Parliament’s 1970 Debut, ‘Osmium’
I’m not sure if it was seeing old school funk n’ R&B masters Cameo on Friday night that launched me into the frame of mind (probably is), but I’m knee deep into that sound, and in the middle of a Parliament and Funkadelic listen-a-thon the last couple of days. Particularly, I’m hooked in to the early stuff for both of George Clinton’s sister acts. The debuts for both bands came the year I was born: 1970.
I’ve been really digging on Osmium, the debut from Parliament. What a wild, psychedelic, completely unexpected ride where you have no clue what strange and funky sounds are lurking around the next corner. The album has a lot more to do with the guitar-oriented psychedelic soul sound of Funkadelic than the 70’s Parliament funk / Bernie Worrell synth sound they came to be known for (with songs like “P. Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)”, “Flashlight”, “Up For The Down Stroke”, etc.).
Indeed, it’s the guitar work of Eddie Hazel and Tawl Ross that shines strongest on Osmium – amid the cacophony of unique sounds. There’s soul, Hendrix-inspired rock psychedelia, gospel flavors, and hell, even a country-inspired tune called “Little Ole Country Boy”, which was written by British-born Ruth Copeland. She was married to Motown producer Jeffrey Bowen. When Bowen started producing for the upstart Invictus Label, and Parliament became one of its first signings, Ruth Copeland ended up co-producing the Osmium album with George Clinton, and wrote a couple of the tracks (“The Silent Boatman” being the other).
“Little Ole Country Boy” has a very infectious chorus that will have you singing along after repeating 3-4 times, which you will do because it’s so – out there… I mean, this is Parliament? Awesome!
Oh, and De La Soul fans, you’ll recognize this yodel in “Potholes In My Lawn” from their debut, 3 Feet High & Rising.
Buy Osmium
Old School Friday
My geeky music life just got geekier. You know the new iPhone came out today. Well, those of us with “old” iPhone get the 2.0 upgrade gratis, which includes the App Store – which includes a ton of free apps made exclusively for iPhone. The coolest, in my humble opinion? Remote!
By downloading the free Remote app, I can now control my iTunes from anywhere in the house. I’ve had the Airport Express, which lets me stream my iTunes to any stereo inside or outside my house. So how does Remote enhance the experience? It means when I’m out washing my car in the driveway, and Manilow’s “Mandy” comes blasting through the speakers, I can coyly hit the “Next” button.
Sweet.
But that was now and this was then…
George Clinton – “Do Fries Go With That Shake?”
The System – “Don’t Disturb This Groove”
Beastie Boys – “Hey Ladies
P-Funk: Um, Yeah, I’ll Have Some of What They’re Having
I have one of these sweet little Apple Airport Express gizmos that allows me to play my iTunes on any stereo inside or outside my house. So when it was time to string up the Christmas lights this past weekend, my 4 year old girl and I fired up the iTunes, set it to shuffle, and took to the front yard with wild holiday abandon.
What I didn’t realize was that earlier in the day I had filtered my iTunes to show me only “parliament”. So what ensued was 90 minutes of the P-Funk discography on shuffle. Okay, no one – not my 4-year old or my passing neighbors – realized the intensity of this Spontaneous P-Funk Christmas Light Hanging Ceremony, but I sure funked out in delight for an hour and a half.
It made me rediscover some of the gems of their catalog, including some tunes that jumped out at me for their uncharacteristic qualities. Like this song. This isn’t the P-Funk your ears expect. You hear it, and you’re wondering what it is you’re listening to. A mellow, otherworldly, fantasy-like rhythm; Peter Chase’s melodic, bird-like whistling solos. What a cool little P-Funk nugget.
Parliament – I Just Got Back (from the Fantasy, Ahead of Our Time in the Four Lands of Ellet)
Buy: Up for the Down Stroke (1974)
Funkcronomicon
The list of people involved in producer Bill Laswell’s 1995 Axiom Funk project is almost laugh-out-loud ridiculous, it’s so good: George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Herbie Hancock, Sly & Robbie, Sly Stone, Buckethead, Eddie Hazel, Maceo Parker, and a host of others. Reworked previously released tracks mix it up with new creations from Laswell and co.’s brilliantly imaginative minds.
The album is out of print, but can be found if you poke around online (including Amazon) – or if you know cool people like The Swiss Funkmaster – thanks b.
You want a funky rhythm? Look no further.
Axiom Funk – Under the Influence (Jes Grew)
George Clinton: Vocals
Gary “Mudbone” Cooper: Vocals
Bootsy Collins: Vocals / Guitar
Herbie Hancock: Piano
Robbie Shakespeare: Bass
Sly Dunbar: Drum Programming
Anton Fier: Drums
Daniel Ponce: Congas
Aiyb Dieng: Cowbells / Percussion
Michael “Clip” Payne: Vocals
Debra Barsha: Vocals
Zhana Saunders: Vocals
Edwin Rodriguez: Tuba
Joe Daly: Baritone Horn
Ted Daniel: Trumpet / Flugelhorn
Janet Grice: Bassoon
J.D. Parron: Tenor Saxophon / Flute
Horns arranged and conducted by Henry ThreadgillBuy Funkcronomicon on Amazon.
All Music’s review of Funkcronomicon.
Check out a video from the album. Watch Bootsy & Buckethead cover Jimi’s “If 6 Was 9”:
Playing on “If 6..”
Bootsy Collins: Lead Vocals / Space Bass
Blackbyrd McKnight: Guitar
Nicky Skopelitis: Guitar
Robert Musso: Backward Guitar
Buckethead: Intro Guitar
Lili Haydn: ViolinIckmusic Live: Parliament Funkadelic, 1978
A trip back to 1978, when I was all of 8 years old, buried in the snow of a northern Minnesota winter. Across the pond, George Clinton and his traveling troupe of funkateers were most likely highly enjoying themselves in Amsterdam, taking in the sights, and – no doubt – taking in all the town had to offer.
Parliament Funkadelic
December 8, 1978
Jaap Eden Halle, Amsterdam, Holland
aka Afrolicious & the Electric Pussy1. Intro
2. Cholly (Funk Gettin’ Ready To Roll)
3. Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucka)
4. Night Of The Thumpasaurus Peoples
5. James Wesley Jackson Monologue
6. Standing On The Verge Of Gettin’ It On
7. Mothership Connection
8. Flashlight
9. One Nation Under A GrooveFreaky and Clandestine: It’s Double Oh-Oh
I finally got my turntable and computer talking to eachother again, so I’m finally able to bring you some of my choice LP cuts! I bet you’re really excited.
One of the first albums I pulled out today was George Clinton‘s 2nd solo album, ‘Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends’, which came out in 1985 (during my Prince-inspired funk discovery days as a teenager). My favorite on the album is the opener, “Double Oh-Oh”, about a super sexy secret agent. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be jumping around chanting “UH! This is for my country…UH! This is for me!” by the end of the song. I’ll try to get more tracks from this album out. A couple of them are written and produced (and partly performed) by Thomas Dolby. A cool album, lots of drum machines and synths, but hey it was 1985, and being a Prince fanatic, this was right up my alley.
Buy: Some of My best Jokes are Friends
Official Web Site: georgeclinton.com
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