27+ Classic 80s Funk Songs

Kiss – Prince (1986)

Produced by Prince

A minimalist funk masterpiece, Kiss blends falsetto vocals, a sparse guitar groove, and cheeky sensuality. Prince’s boundary-pushing style and raw charisma made this track an instant classic with massive crossover appeal.

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Super Freak – Rick James (1981)

Produced by Rick James 

Driven by an unforgettable bassline, Super Freak mixes funk, new wave, and playful risqué wordplay. Rick James’ flamboyant persona and tight production made it one of the era’s most iconic party anthems. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Word Up! – Cameo (1986)

Produced by Larry Blackmon

With its commanding synth riff, vocoder hook, and swaggering attitude, Word Up! became Cameo’s defining hit. Larry Blackmon’s spectacular red codpiece and funk-rock flair pushed the genre into bold, funky theatrics. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Ain’t Nobody – Chaka Khan (1983)

Produced by Arif Mardin

Combining smooth synth textures and Chaka Khan’s powerhouse vocals, this track is both soulful and futuristic. It became a staple of 1980s R&B and dancefloors, praised for its rich emotion and polished sound.

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You Dropped a Bomb on Me – The Gap Band (1982)

Produced by Arif Mardin

This is still a super synth-funk anthem thanks to its explosive effects and a pulsing beat. The Gap Band blended military motifs with romance, creating a track that was as playful as it was powerfully funky. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

No Parking on the Dance Floor – Midnight Star (1983)

Produced by Reggie & Vincent Calloway

This funky track captures the energy of early ‘80s club life. With its punchy rhythm, vocoder infused vocals, and dancefloor command, it remains a staple of electro-funk and boogie playlists. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Atomic Dog – George Clinton (1982)

Produced by George Clinton

Unleashing P-Funk into the future, Atomic Dog is a surreal, spaced-out funk classic. With barking vocals, synth squiggles, and absurdist lyrics, Clinton created a track sampled endlessly in music and especially hip-hop.

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Take Your Time (Do It Right) – S.O.S. Band (1980)

Produced by Sigidi Abdullah

With a laid-back groove and crisp percussion, this song encourages sensual patience on the dancefloor. A debut hit for the S.O.S. Band, it helped usher in the electro-funk and R&B blend of the early ‘80s. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Juicy Fruit – Mtume (1983)

Produced by James Mtume

Juicy Fruit is a slow-burning, sexy groove that became a quiet storm staple. Its dreamy production and suggestive lyrics made it an R&B favorite and a hip-hop sampling goldmine. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Jungle Love – The Time (1984)

Produced by Prince & Morris Day

Written by Prince under a pseudonym, this energetic track fuses Minneapolis funk with rock swagger. Morris Day’s humorous charm and tight grooves made it a high point of ‘80s funk-pop crossover.

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A Night to Remember – Shalamar (1982)

Produced by Leon Sylvers III

A polished blend of funk, soul, and post-disco vibes, this song radiates romantic nostalgia. Its catchy hook and smooth production made it a wedding favorite and enduring party classic. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Never Too Much – Luther Vandross (1981)

Produced by Luther Vandross

Luther’s debut single is a feel-good funk-soul hybrid driven by a bubbling bassline and joyful vocals. Smooth yet rhythmic, it showcases his vocal superiority and set the tone for his legendary career.

Oh, my love
A thousand kisses from you is never too much
I just don’t wanna stop
Oh, my love
A million days in your arms is never too much
I just don’t wanna stop
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Funkin’ For Jamaica – Tom Browne (1980)

Produced by Dave Grusin & Larry Rosen

A jazzy, trumpet-led funk jam celebrating Jamaica, Queens, this track blends soulful vocals and tight instrumentation. Its fusion of jazz, funk, and groove earned it massive club and radio play in the early 1980s.

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Let It Whip – Dazz Band (1982)

Produced by Reggie Andrews

With its irresistible groove, snapping snare, and high-energy vocals, Let It Whip is a party-starter. It blends funk, R&B, and early electro vibes, earning the Dazz Band a Grammy and enduring club appeal. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Somebody Else’s Guy – Jocelyn Brown (1984)

Produced by Kashif

Raw, emotional, and vocally powerful, this funk-infused R&B anthem captures heartbreak with strength. Jocelyn Brown’s commanding delivery and the funky groove give it lasting presence on dancefloors and in soul playlists. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Fantastic Voyage – Lakeside (1980)

Produced by Lakeside

A funk odyssey with cosmic themes and a joyous bounce, Fantastic Voyage invites listeners on a musical journey. Its infectious hook and optimism made it a funk essential, later revived by Coolio.

