Oldskool Funk - Ideas needed

[DJ James Lake]

Just got this email from a client for a booking coming up soon.

"We definitely will need 45mins of old school classic funk and dance around 10ish....Evelyn Champaign King, Roy Ayres, James Brown early Jackson 5 (andMJ), George Benson....all that late 70’s early 80’s disco stuff, Also very early EWF (not boogie wonderland )Stevie Wonder...Keep it Funky not motown/soul..."


Could do with some ideas on tracks to play for the Funk side of things, have got a few ideas but could do with some help as its not an area I play much of and would like to try a few tracks I dont normally play. The oldskool dance not a problem.

[Megamix]

Fatback Band, Early Commodores (Brick House) and if you want to impress them Johnny Guitar Watson or Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself

[Ecstatic Events]

This album has never failed me....

The Complete 80's Soul Weekender: Various Artists: Amazon.co.uk: Music

Also check out Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought recommendations as there are some cracking albums there, assuming they want commercial funk and soul. If it's more underground they are looking for. These CD's only have a couple of tracks that'll suit :)

[Squelch]

Oooohhhh right up my street!!!!!

ok
EWF : September,Star,Lets Groove, Fall in love with me or my favourite I've had enough.Lets Groove is probably the most well known.

Evelyn King : Shame(one of her tracks I've never liked!),Love come down or my favourite I'm in love

Roy Ayers : Running away,Dont stop the feeling or Funk In the Hole

James Brown : Its gotta be Get up I feel Like a sex Machine

George Benson : Give me the night and Love X Love

heres some that I would play off the top of my head

Booker Newberry III - Love Town
Sharon Redd - Never Give You Up
fatback band - i found lovin
Change - The Glow Of Love
Unique - what I've got is what you need
Indeep - Last night a DJ saved my life!

[WWDJ]

Gwen Mcrae - All this love that I'm giving

Tops track already mentioned on the amazon album.

My mind has gone otherwise blank but I will fire up the lappy later

[Paul The Party Dj]

How about ...
Al Hudson ~ You Can Do It ~ 1979
Arthur Adams ~ You Got The Floor ~ 1981
Atlantic Starr ~ Circles ~ 1982
Average White Band ~ Pick Up The Pieces ~ 1974
B.B.&Q. ~ On The Beat ~ 1981
Billy Paul ~ Bring The Family Back ~ 1979
Brothers Johnson ~ Stomp ~ 1980
Change ~ Searchin‘ ~ 1980
Crusaders ~ Street Life ~ 1979
D-Train ~ You’re The One For Me 1982
David Joseph ~You Can’t Hide Your Love ~ 1983
Tom Browne ~ Funkin' For Jamaica ~ 1980
... like many members here, I could go on for hours.
The Soul Weekender CD's are great and that Ministry Of Sound 80's Groove album that's in the chart is a great set for anyone who needs some of this stuff.

If you want some more ideas tune into www.vinylmorpher.co.uk - they play this kind of stuff most of the time - my show is Thursdays between 2 and 4 ;o)

[funkymook]

Here's some funk/rare groove type tunes that might fit in:

Bobby Byrd - I Know You Got Soul
Funky Nassau - The End Of The Beginning
The Bottle - Gil Scott-Heron
Jungle Boogie - Kool And The Gang
Baby Brother - War
Mr Big Stuff - Jean Knight
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Cross The Track - Maceo

[MBK]

Fat Larry's Band - Act Like You Know
There but for the grace of God go I - Machine
Dance with you - Carrie Lucas
Encore - Lynn, Cheryl
Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent - Gwen Guthrie
Minefield - I Level
Gary Byrd - The Crown

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Expansions (12") - Lonnie Liston Smith
War - Me and Baby Brother
Atmosphere - Dancing in Outer Space (12" - My fave 'Disco' track ever)
Bobby Byrd - I Know You Got Soul
James Brown - Get Up Offa That Thing

I played all of these on saturday and they went down really well.