Ever feel that quiet pull toward something warmer, rougher, more human? The kind of sound that smells like vinyl and midnight rooms. We are talking about deep funk rhythms, velvet soul lines, horns that breathe fire, and voices that do not just sing but confess. Music that settles under your skin and refuses to leave.
This carefully curated set of rare funk and deep soul cuts goes far beyond nostalgia. It is a journey into hidden rooms of music history, where unsung heroes and basement visionaries shaped grooves that still move bodies today. Every track is a tribute to those who made rhythm breathe, pulse, and ignite the floor.
Ride On – Parliament
Parliament slide into this cut like they own the pavement, and honestly, on Motor Booty Affair from 1978, they kind of do. Ride On is vintage funk with seaweed in its hair, bass bubbling like hot tar and grooves daring you not to move. This is funk playlist royalty, deep soul dressed in platform shoes, the kind of track crate digging was invented for. Parliament sound loose, lawless, and locked in, reminding you that vintage funk wasn’t polite background music, it was a full-body demand.
What In The Funk Do You See – Wild Cherry
The album Wild Cherry from 1976 wears its question like a challenge, and this track answers it with grit and sweat. What In The Funk Do You See digs into blues funk with a rock edge, sharp enough to cut through disco gloss and radio fluff. It’s rare grooves energy without trying to be rare, just honest and loud. Wild Cherry knew funk could snarl, laugh, and still make you dance, all on the same bar.
Funkin’ Fever – Jay Glover, Dominic Glover, Gary James Crockett
The year 1978 felt like funk stretching its limbs in every direction, and Funkin’ Fever captures that restless heat. Pulled from the album Funkin’ Fever, this is groove science over flash, a deep soul workout built for crate digging minds. The rhythm doesn’t shout, it simmers, letting the bass do the talking. Jay Glover and crew keep it raw and human, proof that vintage funk didn’t need costumes to feel dangerous.
How Can You Say You Love Me, Pt. I – Black Earth Plus
The mood here is slow-burn suspicion, the kind that creeps under the collar and stays there. On their self-titled 1975 album Black Earth Plus, this track leans into deep soul honesty, all tenderness and tension. It’s not flashy funk; it’s the blues funk aftermath, when the dance floor empties and truth shows up uninvited. Black Earth Plus sound like they mean every word, and that’s what makes it sting.
Funky Feet – Johnny Robinson
Johnny Robinson steps into this track with a grin and a dare, turning Funky Feet into a lean, floor-ready weapon. Released on the album Funky Feet in 1976, it’s blues funk built for movement, not analysis. The groove keeps things simple, almost stubbornly so, which is where its power lives. Johnny Robinson understood that vintage funk didn’t need complexity, just commitment and shoes willing to cooperate.
Same Old Thing – The Meters
A sweaty New Orleans sidewalk at dusk, neon buzzing, shoes sticking slightly to the ground, that’s where Same Old Thing lives. Rejuvenation from 1974 is vintage funk stripped of ego, all groove and no excuses. This is funk playlist bedrock, rare grooves before the term got trendy. The Meters play like breathing, effortless and essential, reminding you that sometimes the same old thing is exactly what saves you.
Atlanta Get Down – Tommy Stewart
The album Tommy Stewart from 1975 is soaked in Southern heat, and Atlanta Get Down is its heartbeat. This is funk as geography, a city sweating through amplifiers and rhythm sections. Deep soul swagger meets street-level grit, perfect for crate digging sessions that value feel over fame. Tommy Stewart delivers a groove that feels lived-in, not performed, like the band set up and never bothered to leave.
Loose Booty – Sly & The Family Stone
The mood of Loose Booty is sly mischief, hips first, brain later. On Small Talk from 1974, this track slides between playful funk and sharp commentary, proving vintage funk could wink while it worked. It’s a funk playlist essential, equal parts party and provocation. Sly & The Family Stone sound loose on purpose, like they’re daring you to keep up with their joy.
