Funky Stuff
{{Infobox song
| name = Funky Stuff
| cover =
| alt =
| caption =
| type = single
| artist = Kool & the Gang
| album = Wild and Peaceful
| B-side = More Funky Stuff
| released = 1973
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Funk
| length = 2:59
| label = Mercury
| writer = Kool & the Gang
| producer = Kool & the Gang
| prev_title = Country Junky
| prev_year = 1973
| next_title = Jungle Boogie
| next_year = 1973
}}
"Funky Stuff" is a funk song written, produced, and recorded by Kool & the Gang for their 1973 album Wild and Peaceful.{{cite work|title=Kool & the Gang - Funky Stuff|date=1973 |publisher=Mercury Records}} Released as a single, the song reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kool-The-Gang/chart-history/BSI|title=Kool & the Gang - Hot Soul Singles|publisher=Billboard|website=billboard.com|access-date=April 18, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kool-The-Gang/chart-history/HSI|title=Kool & the Gang - Hot 100|publisher=Billboard|website=billboard.com|access-date=April 18, 2025}}
Critical reception
Amy Hanson of AllMusic wrote "Recording at the tiny Media Sound Studio in New York, one floor above Latin rockers Santana, the band jammed the track together as Santana's own session bled through the walls and floors. The resultant fusion was as inspiring as it was exciting -- certainly the sound of two so-disparate bands clashing in one tiny space helped to influence Kool's grooves and, by the time the session was over, this nine-minute marathon was on course to becoming a genre standard -- one of the best ever committed to vinyl grooves. Vital evidence of the band's new direction in sound, the song is the embodiment of heavy, deep funk, driven by horns and an effervescent beat.{{cite web |last=Hanson |first=Amy |title=Funky Stuff - Kool & the Gang |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/funky-stuff-mt0007798405 |access-date=August 7, 2023 |publisher=AllMusic}} James Hamilton of Record Mirror also found Funky Stuff is "Ideal disco, fare, It's a whistle and chanting supported monotonous honking instrumental with somepicky guitar over the braying brass and dully thumping rhythm. Parrty Pick."{{Cite news |last=Hamilton |first=James |date=November 17, 1973 |title=American Singles |pages=21 |work=Record Mirror |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/70s/73/Record-Mirror-1973-11-17.pdf#search=%22kool%22 |access-date=July 29, 2023}} Record World said the song is "funk & fun from the gang and includes lotsa percussion and whistles."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=July 14, 1973|accessdate=2023-08-02|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/73/RW-1973-07-14.pdf|title=Singles Reviews|page=14}} Irvine Herald reviewer Willie Freckleton named it "Freck's Freak of the Week for soul fans," saying that it's "a soul fan's paradise" with "whistle blowing, chanting the title and laden with atmosphere."{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2023-08-03|newspaper=Irvine Herald|author=Freckleton, Willie|title=Freckleton in Discoland|date=November 30, 1973|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/irvine-herald/129389271/}}
Although popular in some regions, including New York, "Funky Stuff" was banned by some radio stations for using the word "funky."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|page=28|title=Money Music|author=Rudman, Kal|accessdate=2023-08-02|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/73/RW-1973-09-22.pdf}}{{cite magazine|magazine=SPIN|title=Everything Is Kool & the Gang|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ym2SY9Ha5AIC&dq=%22funky+stuff%22+kool+and+the+gang&pg=PA81|page=81|accessdate=2023-08-02|date=October 1986}}
Legacy
"Funky Stuff" has been sampled by artists such as the Beastie Boys, Gangstarr, Mobb Deep, N.W.A. and Dilated Peoples. The tune has been covered by jazz guitarist Chuck Loeb and French singer-songwriter Lizzy Mercier Descloux.{{Cite web |title=Funky Stuff by Kool & The Gang |url=https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/14929 |website=Second Hand Songs |access-date=2023-08-01 |language=en}}
Personnel
- Khalis Bayyan – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, vocals
- Robert "Kool" Bell – Fender bass guitar, vocals
- George "Funky" Brown – drums, vocals
- Robert Spike Mickens – vocals
- Dennis "D.T." Thomas – conga, flute, alto saxophone, vocals
- Clay Smith – guitar
- Ricky West – vocals{{cite web |title=Kool & the Gang – "Funky Stuff" Lyrics |url=https://genius.com/Kool-and-the-gang-funky-stuff-lyrics |website=Genius|access-date=July 27, 2023}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1973) !Peak |
| {{Single chart|Billboardhot100|29|artist=Kool The Gang|access-date=July 27, 2023}} |
| {{Single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|5|artist=Kool The Gang|access-date=July 27, 2023}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Kool & the Gang}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Kool & the Gang songs
Category:Songs written by Ronald Bell (musician)
Category:Songs written by Claydes Charles Smith