Top 20 Funk Songs of the 1970s
The 1970s was the golden age of funk music, where pioneers and innovators crafted an intoxicating new sound that merged soul, rock, jazz, and infectious rhythms. From James Brown’s incendiary grooves to Parliament’s interplanetary psychedelic funk, the decade was an explosion of creativity.
This list celebrates the top 20 funk songs of the 1970s, from Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” to Chic’s “Le Freak” and beyond. Get ready to lose yourself in infectious basslines, sweat-soaked rhythms, and some of the most daring and liberated music ever recorded.
1. “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” by James Brown (1970)
Let’s start at the top with the Godfather of Soul himself!
James Brown redefined funk with this raw, high-octane anthem. From those opening shrieks to the tireless rhythms, it’s an absolute funk workout.
JB’s raspy howls brought an animalistic intensity, backed by one of the tightest bands around laying down that grinding groove. You can practically see the sweat flying off the man as he whipped crowds into a frenzy.
The song’s sexual double entendres were delightfully shameless too. It represented funk’s charismatic showmanship and unapologetic funk/soul roots.
2. “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder (1972)
Stevie Wonder was one of funk’s true innovative forces, and he crafted his most indelible groove on “Superstition.” The entire track is a masterclass in tight, syncopated rhythms anchored by that high-pitched opening riff everyone knows.
Yet Wonder’s jazzy chord changes and cosmic lyrics about “the writing on the wall” elevated it far beyond a simple dance number. Blending soul, funk, and notes of jazz and rock, it feels endlessly creative and unpredictable. The musicianship is jaw-dropping, especially on that drum solo.
It’s simply a funk epic.
3. “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry (1976)
Wild Cherry’s funky party anthem was spun by DJs into a massive hit, and it’s not hard to hear why. From the gang vocals and playful lyrics about getting down to that unstoppable groove, this song was made for lively dance floors and living rooms.
The mix of rock and funk felt fresh too, exemplified by that shreddy guitar solo. You can’t help but get swept up in the loose, hang-loose vibes this track radiates. Those high-pitched vocals toward the end show how much energy was poured into creating this timeless jam.
4. “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire (1978)
Leave it to the genius of Maurice White to craft a celebratory paean to the end of summer baked in glistening funk grooves. From that unforgettable intro bassline to the sparkling melodies and vibrant group vocals, Earth, Wind & Fire was firing on all cylinders here.
The song has an irresistibly upbeat energy and a pure feel-good ambiance. Yet there’s incredible sophistication too in the intricate horn charts and harmonies that whirl between voices. The bridge is particularly glorious, evocative of a late-summer night under the stars.
It’s a perfect slice of EWF’s joyous, kaleidoscopic funk.
5. “Le Freak” by Chic (1978)
When Chic’s Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards set out to create a “monster groove,” they delivered the elegant funk/rock/disco fusion of “Le Freak.” That throbbing, insistent bassline is the engine of the whole track, magnetically propelling the dance moves.
But there are endless cool layers here – Rodgers’ rapped verses bring humor recounting a bizarre party, while the sleek production nicely blends live and electronic elements. The guitar and orchestral flourishes are pure class too.
It was a savvy earworm crammed with great ideas, representing the peak of Chic’s slick sophistication.
6. “Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk)” by Parliament (1976)
Do you want out-there psychedelic funk? George Clinton’s Parliament crew brought all the kaleidoscopic weirdness on this epic title track.
It opens with “You’ve got a real type of thing going down, gettin’ down. There’s a whole lot of rhythm going ‘round,” amid interstellar funk fanfare before dropping into a monster bottom-heavy groove.
That extended break in the middle where the beat faints slightly only builds more suspense before the roiling grooves finally kick back in. It was gloriously mind-melting funk from a crew reveling in bizarre, cosmic creativity.
7. “Jungle Boogie” by Kool & the Gang (1973)
Kool & the Gang knew how to light up dancefloors with insanely funky grooves made for getting down. “Jungle Boogie” perfectly embodies their urgent yet impeccably tight sound.
