Funkadelic | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Though they often took a back seat to their sister group Parliament, Funkadelic furthered the notions of black rock begun by Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone, blending elements of 60s psychedelia and blues plus the deep groove of soul and funk. The band pursued album statements of social/political commentary while Parliament stayed in the funk singles format, but Funkadelic nevertheless paralleled the more commercial groups success, especially in the late 70s when the interplay between bands moved the Funkadelic sound closer to a unified P-Funk style. In the grand soul tradition of a backing band playing support before the star takes the stage, Funkadelic began life supporting George Clintons doo wop group, the Parliaments. After having performed for almost ten years, the Parliaments had added a rhythm section in 1964 -- for tours and background work -- consisting of guitarist Frankie Boyce, his brother Richard on bass, and drummer Langston Booth; two years later, the trio enlisted in the Army. By mid-1967, Clinton had recruited a new backing band, including his old friend Billy "Bass" Nelson (born January 28, 1951, Plainfield, New Jersey) and guitarist Eddie Hazel (born April 10, 1950, Brooklyn, New York). After several temporary replacements on drums and keyboards, the addition of rhythm guitarist Lucius "Tawl" Ross (born October 5, 1948, Wagram, North Carolina) and drummer Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood (born May 23, 1944, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) completed the lineup. The Parliaments recorded several hits during 1967, but trouble with the Revilot label backed Clinton into a corner. He hit upon the idea of deserting the Parliaments name and instead recording their backing group, with the added vocal "contributions" of the former Parliaments -- same band, different name. Billy Nelson suggested the title Funkadelic, to reflect the members increased inspiration from LSD and psychedelic culture. Clinton formed the Funkadelic label in mid-1968 but then signed the group to Detroits Westbound label several months later. Released in 1970, Funkadelics self-titled debut album listed only producer Clinton and the five members of Funkadelic -- Hazel, Nelson, Fulwood, and Ross plus organist Mickey Atkins -- but also included all the former Parliaments plus several Motown sessionmen and Rare Earths Ray Monette. Keyboard player Bernie Worrell also appeared on the album uncredited, even though his picture was included on the inner sleeve with the rest of the band. Worrell (born April 19, 1944, Long Beach, New Jersey) was finally credited on the second Funkadelic album (1970s Free Your Mind...and Your Ass Will Follow). He and Clinton had known each other since the early 60s, and Worrell soon became the most crucial cog in the P-Funk machine, working on arrangements and production for most later Parliament/Funkadelic releases. His strict upbringing and classical training (at the New England Conservatory and Juilliard), as well as the boom in synthesizer technology during the early 70s, gave him the tools to create the horn arrangements and jazz fusion-inspired synth runs that later trademarked the P-Funk sound. Just after the release of their third album, Maggot Brain, P-Funk added yet another big contributor, Bootsy Collins. The throbbing bassline of Collins (born October 26, 1951, Cincinnati, Ohio) had previously been featured in James Browns backing band, the J.B.s (along with his brother, guitarist Catfish Collins). Bootsy and Catfish were playing in a Detroit band in 1972 when George Clinton saw and hired them. The Clinton/Worrell/Collins lineup premiered on 1972s America Eats Its Young, but soon after its release several original members left the camp. Eddie Hazel spent a year in jail after a combination drug possession/assault conviction, Tawl Ross left the band for medical reasons relating to an overdose of LSD and speed, and Bill Nelson quit after more financial quarrels with Clinton. Funkadelic hired teenaged guitar sensation Michael Hampton as a replacement, but both Hazel and Nelson would return for several later P-Funk releases. Funkadelic moved to Warner Bros. in 1975 and delivered its major-label debut, Hardcore Jollies, one year later to lackluster sales and reviews. The same year, Westbound raided its vaults and countered with Tales of Kidd Funkadelic. Ironically, the album did better than Hardcore Jollies and included an R&B; Top 30 single, "Undisco Kidd." In 1977, Westbound released The Best of the Early Years while Funkadelic recorded what became its masterpiece (and arguably the best P-Funk release ever), 1978s One Nation Under a Groove. During the most successful year in Parliament/Funkadelic history, Parliament hit the charts first with "Flash Light," P-Funks first R&B; number one. "Aqua Boogie" would hit number one as well late in the year, but Funkadelics title track to One Nation Under a Groove spent six weeks at the top spot on the R&B; charts during the summer. The album, which reflected a growing consistency in styles between Parliament and Funkadelic, became the first Funkadelic LP to reach platinum (the same year that Parliaments Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome did the same). In 1979, Funkadelics "(Not Just) Knee Deep" hit number one as well, and its album (Uncle Jam Wants You) reached gold status. At just the point that Funkadelic appeared to be at the top of their powers, the band began to unravel. As is sometimes the case, commercial success began to dissolve several old friendships. In 1977, original Parliaments members Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Simon, and Grady Thomas had left the P-Funk organization to record on their own. In early 1981, they hit the R&B; charts with a single called "Connections and Disconnections," recorded as Funkadelic. To confuse matters more, the original Funkadelic appeared on the charts at the same time, with the title track to The Electric Spanking of War Babies. During 1980, Clinton began to be weighed down by legal difficulties arising from Polygrams acquisition of Parliaments label, Casablanca. Jettisoning both the Parliament and Funkadelic names (but not the musicians), Clinton began his solo career with 1982s Computer Games. He and many former Parliament/Funkadelic members continued to tour and record throughout the 80s as the P-Funk All Stars, but the decades disdain of everything to do with the 70s resulted in critical and commercial neglect for the worlds biggest funk band, especially one that, in part, had spawned the sound of disco. During the early 90s, the rise of funk-inspired rap (courtesy of Digital Underground, Dr. Dre, and Warren G.) and funk rock (Primus and Red Hot Chili Peppers) reestablished the status of Clinton and company, one of the most important forces in the recent history of black music. While they continued to perform in permutations, there were occasional archival releases, such as By Way of the Drum (a shelved 1989 recording; 2007) and Toys (previously unissued Westbound-era sessions; 2008). In 2014, they released the all-new First Ya Gotta Shake the Gate, which clocked in at a whopping 200 minutes -- roughly the same length as the sum of the bands first five albums. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 35 Title: Funkadelic Released: 1970-03 Tracks: 7 Duration: 47:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Mommy, What’s a Funkadelic? (09:07) 2 I Bet You (06:13) 3 Music for My Mother (05:38) 4 I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody’s Got a Thing (03:54) 5 Good Old Music (08:07) 6 Qualify & Satisfy (06:19) 7 What Is Soul (07:44) |
