Funk Deluxe
Funk Deluxe was a short-lived funk and electro-funk group signed to Salsoul Records in the early 1980s. They released a self-titled debut album in 1984, blending disco influences with emerging electro and funk grooves typical of the label's later output.
Formed during Salsoul's declining disco era, Funk Deluxe featured production ties to the label's Philly soul roots via musicians like those from the Salsoul Orchestra sessions. The group emerged as Salsoul shifted toward funk and club-oriented sounds amid competition from newer electro acts.
Their sole album, Funk Deluxe (Salsoul SA 8552), dropped in 1984 and included tracks like "Partime Lover" and "This Time." Produced with input from figures like Patrick Adams, it captured a gritty, danceable electro-funk style but achieved limited commercial success as disco waned.
Specific member details are scarce, with no widely documented full lineup; they were likely a studio project involving session players from Salsoul's network, including possible contributions from Norman Harris or Ronnie Baker affiliates. Tracks like "Partime Lover" later gained cult status among funk collectors and DJs for their raw grooves.
Funk Deluxe
A2 Tender Lovin' 4:13
A3 This Time 5:17
A4 Partime Lover 4:31
B1 Take It To The Top 5:30
B2 She's What I Need 5:42
B3 Friends 7:28
Label: Salsoul Records – SA 8565
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Funk, Disco, Boogie
The 1984 self-titled album Funk Deluxe is a solid post-disco/R&B effort produced by Randy Muller (of Brass Construction/Skyy), characterized by tight, in-the-pocket funk, sizzling synths, and soulful vocals. It represents the late-period Salsoul sound, leaning heavily into 80s, synth-heavy funk with a "fierce funk attack," making it a recommended listen for fans of 1980s funk and boogie.
Produced and written by Randy Muller, the album features a familiar sound to his other projects, combining traditional funk elements with modern 80s, futuristic, and synthetic, modish studio effects.
Standout Tracks:- "This Time": A chugging, rhythmic highlight compared to Muller's work with Brass Construction; "Dance It Off": Often cited as a high-energy dancefloor killer with a perfect bass-and-beats combination; "Tender Lovin'": Another fan favorite frequently highlighted for its quintessential 80s soul feel.
The album is described as having "hot" and "fresh" grooves designed to make the listener dance. It fits within the late Salsoul Records era, which moved away from disco towards pure funk.
It is considered a strong, albeit not groundbreaking, example of 1984 R&B/funk, with a "fierce" sound for that era. Reviewers on Rate Your Music and Discogs praise it as an "end to end burner" and "the funkiest funk album," noting that while it doesn't reinvent the genre, its "in the pocket" grooves are irresistible for dancing.