The Best: Funk

THE RULES OF THE GAME

Each participating editor or contributor draws up a list of titles connected to the theme, representative of their own perspective. To encourage variety overall, we allow only one or two albums per band. The lists are collected, and the first twenty albums mentioned are assigned a score: twenty points to the one ranked first, nineteen to the next, and so on. If an album is mentioned by more than one participant, the points received from each are added together. Ranking the titles from the one with the most points down, we get the final chart.
What you're reading, then, is a representation of the points of convergence and the diversity of views among Ondarock's contributors. It isn't a list put together behind closed doors, and there are no corrections or backroom deals. The only agreed element is the set of rules above.
It's a game, and we hope the outcome intrigues readers as much as it does the participants. For those who feel like digging deeper, the individual contributors' personal charts can be goldmines of discoveries. Happy exploring!

EDITORS' PICKS

Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
The soundtrack to "Superfly", curated by Curtis Mayfield, takes the top spot thanks to a tracklist packed with classics ("Pusherman", "Freddie's Dead", the title track, and more). In second place is "There's A Riot Goin' On" by Sly & The Family Stone, with its incendiary lyrics and revolutionary use of the drum machine. Rounding out the podium is the essential singles collection from the godfather of funk, James Brown, a blueprint for countless artists to come.
12
Isley Brothers - Go For Your Guns
68
14
53
16
Dino Dvornik - Dino Dvornik
48
19
Ohio Players - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection
36
24
Ahmed Fakroun - Mots d'amour
32
Tower Of Power - Tower Of Power
32
The Meters - The Meters
30
30
Eikichi Yazawa - Goldrush
26
Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
The soundtrack to "Superfly", curated by Curtis Mayfield, takes the top spot thanks to a tracklist packed with classics ("Pusherman", "Freddie's Dead", the title track, etc.). In second place is "There's A Riot Goin' On" by Sly & The Family Stone, with its incendiary lyrics and revolutionary use of the drum machine. Rounding out the podium is the essential singles collection from the godfather of funk, James Brown, a blueprint for countless artists who followed.
Betty Davis - They Say I'm Different
23
Svika Pick - Music
23
Toshiki Kadomatsu - After 5 Clash
20
Eighties Ladies - Ladies Of The Eighties
20
40
J.A.R. - Eskalace dobra
19
Ahehehinnou Vincent & Orchestre-Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Dahomey - Ahehehinnou Vincent & Orchestre-Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Dahomey
18
The Meters - Rejuvenation
16
LaBelle - Nightbirds
16
WAR - Why Can't We Be Friends?
16
Latexfauna - Senbernar
16

THE EDITORIAL STAFF'S FAVORITE ARTISTS

Parliament-Funkadelic
Having placed as many as three albums in the top 10, the top spot goes to the collective Parliament-Funkadelic, led by George Clinton and featuring a string of masters of their respective instruments. Next up is Prince, the brilliant imp from Minneapolis, who changed the game with a multifaceted synth-funk capable of absorbing the most disparate influences. Rounding out the podium is Curtis Mayfield, propelled mainly by the soundtrack to "Superfly".
199
Curtis Mayfield
167
4
Sly & The Family Stone
158
5
James Brown
157
6
Tatsuro Yamashita
98
7
Isaac Hayes
91
8
Rick James
89
9
Jamiroquai
88
10
Isley Brothers
68
11
Ohio Players
61
12
Betty Davis
58
13
Chaka Khan
56
15
Char
53
16
Herbie Hancock
51
17
Dino Dvornik
48
19
The Meters
46
20
Transs - Fariz Rm
45
21
Kool & The Gang
42
22
Earth, Wind & Fire
38
23
Janelle Monae
33
25
Ahmed Fakroun
32
Tower Of Power
32
27
Eikichi Yazawa
26
28
WAR
24
29
Svika Pick
23
30
Mark Ronson
20
Parliament-Funkadelic
Having placed as many as three albums in the top 10, the top spot goes to the collective Parliament-Funkadelic, led by George Clinton and featuring a string of masters of their respective instruments. Next up is Prince, the brilliant imp from Minneapolis, who changed the game with a multifaceted synth-funk capable of absorbing the most disparate influences. Rounding out the podium is Curtis Mayfield, propelled mainly by the soundtrack to "Superfly".
Toshiki Kadomatsu
20
Eighties Ladies
20
33
J.A.R.
19
Thundercat
18
Knower
18
Ahehehinnou Vincent & Orchestre-Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Dahomey
18
LaBelle
16
Cymande
16
Latexfauna
16
42
Patrice Rushen
15
Mark De Clive-Lowe
15
Shuggie Otis
15
47
Steve Coleman and Five Elements
14
48
Banda Black Rio
13
Blood Orange
13
Daði Freyr
13

