When I immediately think of great soul-funk instrumentals, I think of the obvious like Booker T and the MG's "Green Onions", The Meters "Cissy Strut" or The Incredible Bongo Band "Apache" (with the famous drum break that has been sampled by a thousand hip hop groups over the past 30 years). Therefore, I tried to veer from the obvious and picked a few under the radar instrumentals that are great in their own right. Check them out!
Incredible Bongo Band "Bongolia". Probably my favorite off their s/t album because I've heard "Apache" so many times. Good jam, especially once the horns kick in!
Herbie Hancock "Wiggle-Wiggle", taken off of the wonderful Mwandishi Recordings. Technically, it's considered jazz, but definitely Hancock brings out the funk on this jam:
I dig this early instrumental cut, "Rock Dirge", from Sly and The Family Stone. It's got a good groove. You can't go wrong with Sly, instrumental or vocal-wise!
New Orleans great Allen Toussaint is one of my favorite musicians/singer-songwriters and I included a little funky instrumental track "Louie" from Toussaint's first solo album, Allen Toussaint.
Lastly, even this isn't at all under-the-radar, I felt I needed to put one of my favorite instrumentals of all-time on this post. Funkadelic "Maggot Brain" off the Maggot Brain album. Love the Hendrix-like guitar solos that float over the gently strummed chords. Great song off a great album!
You've got to check out the new Bongolian album knockout rockers and riffs
ReplyDeleteJust took a listen to the new Bongolian album--wow! love it. thanks for the recommendation!
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