10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Albums

The band embraced their love of funk on this, their second record, more than any other, and the results are, if not necessarily pretty or profound, always fun. Produced by godfather of funk himself, George Clinton, Freaky Styley largely lacks in the heaviness that would be a hallmark of the band's work throughout the '80s, instead featuring minimalist, percussive guitar work by Hillel Slovak, complimented by horn sections that will be familiar to any fan of RHCP inspirations such as Parliament, The Ohio Players or Defunkt.

The album is great fun, though it lacks the presence of a standout, defining track. The band was still finding their identity on Freaky Styley, and it shows. Highlights include covers If You Want Me To Stay (Sly & The Family Stone) and Hollywood (an adaption of The Meters Africa). The less said about Catholic Schoolgirls Rule (and its inspiration) the better.

The thing that really shines through on this record is the pure potential, the fun-loving, spontaneous nature of the band that would come to be their defining characteristic as the years would go by.