CLAUDIO FABRETTI'S FAVOURITES

Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
The archetype of "hard and pure" funk from the early '70s. An album packed with gorgeous, frenzied rhythms, excellent melodies and singular lyrics. Somewhere between blaxploitation and Black roots, a record that in its own way manages to feel "singer-songwriter" too
15
S.O.S. Band - On The Rise
16
George Benson - Give Me The Night
17
Alain Goraguer - La planète sauvage
18
Dino Dvornik - Dino Dvornik
Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
The archetype of "hard and pure" funk from the early '70s. An album packed with gorgeous, frenzied rhythms, excellent melodies and singular lyrics. Somewhere between blaxploitation and Black roots, a record that in its own way manages to feel "singer-songwriter" too
21
LaBelle - Nightbirds
22
Betty Davis - They Say I'm Different
23
Isley Brothers - Go For Your Guns
27
Commodores - Machine Gun

STAFF PICKS

GIULIANO DELLI PAOLI

  1. James Brown - 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!
  2. Isaac Hayes - Shaft
  3. Rick James - Street Songs
  4. Parliament - Mothership Connection
  5. Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove
  6. Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
  7. Stevie Wonder - Innervisions
  8. Ahmed Fakroun - Mots d'amour
  9. Isley Brothers - Go For Your Guns
  10. Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Goin' On
  1. Ohio Players - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection
  2. Prince - Dirty Mind
  3. Janelle Monae - The Archandroid
  4. Prophet - Right on Time
  5. Steve Monite - Only You
  6. Chaka Khan - What Cha' Gonna Do for Me
  7. Earth, Wind & Fire - That's The Way Of The World
  8. Zapp - Zapp
  9. P-Funk All Stars - Urban Dancefloor Guerillas
  10. William Onyeabor - Hypertension

FABIO FERRARA

  1. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid
  2. Jamiroquai - The Return Of The Space Cowboy
  3. Osaka Monaurail - Riptide
  4. Banda Black Rio - Maria Fumaça
  5. Graham Central Station - Graham Central Station
  6. James Brown - The Payback
  7. The Meters - Rejuvenation
  8. T. P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou - The 1st Album
  9. Kool & The Gang - Wild And Peaceful
  10. Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule

VASSILIOS KARAGIANNIS

  1. Toshiki Kadomatsu - After 5 Clash
  2. Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Goin' On
  3. Jamiroquai - The Return Of The Space Cowboy
  4. Chaka Khan - I Feel For You
  5. Dino Dvornik - Dino Dvornik
  6. Tatsuro Yamashita - Ride On Time
  7. Char - Char
  8. Blood Orange - Cupid Deluxe
  9. Rick James - Street Songs
  10. Janet Jackson - Control
  1. Bernard Wright - 'Nard
  2. Herbie Hancock - Feets Don't Fail Me Now
  3. Transs - Hotel San Vicente
  4. Prince - 1999
  5. High Fashion - Feelin' Lucky
  6. Ayizan - Dilijans
  7. Patrice Rushen - Straight From The Heart
  8. Marcos Valle - Vontade de rever você
  9. Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove
  10. Rufus - Rags To Rufus

FEDERICO ROMAGNOLI

  1. James Brown - 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!
  2. Prince - Dirty Mind
  3. Tatsuro Yamashita - 僕の中の少年 (Boku no naka no shounen)
  4. Fariz Rm - Sakura
  5. Char - Char
  6. Dino Dvornik - Dino Dvornik
  7. Eikichi Yazawa - Goldrush
  8. Rick James - Street Songs
  9. Isley Brothers - Go For Your Guns
  10. Isaac Hayes - Shaft
  1. Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
  2. Ohio Players - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection
  3. Jamiroquai - The Return Of The Space Cowboy
  4. Earth, Wind & Fire - That's The Way Of The World
  5. Svika Pick - Music
  6. Ahmed Fakroun - Mots d'amour
  7. J.A.R. - Eskalace dobra
  8. Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Goin' On
  9. Lucio Battisti - Lucio Battisti, la batteria, il contrabbasso, eccetera
  10. Kool & The Gang - Celebration: The Best Of Kool & The Gang (1979-1987)
  11. Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove
  12. Daði Freyr - & Co.
  13. S.O.S. Band - On The Rise
  14. Patrice Rushen - Straight From The Heart
  15. Mark Ronson - Uptown Special
  16. Sakanaction - 834.194
  17. Barış Manço - Darısı Başınıza
  18. Pino D’Angiò - ...Balla!

MARCO SGRIGNOLI

  1. Miles Davis - On The Corner
  2. Brotherly - One Sweet Life
  3. WAR - The World Is a Ghetto
  4. Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
  5. Alain Goraguer - La planète sauvage
  6. Incubus - Science
  7. Calibro 35 - Calibro 35
  8. Commodores - Machine Gun
  9. Pepe Sánchez y Su Rock Band - Regresión
  10. Real Ax Band - Nicht stehen bleiben
  11. Graham Central Station - Graham Central Station
  12. Tony Allen - Black Voices
  13. Janne Schaffer - Earmeal
  14. Yussef Kamaal - Black Focus
  15. Redbone - Potlatch
  16. Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan - Rufusized
  17. Outside - The Rough And The Smooth
  18. Dego - A Wha' Him Deh Pon
  19. Cortex - Trupeau Bleu
  20. Nicky Skopelitis - Ekstasis
  21. Screaming Headless Torsos - Screaming Headless Torsos
  22. Muito Kaballa Power Ensemble - Mamari
  23. Masayoshi Takanaka - The Rainbow Goblins
  24. Mick Karn - The Tooth Mother
  25. Mandrill - Mandrill
  26. Metafive - Meta
  27. Material - Memory Serves
  28. Defunkt - Defunkt
  29. The Budos Band - Burnt Offering
  30. Was (Not Was) - Out Come The Freaks

