 | Motor City Madness: The Ultimate Funkadelic Westbound Compilation by Funkadelic
Buy new: $23.49 / Used from: $12.99 The other side of Parliament. More experimental and heavy, but very funky. This collection is missing some great songs--investigate on your own.
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 | The Collection by Sly & the Family Stone
Buy used from: $59.99 One of the funkiest and most creative groups ever, also one of the most eccentric. My favorite will always be "Fresh".
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 | Live at Fillmore West by Aretha Franklin
Buy new: $19.98 / Used from: $4.34 The Queen of soul. I love her earlier stuff, too much disco later on. This live CD rocks the house, a must have.
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 | INSPIRATION INFORMATION by Shuggie Otis
Buy used from: $7.62 Relatively unknown, Shuggie cut his teeth with Al Kooper. he is a great guitarist, kind of a funny voice but very funky and soulful.
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 | Definitive Greatest Hits by Al Green
Buy used from: $10.69 Nobody beats the reverend. His old stuff is classic. Unique sound and style, in my opinion.
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 | The Definitive Soul Collection by Otis Redding
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $8.86 A genius, too bad he's not with us today. No "greatest hits" can come close to capturing all of his greatness.
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 | Signed, Sealed and Delivered by Stevie Wonder
Buy new: $7.97 / Used from: $4.83 One of the blind geniuses, I love Stevie's older stuff, not so much the synthesizer cheesy pop. "For once in my Life" is another favorite.
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 | JB40: 40th Anniversary Collection by James Brown
Buy used from: $4.00 HEY! Godfather of Soul, no introduction needed. this is a decent collection, with some early stuff and later funky stuff.
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 | Every Great Motown Hit of Marvin Gaye by Marvin Gaye
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $7.93 I love early Marvin Gaye, back when Jamerson was still around. such a great voice and lyricist.
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 | The Very Best of the Coasters by The Coasters
Buy used from: $19.94 an essential for any R&B fan. such a fun and quirky group
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 | Tower of Power by Tower of Power
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $2.75 a very hit-and-miss band: when they're funky, they're great, when they're in ballad mode, they stink. This debut CD is great, also check "bump city", "back to oakland," "urban renewal" and "east bay grease"
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 | Shotgun by Jr. Walker & the Allstars
Buy new: $7.98 / Used from: $4.29 not too many big hits for JR, but certainly Shotgun stands the test of time.
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 | Very Best of Ray Charles by Ray Charles
Buy new: $23.99 / Used from: $11.99 One of the most prolific musicians ever, Ray was a genius.
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 | Funkify Your Life: The Meters Anthology by The Meters
Buy new: $22.99 / Used from: $12.99 a funky new orleans group, very innovative at the time. This is a good collection to start with.
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 | Who in the Funk Do You Think You Are: The Warner Bros. Recordings by Sly & the Family Stone
Buy new: $29.98 / Used from: $14.99 This one is just sly with some other band on a different record label--but it is very funky and very good. Check out the cover of "You Really Got Me".
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 | Wicked Pickett by Wilson Pickett
Buy new: $12.97 / Used from: $6.81 Another great R&B artist. similar voice style to Otis Redding, but still had his own niche.
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 | Superfly by Curtis Mayfield
Buy new: $23.99 / Used from: $11.42 The king of falsetto singing, Curtis was superfunky on this CD
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 | The Very Best of Booker T. and the MG's by Booker T. & the MG's
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $6.94 one of the best rhythm-sections ever, so funky and tight.
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 | A Little Love Will Help
Buy used from: $51.89 a rare find, only release from this group. very funky.
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 | Stax Profiles by Eddie Floyd
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $1.14 Another great voice from Stax records, Eddie had a great sound and flawless style.
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 | The Very Best of Edwin Starr by Edwin Starr
Buy used from: $6.75 no to be forgotten, Edwin had a lot of great hits.
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 | Moon Shadow by Labelle
Buy used from: $39.95 patti labelle's first group, very soulful and funky. Also check out their self-titled debut CD.
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 | 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection Vol. 1/The '60s (The Best of the Temptations) by The Temptations
Buy used from: $2.00 Another group with its roots in doo-wop/r&b that crossed over to funk/disco. I prefer the early stuff, but they got pretty funky in the later years too.
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 | The Isley Brothers Story, Vol. 1: Rockin' Soul (1959-68) by The Isley Brothers
Buy used from: $13.88 The Isley Brothers early years are filled with genius, and they were actually pretty good in their later years too.
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 | King of the Blues by Freddie King
Buy used from: $32.62 Freddie is my favorite Chicago-blues player. He has a great voice, and a great guitar style. this CD is a great collection.
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 | People Gonna Talk by James Hunter
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $1.98 a great singer and musician, gaining recognition in the U.S. This CD is great, as is his new one.
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 | Chronicle, Vol. 1: The 20 Greatest Hits by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $2.25 a great blues band, maybe some wouldn't put them on this list, but I think they are such a close relative of the others.
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 | With the Muddy Waters Blues Band 1966 by Big Mama Thornton
Buy new: $10.98 / Used from: $7.50 lesser known blues queen, just as talented as Aretha. This CD is fantastic, great blues work.
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 | Brothers and Sisters by The Allman Brothers Band
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $3.48 a great blues band in their early years, more of a jam band today. I love this CD.
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 | Born Under a Bad Sign by Albert King
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $6.95 The great sound of Stax meets the blues. nuff said
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 | #1's (Eco-Friendly Packaging) by Jackson 5
Buy new: $10.97 / Used from: $3.79 Gotta love little Michael and the family. so talented and funky.
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 | Kool and the Gang - Gold by Kool & the Gang
Buy new: $14.97 / Used from: $10.00 a great funky group, so many hits. Love the early stuff. Disc 1 of this collection is essential.
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 | Pure Cane Sugar by Sugarman Three
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $8.45 Anything Daptone is hot, and these cats are no exception. Some of the funkiest stuff out there today.
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 | Funk Overload by Maceo Parker
Buy new: $16.99 / Used from: $4.89 James Brown's main Sax player, has a few funky solo CDs. Look for Fred Wesley's solo stuff, too.
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 | Essential Earth Wind & Fire by Earth Wind & Fire
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $6.97 another hit and miss group--but so funky when they want to be.
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 | What It Is! Funky Soul And Rare Grooves (1967-1977) by Various Artists
Buy new: $52.99 / Used from: $39.95 a pretty cool set with some rare and unreleased stuff.
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 | The Funk Box by Various Artists - R&B/Soul - Funk
Buy new: $37.47 / Used from: $29.98 if you can't afford the "Can You Dig It?" set, get this one.
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 | Atlantic R&B Box Set by Various Artists
Buy new: $65.98 / Used from: $80.36 this covers something like 30 years of motown, personally i'm only interested in the first ten years. great box though, good companion to "30 years of R&B" box set, which is great itself.
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 | The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 by Various Artists
Buy new: $89.99 / Used from: $73.00 a great set, with two other volumes covering later years.
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 | Hitsville USA, Vol. 1: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 by Various Artists
Buy new: $33.47 / Used from: $24.24 Gotta have most of these songs, but also some filler.
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