George Clinton, mastermind behind this group and the Grand Poobah of Funk, once described Parliament as "the Temptations on acid." Here we're treated to almost 80 minutes of down-and-dirty jams across 14 tracks originally released in the years 1974-80, the group's heyday. Every time I think of Clinton, I think of this old ad where he promises to drop a funk bomb:
And that's what this CD is: a funk bomb. Nothing more need be said.
Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Tracks: The group's two Top 40 hits are here - Flash Light (#16) and Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker) (#15), but those two funk masterpieces are rightly available on pretty much any funk compilation along with the first-rate Up For The Down Stroke. I came to this party to find gems I was previously unfamiliar with: Bop Gun and Do That Stuff. I usually stop listening after 9 tracks. I don't know if the remaining songs just aren't as good as the earlier stuff or if I can only handle the funk in moderation. Probably the latter.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: This CD has accompanied me on many a long, hot road trip as well as often being a part of the soundtrack to a Saturday afternoon of beef rib smokin'.
There were just three lonely Parliament vinyl albums in my collection when I bought Uncut Funk... Parliament's Greatest Hits, the very first Parliament CD, in 1987. In 1990, the seven original Casablanca albums were issued on CD.
ReplyDeleteTear The Roof Off: 1974-1980, a double disc anthology was released in 1993 followed by this single disc collection in 1995.
It is essentially an embiggened verison of Uncut Funk..., featuring all ten tracks from that CD with five of those songs switched from single edits to full-length album cuts and another four tracks added. (Three of those added songs appear after track nine, which may also explain your funk fatigue; they aren't the highest quality pure-grade P-Funk.)
Kudos to you, Sir, for bringing the P-Funk this fine Friday. May the Flash Light shine on you for the rest of your days. And don't forget to dance, sucker.