Originally Posted by
Sotosound
When I think about funk, I think about early Kool And The Gang, or James Brown, or The Ohio Players, or Parliament, or Funkadelic, or Cameo etc.
Norman Whitfield did do some funky stuff with Edwin Starr, Rose Royce, Stargard etc. but whenever I think about Norman Whitfield, I think more about psychedelic soul and symphonic soul.
I don't think that the Tops ever went really funky, but they did do some stuff that was similar to Norman Whitfield's symphonic soul style. The closest that I recall the Tops getting to that style was "Whenever There's Blue" from Main Street People. This track seriously tips its hat in that direction, and ends with a fantastic instrumental jam led by strings and accompanied by a serious rhythm section.
Coincidentally, it's around that time that "Keep On Truckin'" by Eddie Kendricks also gave us an extended instrumental jam led by strings and accompanied by a [[mainly different) serious rhythm section.
Great grooves created by real musicians playing together. Love it!
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