The Music Is Funky (Is It Alright) – Charles Brimmer
Picture a dim club, cheap lights, expensive groove, and a crowd deciding whether to trust what they’re hearing. That’s where this song lives. From the 1974 album A Soulman, it’s rare grooves gold, unapologetic and slightly rough around the edges. The question in the title feels rhetorical once the beat hits. Charles Brimmer delivers funk that argues for itself, no explanation required.
Funky President (People It’s Bad) – James Brown
James Brown doesn’t ease into this track, he kicks the door in. Appearing on Reality from 1974, Funky President is funk as public service announcement, sharp, urgent, and deeply danceable. This is blues funk with teeth, calling out the mess while keeping your feet busy. James Brown proves again that soul anthems can preach, sweat, and groove all at once.
Kissing My Love – Cold Blood
The album Thriller! from 1973 lets Cold Blood stretch into darker, heavier territory, and this track is the slow, grinding payoff. Kissing My Love drips deep soul tension, blues funk wrapped in a near-psychedelic haze. It’s not background music; it demands attention and maybe a stiff drink. Cold Blood balance power and restraint, showing how vintage funk could brood without losing its pulse.
Stand Up, Let’s Party – Bloodstone
1972 was still figuring out how sweet funk could be, and this song sits right in that pocket. From the album Bloodstone, it’s celebratory without being empty, a soul anthem built on invitation rather than command. The groove smiles, the vocals lift, and suddenly the room feels warmer. Bloodstone make funk feel communal, like dancing is just another way of saying hello.
Rock Me Again & Again & Again & Again & Again & Again – Lyn Collins
1972 was a year when funk stopped asking permission, and this song proves it. Lifted from the album Think (About It), it’s relentless, joyful, and just a little unhinged. The repetition isn’t a joke, it’s a command, pushing the groove until resistance feels pointless. Lyn Collins turns deep soul into a physical force, one that keeps rocking you long after you thought it was over.
Give Me Love Always – Ben
The mood here is earnest longing, no irony, no armor. On the 1978 album Give Me Love Always, this track leans into deep soul vulnerability, soft edges wrapped around a steady groove. It’s funk that listens as much as it speaks, perfect for late-night crate digging moments. Ben delivers emotion without overselling it, trusting the rhythm to carry the weight.
Funky Motion – Roy Ayers
A vibraphone bouncing like sunlight off chrome, that’s the image Funky Motion paints instantly. Taken from He’s Coming in 1972, it’s jazz-funk elasticity at its finest, rare grooves that still feel futuristic. The rhythm never settles, it glides, inviting you to follow. Roy Ayers proves that vintage funk could be smooth, smart, and endlessly curious.
Ball Of Confusion – Leon Bridges
Leon Bridges steps into this song with respect and fire, reworking it on his 2015 album Coming Home without sanding down the edges. It’s soul anthems energy filtered through modern lungs, still heavy with social static. The groove stays classic, the urgency stays current. Leon Bridges shows that deep soul questions don’t expire, they just wait for new voices to carry them.
The Playlist
- Ride On – Parliament
- What In The Funk Do You See – Wild Cherry
- Funkin’ Fever – Jay Glover, Dominic Glover, Gary James Crockett
- How Can You Say You Love Me, Pt. I – Black Earth Plus
- Funky Feet – Johnny Robinson
- Same Old Thing – The Meters
- Atlanta Get Down – Tommy Stewart
- Loose Booty – Sly & The Family Stone – Small Talk
- The Music Is Funky (Is It Alright) – Charles Brimmer
- Funky President (People It’s Bad) – James Brown
- Kissing My Love – Cold Blood
- Stand Up, Let’s Party – Bloodstone
- Rock Me Again & Again & Again & Again & Again & Again – Lyn Collins
- Give Me Love Always – Ben
- Funky Motion – Roy Ayers
- Ball Of Confusion – Leon Bridges
Reflecting the political climate of the time and the quest for personal freedom. by Funkologie on Mixcloud
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