. Not that that's a bad thing. Crap, anything with punchy horns and bouncing guitar lines works for me.

Sexy Lady

Commodores

Funk, more like Rick James than Lionel Richie, thank god…

Foxy Girls In Oakland

Rodger Collins

I never wanted to visit Oakland before but with tunes like this I might consider crossing the bridge next time I'm in San Fran. From the Bay Area Funk CD.

You Dropped a Bomb On Me

The Gap Band

In college this tune inspired some kind of weird line dance I, fortunately, never learned and have only vague memories of.

Thank You

Sly & the Family Stone

There wouldn't be another James Brown or Sly until Prince, dammit.

Wrap Your Arms Around Me

KC and the Sunshine Band

Proving that white men can funk, even in the age of disco.

Super Freak

Rick James

Funk, bitch!

Hollywood Swinging

Kool & the Gang

See my Kool & The Gang story under Jungle Boogie.

Move Your Boogie Body

Bar-Kays

Funk from the South from the resurrected version of the Bar-Kays.

Make It Funky

James Brown

Whatsever I play it's got to be funky.

Dedicated to the Press

Betty Davis

Heavy duty funk from Miles Davis' ex-wife. Who needs Miles?

Breakdown

Parliament

One of the few groups on this list allowed more than 3 songs. You shouldn't have to ask why.

Psyco

The Fabulous Mark III

Holy cow, does this instrumental ever want to make me snort a line of coke off the dash of a Lincoln Continental Mark III and drive down the streets of downtown Dallas like I'm playing Grand Theft Auto! From the CD Texas Funk 1968-1976.

Last Dance

Donna Summer

Last dance, people, and last call. You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here.