Funk Essentials - Under The Radar

charles wright & the watts 103ed st st. rhythm band (backing on early bill crosby albums, too)
wild tchopitoulas (meters, toussaint-related)
swamp dogg (jerry wiliams)--total destruction to your mind, rat on + others; legendary producer, composer, keys, etc w/b.b. king, irma thomas, ron wood, etc.
dyke & the blazers
war
the undisputed truth
bar-kays
kool and the gang (early)
eddie bo
the gaturs
wouldn't snooze on most of prince's catalog, either!

I just picked up "Masterology(The Pioneers of New British Funk)" from The New Mastersounds on Sundazed Records.If you like Booker T. & the M.G.s type funk,you will love this album.Also,it's a very well recorded album.

Neville Brothers: Live From Planet Earth, funk that will shake your house...

I will second the New Mastersounds and add Mother's Finest. Their first two or three albums are great funk/rock party music.

Anything by The Brothers Johnson. In particular, "Get The Funk out My Face," "Strawberry Letter 23," and "I'll Be Good To You."