Graham Central Station: Hair

It’s funky Friday! Today’s selection is from the 1974 debut album by Graham Central Station. Although not as famous as Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, or P-Funk, Graham Central Station were integral in the funk explosion of the early ’70s. Formed by former Sly & The Family Stone bassist Larry Graham, the band released several quintessential funk albums during the most important period in funk’s history. Graham invented the funk bass technique known as slap bass, and that sound drives their music. Larry Graham is a funk icon. His music with Sly Stone greatly influenced Prince (he was a member of Prince’s New Power Generation at the turn of the 20th century), and his work with Graham Central Station and as a solo artist is still beloved by those who care about these things. “Hair” starts with a slap bass master class, slides into a funk guitar riff, kicks into a stone-cold funk groove when the drums and vocals drop in, and then brings it all together with the horns and keyboards (the distorted slap bass solo at the 3-minute mark is outstanding). This song was not a hit, but it is as good as funk gets.

To learn more about Graham Central Station, check out their Wikipedia page.

To listen to all of the songs of the day, check out the Radio Faux Show Song of the Day playlist.

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