"Funky" was a 1970 single for the Chambers Brothers. It was a hit for the group the following year where it registered on multiple charts.
Background "Funky" is a dancing song, and the scene is set at home. Mama is in the kitchen doing some cooking. With all the dancing songs that were around at the time, the composer Lester Chambers wanted to make a happy song about what went on in the home.Cash Box, February 27, 1971 - Page 21 Vital Statistics, #96* FUNKYSong Facts - Funky by The Chambers Brothers
"Funky" was produced by the Chambers Brothers. Backed with "Love Peace and Happiness", it was released on Columbia 45277. The publisher was Chambro BMI.Cash Box, February 27, 1971 - Page 21 Vital Statistics, #96* FUNKY A Record World advertisement in mid-January 1971, alerted readers that the song from the group's forthcoming New Generation album, was now out.Record World, January 16, 1971 - Page 9 Funky.
A sample of "Funky" is used for "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo" by A Tribe Called Quest.American Songwriter, February 21, 2024 - The Meaning Behind “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo” by A Tribe Called Quest - By Jim Beviglia
Reception As per the 12 December 1970 issue of Billboard, "Funky" was a Spotlight single, one that was predicted to reach the Soul Singles chart.Billboard, December 20, 1970 - Page 70 Spotlight Singles, CHART Spotlights Predicted to reach the SOUL SINGLES Chart
In Ed Och's Soul Sauce column in Billboard for the week of 16 January 1971, he advised the readers to check out "Funky" by The Chambers Bros. and that it was a soul hit for them.Billboard, January 16, 1971 - Page 36 Soul, Soul Sauce By ED OCHS
Airplay For the week of 20 February, "Funky" was added to the playlist of WKWK in Wheeling, W. V.Cash Box, February 20, 1971 - Page 18 New Additions To Radio Playlists Secondary Markets, WKWK-Wheeling, W. Va. The album version of the song was on the playlist of KADI-FM in St. Louis for the week of 27 February.Record World, February 27, 1971 - Page 30 THE FM AIRPLAY REPORT, KADI-FM/ST. LOUIS
Charts For the week of 19 December 1970, "Funky" made its debut at no. 125 in the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.Billboard, December 12, 1970 - Page 64 Bubbling Under The HOT 100Billboard, December 19, 1970 - Page 55 Bubbling Under The HOT 100, 125. FUNKY For the week of 30 January 1971, "Funky" debuted at no. 42 in the Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles chart. It was also a Star Performer.Billboard, January 30, 1971 - Page 34 Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY Far Week Ending 1/30/71, Billboard BEST SELLING Soul Singles, This Week 42, Last Week -, Weeks on Chart 3 It held that position for another week.Billboard, February 6, 1971 - Page 42 Billboard SPECIAL 5URVEY For Week Ending 2/6/71, This Week 42, Last Week 42, Weeks on Chart 4Billboard, February 13, 1971 - Page 31 Billboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 2/13/71 Billboard BEST SELLING Soul Singles, This Week 46, Last Week 42, Weeks on Chart 5 Funky got to no. 106 on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart for the week of 20 February 1971.Billboard, February 13, 1971 - Page 34 Bubbling Under The HOT 100, 107. FUNKYBillboard, February 20, 1971 - Page 56 Bubbling Under The HOT 100, 106. FUNKYBillboard, February 27, 1971 - Page 15 Bubbling Under The HOT 100
For the week of 16 January 1971, "Funky" debuted at no. 55 in the Cash Box Top 60 in R&B Locations chart.Cash Box, January 9, 1971 - Page 24 Cash Box Top 60 In R & B LocationsCash Box, January 19, 1971 - Page 32 Cash Box Top 60 In R & B Locations, 55 FUNKY For the week of 6 February, "Funky" was at no. 11 in the Cash Box Looking Ahead chart.Cash Box, February 6, 1971 - Page 6 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD, 11 FUNKY It peaked at no. 30 on the Cash Box Top 60 In R&B Locations chart for the week of 13 February.Cash Box, February 13, 1971 - Page 30 Cash Box Top 60 In R & B Locations, 30 FUNKY, 35Cash Box, February 20, 1971 - Page 36 Cash Box Top 60 In R & B Locations, 51 FUNKY, 30 "Funky" got to no. 2 on the Cash Box Looking Ahead chart for the week of 20 February,Cash Box, February 20, 1971 - Page 22 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD, 2 FUNKY and the following week, it debuted at no. 96 in the Cash Box Top 100 chart.Cash Box, February 27, 1971 - Page 4 Cash Box TOP 100 February 27, 1971 96 FUNKY, _, _ The following week (6 March), it had fallen back to no 11 in the Cash Box Looking Ahead chart.Cash Box, March 6, 1971 - Page 22 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD, 11 FUNKY
The single debuted at no. 58 in the Record World R&B Singles Chart for the week of 16 January 1971.Record World, January 16, 1971 - Page 34 THE R&B SINGLES CHART JANUARY 16, 1971, THIS WK. 58, LAST WK. - "Funky" debuted at no 149 in the Record World 101 - 150 Singles chart for the week of 30 January.Record World, January 30, 1971 - Page 31 THE 101 - 150 SINGLES CHART JANUARY 30, 1971, THIS WK. 149, LAST WK. - It peaked at no. 32 on the Record World R&B Singles Chart for the week of 20 February.Record World, February 20, 1971 - Page 36 THE R&B SINGLES CHART FEBRUARY 20, 1971, THIS WK. 32, LAST WK. 39Record World, February 27, 1971 - Page 36 THE R&B SINGLES CHART FEBRUARY 27, 1971, THIS WK. 43, LAST WK. 32 FUNKY For the week of 27 February, "Funky" was at no. 113 on the Record World 101 - 150 Singles chart.Record World, February 27, 1971 - Page 28 THE 101 - 150 SINGLES CHART FEBRUARY 21, 1971, THIS WK. 113, LAST WK. 116
Further reading Funky 16 Corners - Chambers Brothers – Funky
References
External links Discogs - Chambers Brothers* – Funky / Love, Peace And Happiness The Chambers Brothers channel, Nov 9, 2014 - Funky The Chambers Brothers Channel, Apr 29, 2016 - Let's Get Funky (Live)