Freaky Styley was the RHCP album that bridged rock and funk for me. It’s produced by George Clinton (he’s even lead vox on a track). Now I salivate over Parliament/Funkadelic and my friends think I’m crazy.
They definately have phases. Like By the way was clearly more 50s , Beatles and do wop insipired than funk. Klinghoffer were definately less funky overall too, except dark necessities did have a few solid tracks.