| Funkadelic : Allmusic album Review : Funkadelics self-titled 1970 debut is one of the groups best early- to mid-70s albums. Not only is it laden with great songs -- "Ill Bet You" and "I Got a Thing..." are obvious highlights -- but it retains perhaps a greater sense of classic 60s soul and R&B; than any successive George Clinton-affiliated album. Recording for the Detroit-based Westbound label, at the time Funkadelic were in the same boat as psychedelic soul groups such as the Temptations, who had just recorded their landmark Cloud Nine album across town at Motown, and other similar groups. Yet no group had managed to effectively balance big, gnarly rock guitars with crooning, heartfelt soul at this point in time quite like Funkadelic. Clintons songs are essentially conventional soul songs in the spirit of Motown or Stax -- steady rhythms, dense arrangements, choruses of vocals -- but with a loud, overdriven, fuzzy guitar lurking high in the mix. And when Clintons songs went into their chaotic moments of jamming, there was no mistaking the Hendrix influence. Furthermore, Clintons half-quirky, half-trippy ad libs during "Mommy, Whats a Funkadelic?" and "What Is Soul" can be mistaken for no one else -- theyre pure-cut P-Funk. Successive albums portray Funkadelic drifting further toward rock, funk, and eventually disco, especially once Bernie Worrell began playing a larger role in the group. Never again would the band be this attuned to its 60s roots, making self-titled release a revealing and unique record thats certainly not short on significance, clearly marking the crossroads between 60s soul and 70s funk. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 35 Title: Free Your Mind… and Your Ass Will Follow Released: 1970-10 Tracks: 6 Duration: 31:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow (10:05) 2 Friday Night, August 14th (05:22) 3 Funky Dollar Bill (03:15) 4 I Wanna Know If It’s Good to You (06:00) 5 Some More (02:59) 6 Eulogy and Light (03:30) |
 | Album: 3 of 35 Title: Maggot Brain Released: 1971-07-12 Tracks: 7 Duration: 36:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Maggot Brain (10:21) 2 Can You Get to That (02:50) 3 Hit It and Quit It (03:50) 4 You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks (03:36) 5 Super Stupid (03:57) 6 Back in Our Minds (02:38) 7 Wars of Armageddon (09:42) |
| Maggot Brain : Allmusic album Review : It starts with a crackle of feedback shooting from speaker to speaker and a voice intoning, "Mother Earth is pregnant for the third time, for yall have knocked her up" and talking about rising "above it all or drown in my own sh*t." This could only have been utterly bizarre back in 1971 and its no less so decades later; though the Mothership was well on its way already, Maggot Brain really helped it take off. The instrumental title track is the key reason to listen, specifically for Eddie Hazels lengthy, mind-melting solo. George Clinton famously told Hazel to play "like your momma had just died," and the resulting evocation of melancholy and sorrow doesnt merely rival Jimi Hendrixs work, but arguably bests a lot of it. Accompanied by another softer guitar figure providing gentle rhythm for the piece, the end result is simply fantastic, an emotional apocalypse of sound. Maggot Brain is bookended by another long number, "Wars of Armageddon," a full-on jam from the band looping in freedom chants and airport-departure announcements to the freak-out. In between are a number of short pieces, finding the collective merrily cooking up some funky stew of the slow and smoky variety. There are folky blues and gospel testifying on "Can You Get to That" (one listen and a lot of Primal Screams mid-90s career is instantly explained) and wry but warm reflections on interracial love on "You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks," its drum hits distorted to give a weird electronic edge to the results. "Super Stupid" is a particular killer, pounding drums and snarling guitar laying down the boogie hard and hot, while "Hit It and Quit It" has a great chorus and Bernie Worrell getting in a fun keyboard solo to boot. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 35 Title: America Eats Its Young Released: 1972-05 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:16:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 You Hit the Nail on the Head (07:13) 2 If You Don’t Like the Effects, Don’t Produce the Cause (03:47) 3 Everybody Is Going to Make It This Time (05:57) 4 A Joyful Process (06:15) 5 We Hurt Too (03:51) 6 Loose Booty (04:53) 7 Philmore (02:34) 8 Pussycat (05:09) 9 America Eats Its Young (05:54) 10 Biological Speculation (03:09) 11 That Was My Girl (03:47) 12 Balance (05:31) 13 Miss Lucifer’s Love (05:58) 14 Wake Up (06:28) 15 Loose Booty (03:15) 16 A Joyful Process (45 version) (02:56) |
| America Eats Its Young : Allmusic album Review : A double album and worth every minute of it, America Eats Its Young makes for a freaky, funky, and aware good time. Compared to the endless slabs of double-album dreck that came out around the same time from all sources, here Funkadelic brought life, soul, and much more to the party. With George Clinton credited only for arranging and producing, here the mad cast he brought together went all out. Bernie Worrell in particular now had a new importance, credited as co-arranger with Clinton as well as handling string and horn charts on a number of songs. His surging, never-stop keyboards, meanwhile, took control from the start, with his magnificent lead break on the opening "You Hit the Nail on the Head" making for one of the best performances ever on Hammond organ. Bootsy Collins (credited as William) is also somewhere in the crowd on bass and vocals, while old favorites like Eddie Hazel and Tiki Fulwood, among many others, can be found. Perhaps to fill in the time, a few numbers from the first Parliament album, Osmium, two years before cropped up, namely "Loose Booty" and the hilariously sleazy "I Call My Baby Pussycat," here performed with a noticeably slower, dirty groove. The straightforward social call to arms appears throughout, with one song title saying it all -- "If You Dont Like the Effects, Dont Produce the Cause." Other winners include the vicious title track, combining everything from mysterious, doom-laden voices and weeping wails to slow, sad music, and the concluding "Wake Up," while "Everybody Is Going to Make It This Time" is a lovely, gospel-informed ballad that heads for the skies and hearts. There are more mundane concerns as well, such as "There Was My Girl," a quirky weeper, and the weird if smoothly delivered "Miss Lucifers Love," with more than one target in mind. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 35 Title: Cosmic Slop Released: 1973-03 Tracks: 9 Duration: 35:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Nappy Dugout (04:34) 2 You Can’t Miss What You Can’t Measure (03:05) 3 March to the Witch’s Castle (06:01) 4 Lets Make It Last (04:10) 5 Cosmic Slop (05:20) 6 No Compute (03:05) 7 This Broken Heart (03:40) 8 Trash A-Go-Go (02:27) 9 Cant Stand the Strain (03:27) |
| Cosmic Slop : Allmusic album Review : With a much more stripped-down version of the band, if the credits are to be believed (five regular members total, not counting any vocalists), Funkadelic continued its way through life with Cosmic Slop. A slightly more scattershot album than the groups other early efforts, with generally short tracks (only two break the five-minute barrier) and some go-nowhere ballads, Cosmic Slop still has plenty to like about it, not least because of the monstrous title track. A bitter, heartbreaking portrait of a family on the edge, made all the more haunting and sad by the sweet vocal work -- imagine an even more mournful "Papa Was a Rollin Stone" -- the chorus is a killer, with the devil invited to the dance while the band collectively fires up the funk. Elsewhere, the band sounds like its more interested in simply hitting a good groove and enjoying it, and why not? If introductory track "Nappy Dugout" relies more on duck calls and whistles than anything else to give it identity, its still a clap-your-hands/stomp-your-feet experience, speeding up just a little toward the end. As for the bandmembers themselves, Bernie Worrell still takes the general lead thanks to his peerless keyboard work, but the guitar team of Gary Shider and Ron Bykowski and the rhythm duo of Tyrone Lampkin and Cordell Mosson arent any slouches, either. George Clinton again seems to rely on the role of ringleader more than anything else, but likely thats him behind touches like distorted vocals. Certainly its a trip to hear the deep, spaced-out spoken word tale on "March to the Witchs Castle," a harrowing picture of vets returning from Vietnam -- and then realizing that Rush ripped off that approach for a song on its Caress of Steel album a year or two later! | ||