Oh Sheila – Ready for the World (1985)

Produced by Ready for the World

Heavily Prince-influenced, this synth-laden hit merges Minneapolis-style funk with smooth R&B. Its catchy hook, electronic percussion, and confident vocals propelled it to No. 1 across pop, R&B, and dance charts. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Dancin’ in the Key of Life – Steve Arrington (1985)

Produced by Steve Arrington

Uplifting and deeply funky, this track blends spiritual optimism with electro-funk textures. Arrington’s expressive vocals and positive message turned this into an inspirational jam that’s both danceable and soul-nourishing. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Cutie Pie – One Way (1982)

Produced by Al Hudson

Driven by a slinky bassline and robotic vocal effects, Cutie Pie is cheeky, catchy, and unmistakably funky. It became One Way’s biggest hit and a favorite among funk and early electro fans.

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Forget Me Nots – Patrice Rushen (1982)

Produced by Patrice Rushen & Freddie Washington

A sophisticated blend of funk, R&B, and jazz elements, this track’s catchy bassline and cool confidence made it iconic. Its groove is so timeless it was famously sampled in Will Smith’s Men in Black. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Back in Stride – Maze feat. Frankie Beverly (1985)

Produced by Frankie Beverly

Soulful and introspective, this smooth funk track leans more into R&B. Frankie Beverly’s warm vocals glide over a mid-tempo groove, offering a message of personal growth and resilience wrapped in elegance. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

All Night Long – Mary Jane Girls (1983)

Produced by Rick James

Smooth, sultry, and laid-back, this Rick James-produced track became a quiet storm staple. Its mellow funk groove, layered harmonies, and sensual vibe made it a favorite for late-night playlists and slow jams.

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Get Down on It – Kool & the Gang (1981)

Produced by Eumir Deodato

An upbeat anthem with a driving bassline and sing-along hook, this track encouraged dancefloor confidence. Funky, polished, and universally loved, it remains one of Kool & the Gang’s most celebrated party classics. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Watching You – Slave (1980)

Produced by Steve Washington

Tight bass, synth flourishes, and sleek vocal harmonies define this funk gem. Watching You captures the smooth-but-groovy energy of early ’80s funk, with a laid-back cool that still resonates today. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Stomp! – The Brothers Johnson (1980)

Produced by Quincy Jones

Funk at its most joyful, Stomp! is an explosion of rhythm, slap bass, and feel-good energy. Produced by the legendary Quincy Jones, it’s a celebratory call to dance that still electrifies crowds.

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The Glamorous Life – Sheila E. (1984)

Produced by Prince

A Prince-written hit, this song fuses glam, funk, and pop with Sheila E.’s fierce percussion and vocals. It critiques materialism while sounding effortlessly cool, showcasing her power as a solo performer. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

She’s a Bad Mama Jama – Carl Carlton (1981)

Produced by Leon Sylvers III

A timeless ode to irresistible beauty, this track combines slick basslines with sharp horns and infectious energy. Its strutting groove made it a funk staple, still heard in films, commercials, and clubs. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire (1981)

Produced by Maurice White

This electro-funk classic marked a new era for the band, blending disco’s pulse with futuristic synths and falsetto vocals. It’s upbeat, polished, and one of the most iconic dance tracks of the decade.

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And the Beat Goes On – The Whispers (1980)

Produced by Leon Sylvers III

Sleek, smooth, and undeniably groovy, this track helped usher in the boogie-funk sound. Its silky vocals and tight rhythm section made it a chart-topper and a blueprint for early ‘80s funk-pop crossover. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

More Bounce to the Ounce – Zapp (1980)

Produced by Roger Troutman

A pioneering electro-funk jam, this song introduced Roger Troutman’s signature talkbox vocals. Its rubbery bass and bounce-heavy groove made it hugely influential in hip-hop and West Coast funk culture. Watch on YouTube | Back to Playlist

80s Funk Tropes

This era of funk was vibrant, polished, and experimental. Celebrated for its party energy, high production values, and its lasting impact on pop, soul, and dance music for decades to come.

Lyrics leaned into party vibes, romance, or cool bravado, while basslines stayed central—syncopated and punchy. The Minneapolis sound, pioneered by Prince and The Time, fused funk with rock and new wave.

Overall, the decade’s funk became tighter, shinier, and more dance-oriented while influencing hip-hop and modern R&B. Having a function? Check out our 80s-themed party ideas.

Honourable Mentions:

These other 1980s funk tunes also had to be mentioned:

• Hangin’ on a String – Loose Ends (1985)
• Get Down Saturday Night – Oliver Cheatham (1983)
• I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On) – Kashif – (1983)
• Don’t Stop the Music – Yarbrough & Peoples (1980)
• Teardrops – Womack & Womack (1988)

Music Mixes brings it with this selection of more rare 80’s grooves.

You can enjoy the playlist on Spotify below at your next function, thanks to Party DJ Hire: