Episode 1 - Funk Used to Be a Bad Word
Actress Pam Grier tells the story of funk music, exploring how the jazz and R&B music of the 1950s informed the rhythms and energy of funk music.
From the 1960s through to the present day, funk music reverberates through popular culture. Whether it's in fashion, street language, TV, the movies or pop music, the far reaching influence of funk is everywhere. In this three-part series American actress Pam Grier takes listeners on an historic funk odyssey. She's been a fan of the music since she starred in the so-called Blaxploitation movies of the 1970s. Back then, funk was not only the soundtrack to her films but also to a vital time in American history. It was a time of self-discovery, struggle and social change. The music reflected all of that.
In this first episode, Pam goes back to the source, when funk - in the words of George Clinton - "used to be a bad word." Pam reveals how jazz and the R&B music of the 50s informed the rhythms and energy of funk music. As well as the all important architects of the sound like James Brown and Sly Stone, the programme also shines a spotlight on some of the unsung heroes such as Charles Wright and the Last Poets.
The series features contributions from Earth Wind & Fire, Kool and the Gang, Sly and the Family Stone, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, P-Funk musicians, Average White Band, Cameo, Clyde "Funky Drummer" Stubblefield, Charles Wright, The Last Poets, Beverley Knight, Matt Fink, Acid Jazz's Eddie Piller and rapper Shock G.
First broadcast in 2011.
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Music Played
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Billing and contributors
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James Brown
Make it Funky
- Sex Machine, Best of James Brown.
- Polydor.
- 845828-2.
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Sly & the Family Stone
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
- Sly Greatest Hits.
- Epic.
- 462524-2.
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George Duke
Reach For It
- George Duke: The Collection.
- Castle Collector Series.
- CCSMC-298.
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Funkadelic
Let'sTake It to the Stage
- Let脙垄??s Take It to the Stage.
- Westbound.
- CDSEWM-244.
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Jelly Roll Morton
Funky Butt
- Saga of Mr Jelly.
- Lord Circle.
- L-14011.
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Little Richard
READY TEDDY
- Soul Deep.
- Universal.
- 982914-3.
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James Brown
Introduction And Opening Fanfare
- James Brown Live at the Apollo.
- Polydor.
- 843-479.
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Fred Wesley and The J.B.鈥檚
DOING IT TO DEATH
- The Best Of The JBs.
- Polydor.
- 2391-204.
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James Brown
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE
- Soul Deep: The Story Of Black Popular Music.
- UM3.
- 784-764.
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James Brown
TRY ME
- LIVE AT THE APOLLO.
- POLYDOR.
- 843-479 2.
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James Brown
Papas got a brand new bag
- Sex Machine, Best of James Brown.
- polydor.
- 845828-2.
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James Brown
Make it Funky
- Sex Machine, Best of James Brown.
- Polydor.
- 845828-2.
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James Brown & The Famous Flames
COLD SWEAT
- James Brown - Live At The Apollo CD.
- Polydor.
- 843479-2.
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James Brown
You've Got The Power
- James Brown Live At The Apollo.
- Polydor.
- 842479-2.
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The J.B.鈥檚
HOT PANTS ROAD
- The Best Of The J.B.'s.
- Polydor.
- 2391-204.
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James Brown
Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)
- SEX MACHINE/THE VERY BEST OF JAMES BROWN.
- 845828-2.
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James Brown
Medley
- James Brown Live at the Apollo Vol 1.
- Polydor.
- 82300-2.
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Bill Doggett
Honky Tonk Popcorn
- King Funk.
- BGP.
- cdbgpd-135.
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The Last Poets
Wake Up, Niggers
- Last Poets.
- Carrere.
- CAL-208.
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The Last Poets
Niggers are scared of Revolution
- Last Poets.
- Carrere.
- CAL-208.
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The Last Poets
Black Thighs
- Last Poets.
- Carrere.
- cal-208.
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The Supremes
BABY LOVE
- THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION.
- MOTOWN.
- 530-827-2.
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Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Dancing In The Street
- Soul Decade The Sixties Various Artists.
- Tamla Motown.
- ZD 748-16(2).
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Four Tops
BERNADETTE
- MOTOWN'S GREATEST HITS.
- MOTOWN.
- 530-016-2.
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The Temptations
CLOUD NINE
- Hitsville U.S.A..
- Motown.
- CD-5301292.
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Booker T. & The M.G.'s
RED BEANS AND RICE
- Niggers are Scared of Revolution.
