10 funkiest songs of 1980

A few very famous funk anthems lead this list but  stick around. If I turn you on to Defunkt and Junie Morrison my work here is done.

1
Zapp : More Bounce To The Ounce

Dayton Ohio's Zapp recorded the funkiest song of the year, a #2 hit on the R+B charts.

2
The Gap Band: I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance 

Oops Upside Your head! Inspired by his cousin Bootsy Collins (ding!), The Gap Band's Charlie Wilson pays tribute to the P-Funk sound with an unforgettable anthem.

3 

Prince : Head

Prince's song about oral sex just might be the funkiest song he ever recorded.

4 
Defunkt : Strangling Me With You Love

Funk meet jazz with a side order of punk. Partially responsible for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

5 
Fatback: Gotta Get My Hands On Some Money

A #6 R+B hit for this NYC funk outfit. Even features some old skool rap.

6
Cameo : Throw It Down

Aaron Mills's pulsating bass gets the lead off track from Feel Me on he list. 

7

Sweat Band : Freak to Freak

When Bootsy Collins (ding!) lost the name Rubber Band in a lawsuit, he changed the band's name to Sweat and invited all of his P-Funk friends to the party.

9

Bootsy Collins : Fat Cat

The Sweat Band sessions also lead to Ultra Wave, Bootsy's ( ding!) solo album.

9
Con Funk Shun : Got To Be Enough

This #8 R +B hit also got a lot of play at the disco for obvious reasons. It makes the list for the bass line by Cedric Martin. 

10
Junie Morrison : Love Has Taken Me Over (Be My Baby)

The musical director of P-Funk recorded this Bread Alone track in 1980. De La Soul sampled the solo on "Me Myself and I". 

It's Serious

Cameo : It's Serious

[Purchase]

On January 2, 1978 Cameo released its sophomore album, We All Know Who We Are, featuring the disco funk single "It's Serious". This is years before "Word Up" and drummer Leon Blackmon's extreme Hi-Top Fade. At this point Cameo is still a straight ahead dance band out of New York City, but Blackmon's wit and funk appeal are apparent on tracks like "C on the Funk".