That chugging beat, shrieking accents, and stinging horns come together in a furious rhythmic assault destined to spark sweatbox funk mania.
Those spirited chants like “Get down, get down!” could’ve been directed right at the audience demanding total reckless abandon. It’s a track that dares you not to move uncontrollably from the first notes.
Over the decades it’s become a staple of DJ sets and sports arenas wherever a funk rager is required.
8. “Shake Your Booty” by KC and the Sunshine Band (1976)
If you grew up watching Soul Train, you can probably picture the choreographed funk moves this disco-funk smash inspired.
KC’s Harry Wayne Casey smoothly commanded listeners to get out on the floor and shake that money-maker over an utterly irresistible groove mixing sharp drumbeats with glitzy orchestrations.
The song just absolutely radiates feel-good party vibes with its glass-raising lyrics. Who didn’t want to answer that call to “shake your booty” and bask in the celebratory bliss?
It merged funk’s dancefloor focus with disco’s shimmering pop polish for a crossover megahit.
9. “Use Ta Be My Girl” by The O’Jays (1978)
The O’Jays injected some smooth Philly soul into their funk grooves on this classy yet undeniably dancefloor-ready hit.
Eddie Levert’s vocals drip with heartbroken emotion as he laments a breakup over the slick production’s rubbery bassline and crisp guitar licks.
But the irresistibly catchy hook and bright horns give it an upbeat feel perfect for getting crowds moving despite the melancholy lyrics.
The contrasts exemplified the balance the O’Jays struck—wrapping their socially-conscious songwriting in pooling funk rhythms appealing to both mind and body. It showed their musical versatility too, able to craft both gritty funk jams and polished soul numbers like this.
10. “Give It Up or Turnit a Loose” by James Brown (1970)
The Hardest Working Man in Show Business was never one to hold back, and he delivered pure unleashed intensity on this funky barnburner. Hearing JB bark out demands to “give it up or turn it loose” over that muscular, razor-tight groove is enough to make you start sweating just listening.
The band crashes through the changes with grunting determination while Brown’s wails escalate the urgency. It’s a high-octane funk workout showing off the grittier side of the genre.
11. “Brick House” by Commodores (1977)
Funk and smooth R&B intersected in perfect harmony on the Commodores’ breakthrough smash. Those clavinet riffs are burned into pop culture’s memory permanently, creating an instant funk hook.
But the appeal was deeper than just that one indelible melody—the layered vocal harmonizing, lyrical celebration of a “brick house” beauty, and that relentlessly kinetic rhythm section all gelled into an infectiously joyful whole.
At heart, it was a sublime feel-good jam highlighting funk’s upbeat dance grooves at their most polished and classy.
12. “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer (1979)
The Queen of Disco could certainly get delightfully down and funky too when she wanted to, as this sexy scorcher proved. Summer’s vocals absolutely sizzle over the urgent four-on-the-floor backbeat, crunchy guitar riffs, and swirling disco strings.
The production deftly balanced funk’s rhythmic punch with slick studio polish, that interlocking rhythm guitar bringing the grit. Of course, the unabashed steaminess of her lyrics lyrically celebrating lust and desire brought real heat too.
It was both elegant disco thrills and nasty funk grind combined into one irresistible package.
13. “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire (1979)
Leave it to EWF to fashion a disco-funk hybrid that became a dazzling modern dance floor anthem for the ages!
“Boogie Wonderland” finds Maurice White and the crew bringing their sparkling combination of sophisticated songwriting and impossibly tight grooves to create a true floor-filler.
From the dynamic rhythms shifting between shimmering four-on-the-floor beats and more elastic funk patterns to the call-and-response vocals and soaring melodies, every element sings in glorious harmony.
Yet it also maintains a spacey cosmic quality through the celestial synths. It felt both retro and ahead of its time, a perfect bridge into a new era.
14. “Jungle Fever” by The Chakachas (1971)
With one massive international hit, this Belgian group etched a permanent place for themselves in funk/world music history.