 | Album: 6 of 35 Title: Standing on the Verge of Getting It On Released: 1974-09 Tracks: 9 Duration: 44:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Red Hot Mama (04:56) 2 Alice in My Fantasies (02:30) 3 I’ll Stay (07:18) 4 Sexy Ways (03:08) 5 Standing on the Verge of Getting It On (05:09) 6 Jimmys Got a Little Bit of Bitch in Him (02:33) 7 Good Thoughts, Bad Thoughts (12:17) 8 Vital Juices (03:13) 9 Standing on the Verge of Getting It On (03:20) |
| Standing on the Verge of Getting It On : Allmusic album Review : Expanding back out to a more all-over-the-place lineup -- about 15 or so people this time out -- Funkadelic got a bit more back on track with Standing on the Verge of Getting It On. Admittedly, George Clinton repeats a trick from America Eats Its Young via another re-recording of an Osmium track, namely leadoff cut "Red Hot Mama." However, starting as it does with a hilarious double soliloquy (with the first voice sounding like the happier brother of Sir Nose dVoidoffunk) and coming across with a fierce new take, its a good omen for Standing on the Verge as a whole. Eddie Hazels guitar work in particular is just plain bad-ass; after his absence from Cosmic Slop, its good to hear him fully back in action with Bernie Worrell, Cordell Mosson, Gary Shider, and the rest. In general, compared to the sometimes too polite Cosmic Slop, Standing on the Verge is a full-bodied, crazy mess in the best possible way, with heavy funk jams that still smoke today while making a lot of supposedly loud and dangerous rock sound anemic. Check out "Alice in My Fantasies" if a good example is needed -- the whole thing is psychotic from the get-go, with vocals as much on the edge as the music -- or the wacky, wonderful title track. There are quieter moments as well, but this time around with a little more bite to them, like the woozy slow jam of "Ill Stay," which trips out along the edges just enough while the song makes its steady way along. In an unlikely but effective turn, meanwhile, "Jimmys Got a Little Bit of Bitch in Him" is a friendly, humorous song about a gay friend; given the rote homophobia of so much later hip-hop, its good to hear some founding fathers had a more open-minded view. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 35 Title: Funkadelics Greatest Hits Released: 1975 Tracks: 10 Duration: 39:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody’s Got a Thing (03:54) 2 I Wanna Know If It’s Good to You (06:00) 3 Standing on the Verge of Getting It On (03:20) 4 Hit It and Quit It (02:49) 5 Cosmic Slop (05:16) 6 Can You Get to That (02:50) 7 Loose Booty (03:15) 8 Funky Dollar Bill (03:08) 9 A Joyful Process (02:53) 10 I Bet You (06:13) |
| Funkadelic's Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : The small Detroit-based Westbound label released this best-of collection in 1975, when Funkadelic made the jump to Warner. It never saw a CD release and only exists on vinyl, so its a bit hard to track down. If you do stumble upon it though, youll find that its a suitable sampler of early Funkadelic singles, compiling many of the groups more up-tempo anthems from the early 70s such as "Hit It and Quit It" and "Loose Booty." Since its from the pre-CD era, the albums track listing is rather brief at ten songs, but you really cant complain about any dull moments -- everything here is top-notch Funkadelic. In addition to this reason, you may want to consider picking this up because there are only a few best-ofs that feature Funkadelics Westbound material. A small number were released on CD -- the excellent Finest single-disc collection being the preferred option -- but theyre often difficult to find. If you can happen to find Music for Your Mother, dont think twice, not even if you have all the LPs or even if you have Finest -- get it for not only the edited singles but also for the B-sides and the extensive liner notes. As mentioned though, both Ace and Music for Your Mother arent as widely available as they probably should be, so a dusty copy of Funkadelics Greatest Hits just may have to suffice in the meantime, even if it doesnt include "Maggot Brain." | ||
 | Album: 8 of 35 Title: Lets Take It to the Stage Released: 1975-07 Tracks: 10 Duration: 37:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Good to Your Earhole (04:35) 2 Better by the Pound (02:44) 3 Be My Beach (02:39) 4 No Head No Backstage Pass (02:39) 5 Let’s Take It to the Stage (03:37) 6 Get Off Your Ass and Jam (02:26) 7 Baby I Owe You Something Good (05:48) 8 Stuffs and Things (02:14) 9 The Song Is Familiar (03:09) 10 Atmosphere (07:14) |
| Let's Take It to the Stage : Allmusic album Review : One of Funkadelics goofiest releases, Lets Take It to the Stage also contains more P-Funk all-time greats as well, making for a grand balance of the serious and silly. Perhaps the silliest is at the end -- theres not much else one can call the extended oompah/icing rink start of "Atmosphere." The title track is as much a call to arms as "Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow" is, but with a more direct musical performance and a more open nod to party atmospheres (not to mention the source of one of Andrew Dice Clays longest-running bits). The targets of the bands good-natured wrath are, in fact, other groups -- "Hey, Fool and the Gang! Lets take it to the stage!" Theres no mistaking the track that immediately follows makes it even more intense -- "Get Off Your Ass and Jam" kicks in with one bad-ass drum roll and then scorches the damn place down, from guitar solo to the insanely funky bass from Cordell "Boogie" Mosson. It may only be two and a half minutes long, but it alone makes the album a classic. Hearing Bootsy Collins unmistakable vocals is usually enough to get anything on the crazy tip, but "Be My Beach" (Collins Funkadelic vocal debut) just makes it all the more fun, as does the overall air of silly romance getting nuttier as it goes. "Good to Your Earhole" sets the outrageous mood just right -- its one of the bands tightest monsters of funk, guitars sprawling all over the place even as the heavy-hitting rhythm doesnt let one second of groove get lost. Of course, theres also one totally notorious number to go with it, but "No Head, No Backstage Pass" has one of the craziest rhythms on the whole album, not to mention lip-smackingly nutty lines delivered with the appropriate leer. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 35 Title: Tales of Kidd Funkadelic Released: 1976-10 Tracks: 7 Duration: 39:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Butt-to-Butt Resuscitation (03:53) 2 Lets Take It to the People (01:49) 3 Undisco Kidd (06:35) 4 Take Your Dead Ass Home! (Say Somn Nasty) (07:17) 5 Im Never Gonna Tell It (03:39) 6 Tales of Kidd Funkedelic (Opusdelite Years) (12:52) 7 How Do Yeaw View You? (03:40) |
| Tales of Kidd Funkadelic : Allmusic album Review : Some leftover jams, songs, and funk pieces from the Funkadelic era. George Clinton was in the midst of moving Funkadelic to another label, and the Westbound folk released a bunch of vault material to get another Funkadelic album on the market. There were still some fine cuts, but the random element prevented it from being a great album because it lacked the thematic organization and vision Clinton provided for the concept LPs. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 35 Title: Hardcore Jollies Released: 1976-11 Tracks: 8 Duration: 40:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Comin Round the Mountain (05:51) 2 Smokey (06:08) 3 If You Got Funk, You Got Style (03:05) 4 Hardcore Jollies (05:01) 5 Soul Mate (02:47) 6 Cosmic Slop (06:29) 7 You Scared the Lovin Outta Me (06:22) 8 Adolescent Funk (04:16) |
| Hardcore Jollies : Allmusic album Review : Funkadelics major-label jump brought its version of life more into line with Parliament, though the crucial difference between the two -- Funkadelics guitars vs. Parliaments horns -- remains intact. Eddie Hazel is missed, as always, but Gary Shider and Mike Hampton do fine work. Whoever peels off the concluding solo at the end of "Comin Round the Mountain" deserves credit, even if its sometimes flash for flashs sake. Similar exercises in feedback can be found on the title track and elsewhere, sometimes great, sometimes timekeeping. Still, after all, the album itself is dedicated "to the guitar players of the world," so it cant be said that George Clinton and company arent keeping the proper focus on things. Generally, things are fairly light on Hardcore Jollies, though a remake of earlier highlight "Cosmic Slop" retains the sharp sentiments, even if its not quite as strongly delivered as before (musically its much more centered around the bass and drums, though things get duly crazed all around toward the end). Otherwise, the emphasis is on fairly clean jams and rhythms, with more lower-key goofiness than before but still merrily out there. If its not truly gone and great like Maggot Brain or Lets Take It to the Stage, its still good listening at its best moments. "If You Got Fun, You Got Style" makes for a better chat-up dancefloor appreciation than most, while "Soul Mate" balances out obvious "want you bad" sentiments with squirrelly lead vocals that dont quite fit the subject at hand. And who could knock the use of the "theres a place in France/where the ladies wear no pants" melody in "You Scared the Lovin Outta Me"? Pedro Bell does some of his best work ever for the cover and inside art, while the accompanying short story is hilarious. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 35 Title: One Nation Under a Groove Released: 1978-10 Tracks: 6 Duration: 41:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 One Nation Under a Groove (07:28) 2 Groovallegiance (07:00) 3 Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock? (06:17) 4 Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers) (10:45) 5 Into You (05:41) 6 Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll!) (04:27) |
| One Nation Under a Groove : Allmusic album Review : One Nation Under a Groove was not only Funkadelics greatest moment, it was their most popular album, bringing them an unprecedented commercial breakthrough by going platinum and spawning a number one R&B; smash in the title track. It was a landmark LP for the so-called "black rock" movement, best-typified in the statement of purpose "Who Says a Funk Band Cant Play Rock?!"; more than that, though, the whole album is full of fuzzed-out, Hendrix-style guitar licks, even when the music is clearly meant for the dancefloor. This may not have been a new concept for Funkadelic, but its executed here with the greatest clarity and accessibility in their catalog. Furthermore, out of George Clintons many conceptual albums (serious and otherwise), One Nation Under a Groove is the pinnacle of his political consciousness. Its unified by a refusal to acknowledge boundaries -- social, sexual, or musical -- and, by extension, the uptight society that created them. The tone is positive, not militant -- this funk is about community, freedom, and independence, and you can hear it in every cut (even the bizarre, outrageously scatological "P.E. Squad"). The title cut is one of funks greatest anthems, and "Groovallegiance" and the terrific "Cholly" both dovetail nicely with its concerns. The aforementioned "Who Says a Funk Band Cant Play Rock?!" is a seamless hybrid that perfectly encapsulates the bands musical agenda, while "Into You" is one of their few truly successful slow numbers. The original LP included a three-song bonus EP featuring the heavy riff rock of "Lunchmeataphobia," an unnecessary instrumental version of "P.E. Squad," and a live "Maggot Brain"; these tracks were appended to the CD reissue. In any form, One Nation Under a Groove is the best realization of Funkadelics ambitions, and one of the best funk albums ever released. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 35 Title: Uncle Jam Wants You Released: 1979-10 Tracks: 6 Duration: 41:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Freak of the Week (05:33) 2 (Not Just) Knee Deep (15:20) 3 Uncle Jam (10:26) 4 Field Maneuvers (02:26) 5 Holly Wants to Go to California (04:25) 6 Foot Soldiers (Star-Spangled Funky) (03:32) |
| Uncle Jam Wants You : Allmusic album Review : Almost as if Clinton and company wanted to atone for parts of One Nation Under a Groove, Uncle Jam Wants You takes not merely a more daring musical approach but a more forthright political stance. The cover art alone is brilliant, front and back showing Clinton in Huey P. Newtons famous Black Panther pose. The main goal is the cover subtitles stated claim to "rescue dance music from the blahs," and "Uncle Jam" itself does a pretty funny job at doing that, starting out like a parody of patriotic recruitment ads before hitting its full, funky stride. Its still very much a disco effort, but one overtly spiking the brew even more than before with P-Funks own particular recipe, mock drill instructors calling out dance commands and so forth. The absolute winner and most famous track, without question, is the 15-minute deep groove of "(Not Just) Knee Deep." Itd be legend alone for being the musical basis for De La Souls astonishing breakthrough a decade later with "Me, Myself and I," but on its own it predates the mutation of disco into electro thanks to the stiff beat and Worrells crazy keyboards. Elsewhere there are pleasant enough jams like "Field Maneuvers," kicking around some good guitar work amidst the hop-and-skip beat, and the weepy ballad "Holly Wants to Go to California," intentionally undercut by all the cheering and noise deep in the mix. Its not to say that Funkadelic hasnt left the entire world of coke spoons and pointing to the sky behind them, as "Freak of the Week" shows, which isnt entirely far off from the early Sugar Hill party/zodiac aesthetic. Then again, lines like "disco-sadistic, that one beat up and down, it just wont do" amidst the whistles and screams have their own impact. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 35 Title: Connections & Disconnections Released: 1980 Tracks: 7 Duration: 40:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Phunklords (05:32) 2 Youll Like It Too (04:27) 3 The Witch / Shade I: The Proclafunktion / Shade II: The Infunktation / Shade III: The Celefunktion (09:29) 4 Connections and Disconnections (05:00) 5 Come Back (04:44) 6 Call the Doctor (05:12) 7 Whos a Funkadelic (05:46) |
| Connections & Disconnections : Allmusic album Review : Original Parliament members Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Simon, and Grady Thomas left the fold for 1981s Connections & Disconnections, also billed as Funkadelic but in fact containing no contributions by George Clinton. Though the trio spend most of the album criticizing Clintons shifty business practices (which may be quite valid), the only thing that comes through is how much they need his production expertise. Never quite terrible, Connections & Disconnections makes small claims at mediocrity on scattered tracks. Eleven years later, the album was re-released on CD as Whos a Funkadelic? | ||
 | Album: 14 of 35 Title: The Electric Spanking of War Babies Released: 1981-08 Tracks: 9 Duration: 44:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Electric Spanking of War Babies (08:39) 2 Electro-Cuties (06:12) 3 Funk Gets Stronger, Part 1 (06:40) 4 Brettinos Bounce (03:40) 5 Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer version) (04:26) 6 She Loves You (00:16) 7 Shockwaves (05:08) 8 Oh, I (04:53) 9 Icka Prick (04:08) |
| The Electric Spanking of War Babies : Allmusic album Review : With George Clinton, a humorous phrase could be nothing more than playful tomfoolery, or it could be a double entendre with a deep political meaning. The phrase "electric spanking of war babies" falls into the latter category -- it referred to what the funk innovator saw as the U.S. government using the media to promote imperialistic wars. To Clinton, the American media functioned as a propaganda machine during wartime. But whether or not one cares to examine its hidden political messages, Electric Spanking is an above-average party album. Spanking falls short of the excellence of One Nation Under a Groove and Uncle Jam Wants You and didnt boast a major hit single, but amusing funk smokers like "Electro-Cuties" and "Funk Gets Stronger" arent anything to sneeze at, nor is the reggae-influenced "Shockwaves." Spanking turned out to be the last album Clinton would produce under the name Funkadelic -- when he hit the charts again in 1983, Mr. P-Funk was billing himself as a "solo artist." | ||
