Grooves For Mental Clarity

A short playlist inspired by Funky Nation: The Detroit Instrumentals

When I write that long-threatened self-help title Music For Mental Clarity – an undertaking I’m abundantly unqualified-for, given the brain fog and train-of-thought derailments that can define my working hours – it will have a section called “Joy In Repetition.”  (Thanks once again, Prince….).

The focus, naturally, will fall on the recurring elements of music – the unwavering rhythm section simmering away on a vamp in the studio, the steady ticking-clock click of a drum machine’s hi-hat cymbal – and how, over time, they can change one’s thought patterns. Provide a bit of an anchor. Foster a sense of rootedness. And maybe even encourage expansive, non-linear thinking.

For the last several weeks, the clarity-promoting (and mood enhancing) record on repeat in this realm has been Funky Nation: The Detroit Instrumentals, which I wrote about here recently. Recorded in 1971 and not released in its entirety until January, this set, nominally “led” by Marvin Gaye, is a joy-in-repetition gem.

That recent compilation is part of a rich tradition – of deep-groove instrumental music made by the bands of iconic singers, sometimes (as on a few Funky Nation tracks) with the passing participation of the stars.

James Brown is the Godfather here: Throughout (and after) his hitmaking run, he recorded tightly wound and carefully choreographed instrumentals with his touring band. Some of these, like “The King,” featured Brown on organ; “The Popcorn,” which was recorded after a Dallas show in 1968, was one of several to become charting hits. Anyone curious about the alchemy of groove music should put the superlative Brown compilation Soul Pride: The Instrumentals 1960-1969 on a loop as soon as possible.

From there, this playlist visits a few of the many mostly-instrumental delicacies that fit the general paradigm and are available on Spotify. Curiously, the Prince-led instrumental project MadHouse, which did a few records for Warner Brothers, is mostly missing on the streaming service; the included track is from The Versace Experience. The Allen Toussaint track is early, 1958, and is included as a stupendous curiosity; it’s not quite on the same rhythmic wavelength as the others.

There’s an entire superlong playlist to do on evocative instrumentals from ‘70s film soundtracks; for a taste, check Isaac Hayes’ splashy neon-glow masterpiece “Pursuit of the Pimpmobile” from 1974’s Truck Turner.

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