Bar-Kays / The Mar-Keys - Soul Finger / Last Night

Year Released: 1967 / 1961
Genre: Soul / Instrumental Funk / R&B

Description:

This 7″ pairing joins two of Stax Records’ most iconic instrumental funk cuts: The Bar-Kays’ “Soul Finger” and The Mar-Keys’ “Last Night.”

“Soul Finger” (1967) remains one of the all-time classic funk instrumentals — its jubilant horn blasts and groovy rhythm section have been sampled by Public Enemy (“Bring the Noise,” 1987) and Beastie Boys (“Shake Your Rump,” 1989). Its exuberant sound became a building block for funk-based hip-hop.

“Last Night” (1961) by The Mar-Keys was an early hit for the Stax label and has since been covered by The Ventures, David Ede, and The Bill Black Combo, among others. The tune’s catchy riff and stop-start rhythm have made it a standard in instrumental R&B and an influence on generations of funk and soul players.