 | Album: 15 of 35 Title: The Mothership Connection (Live From Houston) Released: 1986 Tracks: 6 Duration: 40:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Lets Take It To The Stage / Do That Stuff (06:55) 2 Mothership Connection / Doctor Funkenstein (08:19) 3 Get Off Your Ass And Jam / Night Of The Thumpasorous People (08:50) 4 Atomic Dog (04:15) 5 Double Oh-Oh (05:47) 6 Bulletproof (06:19) |
 | Album: 16 of 35 Title: Music for Your Mother Released: 1992-11-02 Tracks: 33 Duration: 1:51:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Music for My Mother (05:20) 2 Music for My Mother (instrumental) (06:14) 3 Cant Shake It Loose (02:31) 4 As Good as I Can Feel (02:35) 5 I’ll Bet You (03:59) 6 Qualify and Satisfy (03:02) 7 Open Our Eyes (04:03) 8 I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody Got a Thing (03:01) 9 Fish, Chips and Sweat (03:02) 10 I Wanna Know If It’s Good to You (02:53) 11 I Wanna Know If Its Good to You (instrumental) (03:12) 12 You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks (03:50) 13 Funky Dollar Bill (03:08) 14 Can You Get to That (02:50) 15 Back in Our Minds (02:38) 16 I Miss My Baby (04:19) 1 Baby I Owe You Something Good (03:53) 2 Hit It and Quit It (02:49) 3 A Whole Lot of BS (02:14) 4 Loose Booty (03:15) 5 A Joyful Process (03:27) 6 Cosmic Slop (03:24) 7 If You Dont Like the Effects, Dont Produce the Cause (03:35) 8 Standing on the Verge of Getting It On (03:20) 9 Jimmys Got a Little Bit of Bitch in Him (02:33) 10 Red Hot Mamma (03:24) 11 Vital Juices (03:13) 12 Better by the Pound (02:44) 13 Stuffs and Things (02:14) 14 Let’s Take It to the Stage (03:23) 15 Biological Speculation (03:09) 16 Undisco Kid (04:14) 17 How Do Yeaw View You? (03:40) |
| Music for Your Mother : Allmusic album Review : Though Tales of Kidd Funkadelic brought together some oddballs and rarities from Funkadelics early- to mid-70s existence, it wasnt until Music for Your Mother came out that there was a full compilation of all the bands singles from birth to the mid-decade switch to Warner Bros. And what a compilation it is: Bringing together some of the bands best material as well as some of its craziest, Music for Your Mother does the business for any self-respecting P-Funk clone. Given that the focus is on A- and B-sides rather than album cuts, it isnt a truly exhaustive overview -- that would require the inclusion of songs like "Maggot Brain" and "Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow," for a start. Its a small quibble in context, though, especially given the inclusion of a number of songs that never made it onto the original eight albums. Most notable is a curious rarity, the semi-smooth soul "I Miss My Baby" single, which was credited to U.S., with music by Funkadelic (U.S. being a group led by eventual P-Funk guitarist Gary Shider). As for the other B-sides and uncollected numbers, theyre an understandably mixed but often interesting bunch, including alternate instrumental takes of "Music for Your Mother" and "I Wanna Know if Its Good to You," the unreleased "Cant Shake It Loose" single, the gospel/feedback freakout "Open Our Eyes," and the hilariously titled "Fish, Chips and Sweat." The amazing bonus to the whole collection is the exhaustive 24-page booklet, reviewing the entire early history of Funkadelic via archival photos and a slew of interviews with the surviving participants. Plenty of fun tales are told, but George Clinton didnt participate -- not surprising, given the unflattering picture eventually painted of him -- while the depressing fates of Eddie Hazel and Tawl Ross get deserved attention. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 35 Title: The Best of Funkadelic Released: 1994 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:06:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 One Nation Under a Groove (07:28) 2 Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll!) (04:27) 3 Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock? (06:17) 4 Comin Round the Mountain (05:51) 5 Smokey (06:08) 6 Cosmic Slop (06:29) 7 The Electric Spanking of War Babies (08:39) 8 Funk Gets Stronger, Part 1 (06:40) 9 (Not Just) Knee Deep, Part 1 (04:29) 10 Uncle Jam (edited version) (06:05) 11 Icka Prick (04:08) |
 | Album: 18 of 35 Title: Hardcore Funk Jam Released: 1994-12-06 Tracks: 10 Duration: 1:01:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Uncle Jam (10:26) 2 Oh, I (04:53) 3 Groovallegiance (07:00) 4 You Scared the Lovin Outta Me (06:22) 5 Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer version) / She Loves You (04:42) 6 Freak of the Week (05:33) 7 Into You (05:41) 8 Electro-Cuties (06:12) 9 If You Got Funk, You Got Style (03:05) 10 One Nation Under a Groove (07:28) |
| Hardcore Funk Jam : Allmusic album Review : Since there arent many Funkadelic best-ofs widely available, and since there are even less that live up to their function, this single-disc best-of may have to suffice. Yet Hardcore Funk Jam isnt an ideal collection by any means. In fact, youd be better off purchasing One Nation Under a Groove and going one LP after another from there. First of all, this album only culls its selections from Funkadelics four latter-day Warner albums. And even worse, it manages to somehow skip over "(Not Just) Knee Deep," one of the P-funk collectives undeniable best songs ever, if not the best. There are a few other songs such as "Electric Spanking of War Babies," "Comin Round the Mountain," "Cholly," and the live versions of "Cosmic Slop" and "Maggot Brain" that are also noticeably absent. Any of these songs would be better choices than questionable inclusions such as "Uncle Jam" and "Electro Cuties," two of Funkadelics more awkward moments. Still, from beginning to end, Hardcore Funk Jam is just that, funky and filled with great jams. There are better options out there though, such as the single-disc Best of Funkadelic (1976-1981), the double-disc The Very Best of Funkadelic, or the Funk Gets Stronger collections. But again, an even better idea is to just head straight for One Nation Under a Groove -- it wont disappoint you. That way youll be positioned to slowly make your way through their better albums one after another rather than even messing with these inadequate best-ofs. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 35 Title: Funkadelic Live - Meadowbrook, Rochester, Michigan 1971 Released: 1996 Tracks: 10 Duration: 1:17:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Alice in My Fantasies (06:36) 2 Maggot Brain (14:01) 3 I Call My Baby Pussycat (fast version) (05:38) 4 I Call My Baby Pussycat (08:07) 5 Good Old Music (04:30) 6 I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody Got a Thing (08:37) 7 All Your Goodies Are Gone (The Losers Seat) (15:07) 8 Ill Bet You (05:24) 9 You & Your Folks, Me & My Folks (05:27) 10 Free Your Mind & Your Ass Will Follow (03:40) |
| Funkadelic Live - Meadowbrook, Rochester, Michigan 1971 : Allmusic album Review : Not released until 1996, this was an unusual gig for the band, which was breaking in a new rhythm section (this may have been this lineups first show) without much or any rehearsal. You cant tell from this 77-minute disc, which offers a typically amorphous, free-floating set of black rock -- which is to say, judged by most standards, its not typical music at all. Seguing from spaced-out jams to occasional numbers with vocals by George Clinton, and throwing in imaginative improvisations by guitarist Eddie Hazel and keyboardist Bernie Worrell, it sounds something like a combination of Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, and Sun Ra. The 14-minute "Maggot Brain" verges on prog rock/psychedelia (in the good sense), with its almost mystical guitar lines; earthier pleasures are offered with cuts like "I Call My Baby Pussycat" (two versions). The fidelity is pretty good, though the vocals lack the presence of the instruments. Funkadelic are still shown to their best advantage on their studio recordings of the era, but this is certainly a fascinating find for fans, augmented by detailed liner notes about the gig by Rob Bowman. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 35 Title: Ultimate Funkadelic Released: 1997 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:15:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 One Nation Under a Groove (07:28) 2 Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock? (06:17) 3 Comin Round the Mountain (05:51) 4 Smokey (06:08) 5 Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers) (10:45) 6 If You Got Funk, You Got Style (03:05) 7 Icka Prick (04:08) 8 Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll!) (04:27) 9 (Not Just) Knee Deep (15:20) 10 Freak of the Week (05:33) 11 You Scared the Lovin Outta Me (06:22) |
