International Funk

Explore international Funk, a universal style where irresistible groove, funky guitar riffs, and vibrant brass blend to create a danceable atmosphere. From pioneers like James Brown to modern gems, this genre crosses borders with style.

Designed to make your speakers and your evenings buzz, wherever you are.

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Funk Vinyl Records: James Brown, Parliament, Afrobeat and Deep Reissues

Funk on vinyl: what this collection covers

This page brings together the international funk vinyl records listed on Vinyles.com, with offers from several partner stores for each title. You will find American funk from James Brown to Sly Stone, the soul around it from Marvin Gaye and Mavis Staples, British acid jazz from The Brand New Heavies, and plenty of reissues from funk scenes around the world. Funk is rhythm music: bass and kick drum carry the song, and a well-cut pressing does them justice. It is also the raw material generations of DJs and producers learned from while digging through crates of funk 45s and LPs.

Essential funk albums

James Brown laid the groundwork in the 60s, then kept funk records coming in the early 70s, including "The Payback" (1973). Sly & the Family Stone made the darker, slower "There's a Riot Goin' On" (1971). George Clinton led two bands: Funkadelic, with "Maggot Brain" (1971), and Parliament, with "Mothership Connection" (1975).

Around them, The Meters in New Orleans, Kool & the Gang, Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower of Power widened the palette. Outside the US, Fela Kuti created Afrobeat in Nigeria by blending funk, jazz and highlife, while Mulatu Astatke developed Ethio-jazz in Ethiopia, two scenes that have been widely reissued since.

Pressings, reissues and labels to know

The American classics were pressed in large numbers and still turn up used, often at fair prices. For rarer scenes, reissue labels do vital work: Soul Jazz Records, Numero Group, Strut and Analog Africa have unearthed many funk and Afro-funk records, usually with well-researched liner notes. Buda Musique's "Éthiopiques" series is the reference for 60s and 70s Ethiopian music. On the modern side, Daptone Records brought back an analog funk and soul sound.

Tell apart originals, official reissues and compilations
For used copies, check condition: funk records were often played hard
Check a compilation's track list to avoid duplicates
Compare prices across stores for the same edition

Where to go next

International funk sits within the site's Funk/Soul/R&B/Disco section. For groove sung in French, the French Funk collection picks up the thread, from Cortex to Vaudou Game. For the synth-driven dance side of the late 70s, Eurodisco is the natural next step. The genre's new releases and pre-order pages flag upcoming reissues and new albums.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best funk albums to own on vinyl?

Parliament's "Mothership Connection", Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain" and Sly & the Family Stone's "There's a Riot Goin' On" make a strong core. Add a 70s James Brown album and a Fela Kuti record to hear how funk traveled beyond the US and turned into Afrobeat.

What is Afrobeat?

Afrobeat is a style that took shape in Nigeria around Fela Kuti in the late 60s. It blends American funk, jazz and West African highlife, with long tracks, punchy horns and often political lyrics. Tony Allen, Fela's drummer, defined its signature rhythm.

Which labels reissue rare funk on vinyl?

Soul Jazz Records, Numero Group, Strut and Analog Africa regularly reissue rare funk and Afro-funk, often with detailed liner notes. For Ethiopian music, Buda Musique's "Éthiopiques" series is the standard reference. These reissues cost far less than original pressings, which can be very hard to find.

What is the difference between funk and soul?

Soul puts the voice and the song first, drawing on gospel and rhythm and blues. Funk shifts the focus to rhythm: syncopated bass, choppy rhythm guitar and prominent drums, often built on a single chord. James Brown made that move from one to the other over the course of the 60s.

Explore International Funk styles

International Funk 1869 records