- atlantic.
- 7567811281-2.
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Rufus Thomas
DO THE FUNKY CHICKEN
- Funky Chicken (LP).
- Stax.
- SXATS-1033.
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Isaac Hayes
Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic
- Hot Buttered Soul.
- Stax.
- CDSXE-005.
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Charles Wright
Brown Sugar
- The Watts 103rd. St. Rhythm Band.
- Rhino.
- 812274676-1.
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Jesse Belvin
One Little Blessing
- The Blues Balladeer.
- Ace.
- CDCHD-305.
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Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Spreadin' Honey
- Hot Heat And Sweet Groove.
- Rino.
- 08122746761-6.
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Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Till You Get Enough
- Puckey Puckey: Jams And Outtakes (1970-1971).
- Rhino.
- 034977770-2.
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Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
DO YOUR THING
- BOOGIE NIGHTS 2.
- PREMIER SOUNDTRACKS.
- 493-076-2.
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Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
EXPRESS YOURSELF
- RIGHT ON VOL 2.
- WARNER.
- N/A-N/A.
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Sly & the Family Stone
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
- Sly Greatest Hits.
- Epic.
- 462524-2.
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Ray Charles
LET'S GO GET STONED
- Living Legend.
- Arcade.
- arc946-42.
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Sly Stone
Frisky
- Fresh.
- EPIC.
- 485170-2.
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Marie 鈥淨ueenie鈥� Lyons
Fever
- King Funk.
- BGP.
- CDBGPD-135.
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Sly & the Family Stone
You Can Make It If You Try
- Sly Anthology.
- epic.
- egk-37071.
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Sly & the Family Stone
Dance to the Music
- Greatest Hits.
- epic.
- 462524-2.
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Sly & the Family Stone
I WANT TO TAKE YOU HIGHER
- The Woodstock Experience.
- sony.
- 462524-2.
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Sly & the Family Stone
LIFE
- SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE GREATEST HITS.
- SONY.
- 45821929-33909.
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Sly & the Family Stone
STAND
- Sly Anthology.
- EPIC.
- egk3707-1.
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Sly & the Family Stone
EVERYDAY PEOPLE
- ANTHOLOGY.
- EPIC.
- EGK-37071.
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Sly & the Family Stone
Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey
- Sly Anthology.
- Epic.
- egk-37071.
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Sly & the Family Stone
M'Lady
- The Woodstock Experience.
- Sony.
- 8869748241-2.
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Sly & the Family Stone
Thank You For Talkin' To Me Africa
- Sly Anthology.
- Epic.
- egk-37071.
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Sly & the Family Stone
Running Away
- Sly Anthology.
- epic.
- egk-37071.
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Sly & the Family Stone
If You Want Me To Stay
- Sly Anthology.
- epic.
- egk-37071.
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The J.B.鈥檚
HOT PANTS ROAD
- The Best Of The J.B.'s.
- Polydor.
- 2391-204.
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James Brown
Funky President
- THE VERY BEST OF JAMES BROWN VOL 2.
- POLYDOR.
- 519-854 2.
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James Brown
(Get Up I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine
- THE SOUL YEARS 1970-71.
- CONNOISSEUR COLLECTION.
- BASY-002.
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James Brown
SOUL POWER
- BEST OF.
- UNIVERSAL.
- 589-8412.
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James Brown
TALKING LOUD AND SAYING NOTHING
- FUNKY PRESIDENT - THE VERY BEST OF JAMES BROWN - VOLUME 2.
- POLYDOR.
- 519 854-2.
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Fred Wesley and The J.B.鈥檚
If You Don't Get It The First Time, Back Up And Try It Again
- Pass the Peas.
- Polydor.
- 157744-2.
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Fred Wesley and The J.B.鈥檚
If You Don't Get It The First Time, Back Up And Try It Again
- Pass the Peas.
- Polydor.
- 157744-2.
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James Brown
Super Bad
- 40th Anniversary Collection CD2.
- Polydor.
- 535888-2.
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Pink Floyd
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
- EMI.
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The Verve
Bitter Sweet Symphony
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MGMT
Electric Feel
- CD SINGLE.
- Columbia.
- 1.
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Robert Plant
Bluebirds Over The Mountain (feat. Chrissie Hynde)
- Nonesuch Records.
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Sly & the Family Stone
M'Lady
- Epic.
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R. Dean Taylor
There's A Ghost In My House
- Tamla Motown.
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