 | Album: 21 of 35 Title: Finest Released: 1997-07-28 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:04:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Bet You (06:13) 2 I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody’s Got a Thing (03:54) 3 Funky Dollar Bill (03:08) 4 I Wanna Know If It’s Good to You (02:53) 5 Hit It and Quit It (03:50) 6 You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks (03:36) 7 A Joyful Process (02:53) 8 Loose Booty (04:53) 9 You Can’t Miss What You Can’t Measure (03:05) 10 Cosmic Slop (05:20) 11 Red Hot Mamma (03:24) 12 Standing on the Verge of Getting It On (04:43) 13 Let’s Take It to the Stage (03:37) 14 Get Off Your Ass and Jam (02:26) 15 Undisco Kidd (06:35) 16 Maggot Brain (live) (03:58) |
| Finest : Allmusic album Review : Funkadelics commercial peak occurred during the late 70s, when George Clinton and company issued several hit albums for the Warner Brothers label. And its that era that serves as the basis for countless Funkadelic compilations, while the groups earlier, more hard rocking releases (for Westbound) receive not nearly the same attention. This is a shame, as this period is just as good (and arguably, even better) than Funkadelics latter, more renowned work, as evidenced by the 16-track compilation Finest. It wasnt until a year or two after the death of legendary funk-rock trailblazer Jimi Hendrix that Funkadelic truly came into their own -- and deservingly, inherited Jimis vacated funk-rock throne. Covering a five-year period (1970s Funkadelic through 1975s Lets Take It to the Stage), Finest may be the best-assembled Funkadelic collection from this period yet, as both renowned band standards share space with several oft-overlooked tracks, which make their debut on any compilation. The early tracks "I Got a Thing" and "I Wanna Know if Its Good to You" show the bandmembers still honing their eventual rich n funky sound, before they hit their stride with selections from the classic Maggot Brain album. As a result, you get a healthy sampling of some of the best funk the 70s had to offer, including "Hit It and Quit It," "You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks," "Loose Booty," "Cosmic Slop," "Red Hot Mama," and "Get Off Your Ass and Jam." The only disappointment is that a truncated version of the guitar showcase "Maggot Brain" is included, rather than the ten-plus-minute original version. Regardless, Finest is an exceptional sampler for those discovering the wild and wacky universe of Funkadelic. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 35 Title: The Very Best of Funkadelic - 1976-1981 Released: 1998 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:47:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 One Nation Under a Groove (07:28) 2 Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll!) (04:27) 3 Comin Round the Mountain (05:51) 4 Cosmic Slop (06:29) 5 Electro-Cuties (06:12) 6 Uncle Jam (10:26) 7 Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer version) (04:43) 8 The Electric Spanking of War Babies (08:39) 1 (Not Just) Knee Deep (15:20) 2 Smokey (06:08) 3 Freak of the Week (05:33) 4 Into You (05:41) 5 Oh, I (04:53) 6 Soul Mate (02:47) 7 Icka Prick (04:08) 8 Maggot Brain (live) (08:28) |
 | Album: 23 of 35 Title: Funk Gets Stronger Released: 1999-09-13 Tracks: 10 Duration: 1:09:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer version) (04:43) 2 Cosmic Slop (06:29) 3 One Nation Under a Groove (07:28) 4 Maggot Brain (08:28) 5 If You Got Funk, You Got Style (03:05) 6 Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll!) (04:27) 7 (Not Just) Knee Deep (15:20) 8 The Electric Spanking of War Babies (08:39) 9 Icka Prick (04:08) 10 Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock? (06:17) |
| Funk Gets Stronger : Allmusic album Review : Countless Funkadelic compilations have appeared on the market over the years; some are extensive (1993s exceptional Music for Your Mother), while some serve as a brief "introduction" to the band, such as 2000s Funk Gets Stronger. Weighing in at only ten tracks, its obvious that not all of the highlights from Funkadelics lengthy career are included. But nearly all of the best-known tracks from the bands late-70s period (which was more dance-oriented than its early hard-rock sound) are featured -- Hardcore Jollies, One Nation Under a Groove, and Uncle Jam Wants You. Included are such dancefloor essentials as "(Not Just) Knee Deep" and the title track from Nation (both of which have been sampled countless times by rap bands later on), in addition to remakes of two favorites from the early days of Funkadelic -- the guitar solo showcase "Maggot Brain" and the tale of a mother who supports her family by any means necessary, "Cosmic Slop." Not a bad compilation, but why settle for a ten-track taster when you can have the full feast with a variety of other Funkadelic overviews? | ||
 | Album: 24 of 35 Title: The Original Cosmic Funk Crew Released: 2000-08-07 Tracks: 10 Duration: 1:13:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Electro-Cuties (06:12) 2 One Nation Under a Groove (07:28) 3 Freak of the Week (05:33) 4 Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll!) (04:27) 5 If You Got Funk, You Got Style (03:05) 6 The Electric Spanking of War Babies (08:39) 7 (Not Just) Knee Deep (15:20) 8 Uncle Jam (10:26) 9 Oh, I (04:53) 10 Groovallegiance (07:00) |
| The Original Cosmic Funk Crew : Allmusic album Review : Funkadelics late-70s and early-80s material has been recycled countless times on a variety of different compilations over the years. Not surprisingly, 2000s The Original Cosmic Funk Crew is no different. Plucking tracks from four classic Funkadelic releases -- 1976s Hardcore Jollies, 1978s One Nation Under a Groove, 1979s Uncle Jam Wants You, and 1981s The Electric Spanking of War Babies -- the ten-track set features such standouts as "One Nation Under a Groove," "(Not Just) Knee Deep," and "If You Got Funk, You Got Style." But since Funkadelics early and latter-day recordings were on separate labels (Westbound and Priority, respectively), there has yet to be an extensive Funkadelic compilation that spans their entire recording career, 1970-1981. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 35 Title: Suitably Funky Released: 2000-10-30 Tracks: 9 Duration: 53:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Adolescent Funk (04:16) 2 Freak of the Week (05:33) 3 Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer version) (04:43) 4 Groovallegiance (07:00) 5 If You Got Funk, You Got Style (03:05) 6 Oh, I (04:53) 7 One Nation Under a Groove (07:28) 8 Uncle Jam (10:26) 9 Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock? (06:17) |
| Suitably Funky : Allmusic album Review : With one of the finest (and largest) legacies in all of funk history, its understandable why there are so many different Funkadelic compilations (as well as their offshoot group, Parliament) on the market. Some of the releases can be a bit tricky to pinpoint, as Funkadelic began as a psychedelic-hard rock-funk band (akin to Jimi Hendrix) in the late 60s, but by the late 70s, had transformed into a more mainstream, dance-oriented act (during which time they obtained their greatest commercial success). The latter musical period is the focus of this 2000 compilation, Suitably Funky -- as tracks are plucked from such albums as 1976s Hardcore Jollies, 1978s One Nation Under A Groove, 1979s Uncle Jam Wants You, and 1981s Electric Spanking of War Babies. While not all of Funkadelics best tracks from this period are included ("Not Just Knee Deep" is mysteriously absent), most of the expected standouts are included, including one of the late 70s great dancefloor anthems, "One Nation Under a Groove," as well as "Uncle Jam," "Funk Gets Stronger," and "Adolescent Funk," among others. For a glimpse into the Funkadelic world circa the late 70s/early 80s, Suitably Funky is recommended. | ||
