Bless the funk, bless the funk: My favourite jazzy disco funk albums '74-'83

Not that NOW is the time but I'd love to do a poll one day of (my headcanon of) disco funk albums. Superficially funk but with an obvious disco/chant/12"-friendly kick. Imo there's two strands - America (Brass Construction, Slave, Brick, late 70s War, Con Funk Shun, BT Express, Mass Production, Crown Heights Affair) and then there is its descendant, early Britfunk my beloved (Hi-Tension, Light of the World, Atmosfear, Incognito, Freeez, Beggar & Co., Linx, Beggar & Co). What unites them is that they all made at least one knockout album (if not in some cases more).

― you can see me from westbury white horse, Friday, 25 August 2023 21:58 (nine months ago) bookmarkflaglink

You should do it. Disco is way more popular on ILM than jazz and funk

― Toshirō Nofune (The Seventh ILXorai), Friday, 25 August 2023 22:06 (nine months ago) bookmarkflaglink

I'll keep it in mind for another time.

― you can see me from westbury white horse, Friday, 25 August 2023 22:45 (nine months ago) bookmarkflaglink

Well here we are!

I've left off big names - anything Chic or EWF or (if he fits at all) Clinton - and just stuck to my personal canon of club-friendly, frequently 'tracky' funk

Galaxy

Also I extended it to '83 because I wanted to include the A.R. Kane's second album-presaging heat of I-Level, seeing as this is half Britfunk already. And maybe BBQ Band aren't that jazz-funky really but eh, it's a monster record

crown heights affair!

I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a single one of these as albums, although I love all of the associated hit singles. I’m going to listen to a bunch and report back.

brass construction (number one)

Not heard too many of these but Crown Heights Affair is great.

Really wanna add Tom Browne and Don Blackman, at the very least, to this roster

That Slave album is fire.

Same boat as Dan really, only know the BT Express album which kicks

Also missing here:

https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b27352016cf8c9b4dcb6b8205ed1

The only one of these I've heard in full is Linx, which I bought at the time and enjoyed a lot. Will there be time over the next two weeks to listen to the others? Hmm... maybe. It could be a good journey of discovery.

Not familiar with any Browne, Blackman or Aquarium Dream albums so I'll make note. Thanks.

fwiw my own vote is the first Brass Construction

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Gotta vote Slave — their first three or four albums all rule.

Great weather here rn for me to be playing tracks from these

I did start playing them all, but only managed 12 out of 19. I’m actually sticking with Linx here.

Least favourite, to my surprise, was Slave. Apart from I think one track, they only have one gear - full throttle - and it all got rather wearing when listened to as an album. I thought the playing was a bit ragged and lacking in subtlety, and it made me want to hear EW&F instead.

voted B.T. Express, because it's awesome, and for carlos ward. lots of other great stuff here, and lots too that i'm looking forward to checking out

gah now i'm thinking i should've voted WAR. oh well

Brass Construction I for me, just ahead of Brass Construction II

I need to listen to a bunch of these still

re:Slave, the speediness of it is a big part of why it's one of my favourite LPs here. Stating the obvious but like several other albums here (the first Brass Construction in particular) it's a workable precedent for much dance music to come - fast tempos, chanted vocals like samples, generous lengths, ofc plenty of nimble syncopation. A template which kinda provided the stepping stone that got me really, belatedly, into funk in general.

Hope those who have already or are going to seek out albums here enjoy them :)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Firing up Brass Construction right now.

The vocals in "Love" remind me of Bowie!