“Jungle Fever” leaned hard into the tribal polyrhythms and Afrobeat inspirations that were key funk components. The incessant percussive stomp provides a hypnotic foundation enriched by the dizzying array of hand drums, claps, and other ecstatic sounds woven into the groove.
Different instrumental vamps and chants circle around before reuniting into that central primal rhythm. It’s a dynamic, endlessly funky jam that feels both communal and cosmic, helping spread funk’s global inspiration.
15. “Funky Worm” by Ohio Players (1973)
Ohio Players took a hard left turn into psychedelic funk territory with the uniquely spaced-out “Funky Worm.” The core groove is built on a heavy, chugging funk riff bringing some quintessential 70s grit.
But it’s the wild vocal arrangements that really set this one apart, especially the funny caricature voice doing all the commentary and guiding the listener through the song.
This jam exemplifies how the Players embraced funk’s avant-garde side, reveling in loose, trippy experimentation over straightforward dancefloor workouts.
The hypnotic, cosmic textures make “Funky Worm” a standout entry in their catalog.
16. “Pick Up the Pieces” by Average White Band (1974)
This Scottish funk outfit scored a massive crossover hit with the insanely catchy grooves of “Pick Up the Pieces.”
From the instantly recognizable intro with those bright horn punches to the unstoppable dancefloor rhythms, it’s a certified funk/soul classic. The interplay between the Band’s tight rhythm section and those jazzy, free-flowing saxophone melodies is impeccable.
Yet the song also had a smooth, almost pop-friendly accessibility in the singalong chorus and Hamish Stuart’s warm vocals. It struck a deft balance between funk’s grit and melodic songcraft.
No wonder it became a ubiquitous staple still burning up weddings and parties today – those grooves are timeless!
17. “More Bounce to the Ounce” by Zapp (Recorded in 1979)
Want to hear what the future of funk might’ve sounded like in the early 80s?
Roger Troutman and his crew Zapp provided an early appetizer with their breakout single laced with electro and proto-rap elements. The robotic vocoder vocals introducing the catchy hook were an instant grabber staked in fresh new territory.
Meanwhile, the spare digital grooves, quirky staccato synth riffs, and rhythmic emphasis on sharp percussive beats all nodded to the emerging realities of hip-hop and electro music’s innovations.
Yet the slippery bassline and rubbery vibe still showed their funk foundations too. It was a tantalizing hint at the malleable future awaiting funk.
18. “Fire” by Ohio Players (1974)
The Ohio Players struck solid gold with the slow-burning funk/soul gem “Fire.”
The song smolders with a deep, lush groove accented by sensual vocal arrangements and scorching guitar licks. It oozed an undeniable sultriness from the cinematic production flourishes to the steamy lyrics “The way you squeeze and tease knocks me to my knees. ‘Cause you’re smokin’, baby, baby.”
The impeccably tight rhythm section and soaring melodies showed off the band’s musicality too. “Fire” represented a perfect synthesis of the period’s gritty funk jams and velvety soul ballads.
19. “Flash Light” by Parliament (1978)
Leave it to George Clinton and Parliament to craft one of funk’s most delightfully bizarre anthems. “Flash Light” is centered around an indelible electronic funk riff that would become hugely influential in future hip-hop and dance music.
The lyrics instruct dancers to wave glow sticks and neon lights, creating a wild party atmosphere. Amidst all the craziness, the groove stays impeccably locked with machine-like precision.
Clinton’s freaky vocals and weird synth accents make it a full-on psychedelic funk experience. It exemplified how the P-Funk collective was pushing boundaries.
20. “Express Yourself” by Charles Wright (1970)
Though overshadowed by hits around the same time, this lesser-known funk gem from Charles Wright sizzles with energy. The instantly recognizable clavinet lick propelling the rhythm is pure ear candy. But the three-piece horn section punching in counters with locomotive momentum is what truly elevates it into funkiness.
Wright’s soulful vocal refrains encourage expression and individuality, creating an empowering message. “Express Yourself” remains a funk standard, going on to be sampled by countless hip-hop acts mining its endlessly funky grooves.
Also Read: Top Funk Albums of the 1970s