Welcome to DanceClassics.net, a website dedicated to the funky and soulful music of the early and mid-eighties. Here you can watch and listen many rare and deleted records. You will find many label scans, reviews, interviews and other useful information. To discover the great, but largely missed, dance tracks from the past, click on the tab 'Records' and find the vinyl gallery waiting for you. Have fun(k)!

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WINNING SOLUTION OF THE 'CROSS-FUNKS' PUZZLE:

Congratulations FANATEEK ONE. Well done, claim your prize!
All other contestants many thanks for your solutions as well.

WELL....WHAT IS FUNK ANYWAY?
First of all, what exactly is funk? Well, as for the rhythm part of it: funk usually uses syncopated back beat type rhythms with the snare on the 1st and 3rd beats instead of the usual 2nd and 4th. A lot of the time it is only ON THE ONE. Another way to funk something up is to use quarter note triplets on the hi-hat while the bass drum is a steady quarter note beat, add some funky fills in and you have yourself a funky drumbeat. This is what puts the funk in FUNK MUSIC. Besides the rhythmic aspect, it's almost impossible to explain funk. Either you have it or you don't. You can't acquire the funk. You can't explain the funk, and if you don't already know then you wouldn't understand anyway.

Most people will agree that funk music came about from the soul and doo-wop bands of the 50's and 60's. In 1965, with his release of 'Poppa's got a brand new bag', The 'Godfather of Funk', James Brown, is believed to have started the first dynasty of funk which was a mix of soul and funk. I'm not going to argue with anyone on this it's just what many people believe. I can't prove that this is the first funk record, and I don't really care. FUNK IS FUNK! Bands like Parliament, Sly, The Family Stone and The Bar-Kays continued this into the 70's to start the second dynasty of funk, which is commonly called ''old school funk''. This is what people usually think of as funk. It's composed largely of guitar bass and keyboard and unison with funky vocals over top. Old school funk also usually had an extensive horn section. This continued through the 70's before gradually changing into other genre's of funk. One of this era's earlier spin-off's, disco, became popular between 1974 and 1980. But this is NOT funk!
In 1979, the Sugar Hill Gang introduced a new type of funk. 'Rapper's Delight' was the first commercial rap record, and it, basically, set the tone for all rap to come. Another funk spin-off was the Electro-funk era of the early 80's. This included even more synthesizers, a lot of samples, and in most cases a digital drum machine. This type of funk went hand in hand with the breakdance movement of the early 80's, and both quickly died out.

The 3rd dynasty of funk, also called Hollywood funk started in the late 80's. However, it's a lot different from any other form of funk. First off, the size of the band is about 5 or 6 people rather than 10. Also slap-bass is much more present than before, and the beats rely on the quarter-note triplet and funky drum fills instead of JUST accenting the 1 like earlier forms of funk. 'Modern' or 'Hollywood' funk bands include bands like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and Shag, as well as ''old school funk'' artists that are still playing the funk. Also in today's clubmusic funk is experiencing a revival with lots of elements from the early 80's. 

*I know that this is not a complete, accurate, documentary on funk history. It's purpose is to give non-funkateers a basic understanding of funk.*

Last updated: 02-09-2011