 | Album: 26 of 35 Title: Motor City Madness: The Ultimate Funkadelic Westbound Compilation Released: 2003-10-23 Tracks: 29 Duration: 2:28:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow (10:05) 2 Red Hot Mamma (03:24) 3 You Can’t Miss What You Can’t Measure (03:05) 4 Standing on the Verge of Getting It On (05:09) 5 Funky Dollar Bill (03:15) 6 Hit It and Quit It (03:50) 7 Cosmic Slop (05:20) 8 Better by the Pound (02:44) 9 Take Your Dead Ass Home! (Say Somn Nasty) (07:17) 10 Loose Booty (04:53) 11 Get Off Your Ass and Jam (02:26) 12 Sexy Ways (03:08) 13 Music for My Mother (05:38) 14 America Eats Its Young (05:54) 15 March to the Witch’s Castle (06:01) 1 Maggot Brain (10:21) 2 I’ll Stay (07:18) 3 I Wanna Know If It’s Good to You (06:00) 4 Can You Get to That (02:50) 5 I’ll Bet You (03:59) 6 Nappy Dugout (04:34) 7 A Joyful Process (06:15) 8 Be My Beach (02:39) 9 Undisco Kidd (06:35) 10 Biological Speculation (03:09) 11 You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks (03:36) 12 I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody’s Got a Thing (03:54) 13 Baby I Owe You Something Good (05:48) 14 Mommy, What’s a Funkadelic? (09:07) |
| Motor City Madness: The Ultimate Funkadelic Westbound Compilation : Allmusic album Review : Some Funkadelic fans might be disappointed that the two-CD Motor City Madness: The Ultimate Collection compilation has nothing from the records the group did in the late 70s and early 80s after leaving the Westbound label. But it does most certainly live up to its title: its the best anthology of the bands work from the first half of the 1970s thats likely to be produced. Crammed with two and a half hours of music, it includes both popular and lesser-known cuts from their 1970-1976 releases, among them several of the songs most associated with the group. "Cosmic Slop," "Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow," "Maggot Brain," "Loose Booty," and "America Eats Its Young" are all here, but so are a bunch of things that wont necessarily be familiar to the man or woman whos only heard Funkadelic records at other peoples houses. And though the Westbound singles collection Music for Your Mother is also necessary to get a full view of early Funkadelic at their best, Motor City Madness also puts some of those singles in a different light, since some songs (like "Loose Booty," "Cosmic Slop," and "Standing on the Verge of Getting It On") are presented here in LP versions that are noticeably longer than the 45 versions on Music for Your Mother. Long liner notes also do their part to put the legendarily confusing early history of Funkadelic into some kind of understandable order. Its arguable whether, however, the non-chronological track sequencing was a good decision: its hard enough to keep the Funkadelic story straight without the dates of the songs jumping back and forth too. You can always fiddle with the sequencing with your CD programmer if you want, of course, and however its sliced, the range of progressive soul and funk is tremendous, from the nearly psychedelic freakouts and spaced-out makeout music to quasi-Temptations soul with a goofy spin and near-disco. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 35 Title: Cosmic Funkers Released: 2004 Tracks: 20 Duration: 2:05:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Groovallegiance (07:00) 2 Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers) (10:45) 3 Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll!) (04:27) 4 Maggot Brain (live) (08:28) 5 Freak of the Week (05:33) 6 The Electric Spanking of War Babies (08:39) 7 Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer version) (04:43) 8 Hardcore Jollies (05:01) 9 Icka Prick (04:08) 10 You Scared the Lovin Outta Me (06:22) 1 One Nation Under a Groove (07:28) 2 Who Says a Funk Band Cant Play Rock? (12:02) 3 Into You (05:41) 4 Lunchmeataphobia (Think! It Aint Illegal Yet!) (04:12) 5 Electro-Cuties (06:12) 6 Uncle Jam (edited version) (06:05) 7 If You Got Funk, You Got Style (03:05) 8 Cosmic Slop (06:29) 9 Adolescent Funk (04:16) 10 Oh, I (05:04) |
| Cosmic Funkers : Allmusic album Review : The amount of Funkadelic compilations compiled of tracks circa 1976-1981 (1976s Hardcore Jollies, 1978s One Nation Under a Groove, 1979s Uncle Jam Wants You, and 1981s The Electric Spanking of War Babies) is quite staggering. Especially after the dawn of the 21st century, as such compilations as Funk Gets Stronger, Funkadelic Collection, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, Under a Groove, and Cosmic Funkers (among others) all appeared. The latter title turns out to be a double-disc set, which spotlights on such Funkadelic standouts as "One Nation Under a Groove" (as a 12" mix), as well as "Hardcore Jollies," "If You Got Funk, You Got Style," "Cosmic Slop," and "Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll)." Theres no question that the material here is top-notch, but how many different ways can you release the same material (all within the space of only a few years)? | ||
 | Album: 28 of 35 Title: Under a Groove Released: 2004-03-09 Tracks: 32 Duration: 3:02:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 One Nation Under a Groove (07:28) 2 Groovallegiance (07:00) 3 Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock? (06:17) 4 Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers) (10:45) 5 Into You (05:41) 6 Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll!) (04:27) 7 Lunchmeataphobia (Think! It Aint Illegal Yet!) (04:12) 8 P.E. Squad/Doodoo Chasers (“Going All‐the‐Way Off” instrumental) (04:18) 9 Maggot Brain (live) (08:28) 1 Comin Round the Mountain (05:51) 2 Smokey (06:08) 3 If You Got Funk, You Got Style (03:05) 4 Hardcore Jollies (05:01) 5 Soul Mate (02:47) 6 Cosmic Slop (06:29) 7 You Scared the Lovin Outta Me (06:22) 8 Adolescent Funk (04:16) 9 Freak of the Week (05:33) 10 (Not Just) Knee Deep (13:29) 11 Uncle Jam (10:26) 12 Field Maneuvers (02:26) 13 Holly Wants to Go to California (04:25) 14 Foot Soldiers (Star-Spangled Funky) (03:32) 1 The Electric Spanking of War Babies (08:39) 2 Electro-Cuties (06:12) 3 Funk Gets Stronger, Part 1 (06:40) 4 Brettinos Bounce (03:40) 5 Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer version) (04:26) 6 She Loves You (00:15) 7 Shockwaves (05:08) 8 Oh, I (04:53) 9 Icka Prick (04:08) |
| Under a Groove : Allmusic album Review : If the Clash was the only punk band that mattered during the late 70s, than the only funk band that mattered was Parliament/Funkadelic. The George Clinton-led troupe always appeared to be a step ahead of the competition -- utilizing a prop-heavy stage show and costumes (on par only with Kiss), and issuing a string of albums and singles that made many a rump shake on the dance floor (and later sampled by countless subsequent rap acts). While Funkadelic started out in the late 60s as a psychedelic rock band, by the late 70s, they were all about the funk, as evidenced by such standout releases as Hardcore Jollies, One Nation Under a Groove, Uncle Jam Wants You, and Electric Spanking of War Babies, all of which are included in their entirety on the 2004 three-CD set Under a Groove. If you want a sampling of some of the eras finest funk, look no further than such tracks as "Smokey," "One Nation Under a Groove," "(Not Just) Knee Deep," and "Freak of the Week" (as well as re-recordings of such early Funkadelic classics as "Cosmic Slop" and "Maggot Brain") amongst countless others. If you want to acquire a healthy portion of Funkadelic in one fell swoop, then Under a Groove is an excellent selection. | ||
 | Album: 29 of 35 Title: The Whole Funk & Nothing but the Funk Released: 2005 Tracks: 22 Duration: 2:16:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 One Nation Under a Groove (07:28) 2 Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll!) (04:27) 3 Smokey (06:08) 4 Comin Round the Mountain (05:51) 5 (Not Just) Knee Deep (15:20) 6 You Scared the Lovin Outta Me (06:22) 7 Cosmic Slop (06:29) 8 Brettinos Bounce (03:40) 9 Into You (05:41) 10 Maggot Brain (live) (07:36) 11 Holly Wants to Go to California (04:25) 1 The Electric Spanking of War Babies (08:39) 2 If You Got Funk, You Got Style (03:05) 3 Freak of the Week (05:33) 4 Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer version) (04:26) 5 Soul Mate (02:47) 6 Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock? (06:17) 7 Oh, I (04:53) 8 Electro-Cuties (06:12) 9 Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers) (10:45) 10 One Nation Under a Groove (instrumental version) (05:45) 11 Electric Spanking of War Babies (instrumental version) (04:59) |