MARTINA VETRUGNO

  1. Jamiroquai - The Return Of The Space Cowboy
  2. Tim Maia - Racional (Vol. 1)
  3. Curtis Mayfield - Roots
  4. Janelle Monáe - The Electric Lady
  5. Banda Black Rio - Maria fumaça
  6. Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters
  7. James Brown - The Payback
  8. Thundercat - Drunk
  9. Cymande - Cymande
  10. Ana Frango Elétrico - Me Chama de Gato Que Eu Sou Sua
  11. The Isley Brothers - 3 + 3
  12. Jamiroquai - Emergency On Planet Earth
  13. Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic
  14. Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings - Naturally
  15. Ohio Players - Honey
  16. Jorge Ben - África Brasil
  17. Commodores - Machine Gun
  18. Stanley Clarke - Stanley Clarke
  19. The J.B.'s - Doing It to Death
  20. Marijata - This Is Marijata
  21. Lee Fields & The Expressions - Emma Jean
  22. Janet Jackson - Control
  23. Tim Maia - Disco Club
  24. Earth, Wind & Fire - That's The Way Of The World / All 'N All
  25. Kool & The Gang - Wild and Peaceful / Spirit Of The Boogie
  26. Childish Gambino - "Awaken, My Love!"
  27. Taj Mahal - Mo' Roots
  28. Screaming Headless Torsos - Screaming Headless Torsos
  29. Booker T. & The M.G.'s - Melting Pot
  30. Rupa - Disco Jazz
  31. SAULT - Untitled (Rise)
  32. Roy Ayers Ubiquity - He's Coming
  33. Magnum - Fully Loaded
  34. Sons Of Kemet - Lest We Forget What We Came Here To Do
  35. The Meters - Rejuvenation
  36. Stevie Wonder - Music Of My Mind
  37. Ibibio Sound Machine - Electricity
  38. Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan - Rufusized
  39. Boscoe - Boscoe
  40. Johnny "Guitar" Watson - A Real Mother For Ya
  41. Black Heat - Black Heat
  42. Rick James - Street Songs
  43. The Weeknd - Dawn FM
  44. Blood Orange - Freetown Sound
  45. The Counts - What's Up Front That Counts
  46. Donald Byrd - Street Lady
  47. Quincy Jones - Body Heat
  48. Cameo - Cardiac Arrest
  49. Knower - Knower Forever
  50. Say She She - Silver

FRANCESCO INGLIMA

  1. Transs - Hotel San Vicente
  2. Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove
  3. Ahehehinnou Vincent & Orchestre-Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Dahomey - Ahehehinnou Vincent & Orchestre-Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou Dahomey
  4. Svika Pick - Music
  5. Tatsuro Yamashita - 僕の中の少年 (Boku no naka no shounen)
  6. J.A.R. - Eskalace dobra
  7. Ahmed Fakroun - Mots d'amour
  8. Daði Freyr - & Co.
  9. Prince - Dirty Mind
  10. Earth, Wind & Fire - That's The Way Of The World
  1. Char - Char
  2. Jorge Ben - África Brasil
  3. Betty Davis - Nasty Gal
  4. James Brown - Sex Machine
  5. Rail Band - Buffet Hotel de la Gare Bamako
  6. Dino Dvornik - Dino Dvornik
  7. William Onyeabor - Hypertension
  8. Love and Peace - 한동안 뜸 했었지 (Handong-an tteum haess-eossji)
  9. Geraldo Pino and The Heart Beats - Let's Have A Party
  10. The Beginning Of The End - Funky Nassau
  11. Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Goin' On
  12. Marijata - This is Marijata
  13. Lucio Battisti - Lucio Battisti, la batteria, il contrabbasso, eccetera
  14. Nico Gomez and His Afro Percussion Inc. - Ritual
  15. Toshiki Kadomatsu - After 5 Clash
  16. Honore Avolonto et l'orchestre Black Santiago - Honore Avolonto et l'orchestre Black Santiago
  17. Barış Manço - Darısı Başınıza
  18. Eikichi Yazawa - Goldrush
  19. Commodores - Machine Gun
  20. Sakanaction - 834.194

GIACOMO RIVOIRA

  1. Prince - Dirty Mind
  2. Tatsuro Yamashita - 僕の中の少年 (Boku no naka no shounen)
  3. Isley Brothers - Go For Your Guns
  4. Ohio Players - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection
  5. Latexfauna - Senbernar
  6. Tower Of Power - Tower Of Power
  7. James Brown - 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!
  8. Char - Char
  9. Lucio Battisti - Lucio Battisti, la batteria, il contrabbasso, eccetera
  10. Kool & The Gang - Celebration: The Best Of Kool & The Gang (1979-1987)