 | Album: 30 of 35 Title: The Essential Funkadelic Released: 2006 Tracks: 11 Duration: 59:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 One Nation Under a Groove (03:35) 2 Freak of the Week (05:33) 3 Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll!) (04:27) 4 (Not Just) Knee Deep, Part 1 (04:29) 5 Cosmic Slop (06:29) 6 Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock? (06:17) 7 The Electric Spanking of War Babies (08:39) 8 If You Got Funk, You Got Style (03:05) 9 Electro-Cuties (06:12) 10 Funk Gets Stronger / She Loves You (04:24) 11 Comin Round the Mountain (05:51) |
| The Essential Funkadelic : Allmusic album Review : Like almost every other single-artist compilation cranked out by the once golden Mastercuts label from 2005 onward, The Essential Funkadelic is a no-go zone filled with poor live versions, re-recordings, and inferior single edits. As usual, Mastercuts does nothing with the outside packaging to indicate that you are getting anything but the real deal. And, even if this set did contain all the original studio versions, it still wouldnt be all that recommendable; the track selection is peculiar and spotty to say the least. While there is no such thing as an ideal one-disc introduction to Funkadelic -- there is far too much good ground to cover -- this scrapes the very bottom of the barrel. (And whats with featuring only Bootsy on the cover?) | ||
 | Album: 31 of 35 Title: By Way of the Drum Released: 2007 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:12:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Nose Bleed (05:44) 2 Sunshine of Your Love (05:26) 3 Freaks Bearing Gifts (06:01) 4 Yadadada (05:08) 5 By Way of the Drum (06:00) 6 Jugular (05:57) 7 Some Fresh Delic (05:25) 8 Primal Instinct (04:54) 9 By Way of the Drum (extended version) (09:17) 10 By Way of the Drum (dub) (06:56) 11 By Way of the Drum (Basstrumental) (06:11) 12 By Way of the Drum (a cappella) (05:50) |
| By Way of the Drum : Allmusic album Review : To a certain degree, you can say that Funkadelics By Way of the Drum is a kin to Princes The Black Album -- its a completed album that was shelved, and it seemed like it would never see the light of day. The story goes something like this: in the mid-80s, Funkadelic completed the album for MCA Records, who then rejected the release, before (supposedly) misplacing the master tapes. Almost two decades later, the tapes were found, and By Way of the Drum finally saw its belated release in 2007. Those expecting another classic like Maggot Brain or Standing on the Verge of Getting It On will be disappointed, as the album reflects the clean-sounding robotic funk style that was commonplace in the 80s. And as evidenced by such tunes as "Nose Bleed" and especially the title track, the album doesnt exactly spotlight the groups strongest songwriting hour (a pointless cover of Creams "Sunshine of Your Love" helps pad the track listing). By Way of the Drum will only be of interest for diehards interested in hearing this curious relic from the vaults. The rest of us can stick with the aforementioned classics. | ||
 | Album: 32 of 35 Title: Toys Released: 2008 Tracks: 9 Duration: 51:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Heart Trouble a.k.a. You Cant Miss What You Cant Measure (04:34) 2 The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg (05:39) 3 Vampy Funky Bernie (3rd Tune Olympic) (06:36) 4 Talk About Jesus (05:52) 5 Slide on In (2nd Tune Olympic) (10:49) 6 Stink Finger (03:20) 7 Magnififunk (06:07) 8 Wars of Armageddon (karaoke version) (06:06) 9 2 Dollars & 2 Dimes (01:58) |
| Toys : Allmusic album Review : Toys features about 50 minutes of previously unreleased Funkadelic tracks from the early 70s, about evenly divided between proper songs and jams. The availability of such a large chunk of recordings in excellent sound quality from their prime might seem like a huge blessing for their devoted fans, but while in general it is of considerable interest for Funkadelic fanatics, more casual funk listeners should be wary of this on several accounts. First, much of this material sounds on the unfinished side, even on some of the cuts with vocals. One track, "Wars of Armageddon" [Karaoke Version], is a little on the marginal side even for major P-Funk fans, as its a "previously unissued under-dub." Overall, its a little like getting a very high-quality bootleg of works in progress, though it can be fairly pointed out that even some actual Funkadelic albums had songs that sometimes sounded like works in progress. But if you are the sort of fan who likes to peek into the hidden underbelly of a major bands foundation, the CD has its merits. Chief among these are the significantly different versions of "You Cant Miss What You Cant Measure" (here titled "Heart Trouble") and "The Goose" (here under its original title, "The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg"), though the aforementioned "Wars of Armageddon" differs from its official release only in the absence of sound effects. Otherwise, the tracks tend toward drifting jams that are more notable for the funk-psychedelic playing than the songs themselves. Even one of the cuts with vocals, "Talk About Jesus," has few lyrics other than a few female singers intoning the title over and over; another, the brief "2 Dollars & 2 Dimes," has nothing in the way of a vocal other than George Clinton uttering a few typically wacky proclamations. Also on the CD is a 1973 video clip (playable on PC or Mac computers) of the band, in typically odd and flamboyant costume, romping around New York to "Cosmic Slop." | ||
 | Album: 33 of 35 Title: Standing on the Verge: The Best of Funkadelic Released: 2008 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:16:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Cosmic Slop (03:24) 2 Standing on the Verge of Getting It On (03:20) 3 You Can’t Miss What You Can’t Measure (03:05) 4 One Nation Under a Groove, Part 1 (04:13) 5 Better by the Pound (02:44) 6 Sexy Ways (02:54) 7 Loose Booty (03:15) 8 (Not Just) Knee Deep, Part 1 (04:29) 9 A Joyful Process (03:27) 10 Whatever Makes My Baby Feel Good (02:44) 11 Can You Get to That (02:50) 12 Maggot Brain (10:21) 13 I Wanna Know If It’s Good to You (02:53) 14 I’ll Bet You (03:59) 15 Hit It and Quit It (02:49) 16 Red Hot Mamma (03:24) 17 I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody Got a Thing (03:01) 18 Comin Round the Mountain (05:51) 19 Let’s Take It to the Stage (03:23) 20 Undisco Kid (04:14) |
 | Album: 34 of 35 Title: U.S. Music With Funkadelic Released: 2009-04-21 Tracks: 5 Duration: 24:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 This Broken Heart (04:33) 2 Baby I Owe You Something Good (03:50) 3 Be What You Is (03:45) 4 I Miss My Baby (05:02) 5 Rat Kiss the Cat on the Navel (07:32) |
 | Album: 35 of 35 Title: First Ya Gotta Shake the Gate Released: 2014-12-23 Tracks: 33 Duration: 3:27:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Baby Like Fonkin It Up (09:36) 2 Get Low (05:44) 3 If I Didnt Love You (04:00) 4 Fucked Up (07:43) 5 Aint That Funkin Kinda Hard on You? (05:30) 6 I Mo B Yodog Fo Eva (05:13) 7 In da Kar (08:49) 8 Radio Friendly (06:16) 9 Mathematics of Love (12:09) 10 Creases (03:11) 11 Not Your Average Rapper (03:17) 1 First Ya gotta Shake the Gate (09:06) 2 Roller Rink (11:34) 3 Jolene (07:51) 4 Nuclear Dog, Pt. II (06:42) 5 Dirty Queen (03:45) 6 You Cant Unring the Bell (03:00) 7 Old Fool (03:33) 8 Pole Power (07:01) 9 Boom There We Go Again (02:56) 10 As In (06:49) 11 Bernadette (05:09) 12 Meow Meow (06:45) 1 Catchin Boogie Fever (05:57) 2 The Naz (05:38) 3 Talking to the Wall (04:44) 4 Where Would I Go? (04:26) 5 Yesterdejavu (07:56) 6 Zip It (03:35) 7 The Wall (09:09) 8 Snot n Booger (10:44) 9 Yellow Light (04:34) 10 Dipety Dipety Doo Stop the Violence (05:13) |