My 50 Favorite Albums (continued)
George Clinton is the all time master of funk.
If you haven't listened to any of his stuff, you are missing out on some amazing music.
One of the reasons I love Dr Dre is that he samples so much from George's bands - Parliament and Funkadelic.
But back to George Clinton.
There are three records that I spent this week debating back and forth between.
The first is Parliament's Mothership Connection. This is the most pop music oriented of the three essential George Clinton records. The title track is terrific and there isn't a bad song on it.
The second is Maggot Brain. This is the best of early Funkadelic. I think Eddie Hazel's guitar solo on the title track is one of the best guitar solos ever recorded.
But my addition to the Top 50 this week is One Nation Under A Groove. It's Funkadelic at their best.
My friend John Bernstein turned me on to this when I was in business school and I have loved it ever since.
My favorite George Clinton song, Who Says A Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!, is on this record. The title track is also fantastic. And as a bonus, the record ends with a live version of Maggot Brain. It doesn't get better than this for funk music!
great pick fred. most people who listen to hip-hop today have no idea how much these guys are sampled. you didnt mention if you've ever seen him live, but his shows are as good as live shows get...truly an unforgettable experience.
Posted by: GB | April 01, 2005 at 11:19 AM
Fred- I never knew you were a funkateer. Back in 1989 I produced and co-hosted a 9-hr radio documentary covering the career of George et al from the 1950s to the present. And in fact, when Eddie Hazel died I co-produced a concert at SOB's featuring Bootsy, Billy Nelson, Jerome Braily, Bernie, etc. to raise money for Eddie's mother. Maggot Brain is one of a kind.
Posted by: Jason Chervokas | April 01, 2005 at 02:36 PM
Nice!
Posted by: jackson | April 01, 2005 at 05:07 PM
hey Fred, guessing you've already discovered George Duke if you like George Clinton, but if you haven't i highly recommend it.
i grew up listening to Reach for It (1977) and Don't Let Go (1978)... "Dukey Stick" is one of my all-time favorite fun tunes. more George from the 70's here.
Got to see him at Yoshis out here a few years back with my wife (also a jazz pianist), and he was Funkified Fantastic.
anyway, George is a pretty amazing dude, and an incredibly prolific producer of his own and others' music. he used to play with Zappa on the Mothers of Invention, and also did a number of collaborations with other jazz/funk musicians like Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Clark, to name just a few.
Posted by: Dave McClure | April 02, 2005 at 11:33 AM
After seeing a great documentary on Bernie Worrell (George's Keyboard player), I'm not sure that George specificaly deserves the credit for giving Dr. Dre his sound. Instead Bernie Worell who played the keyboards for the Parliment, Funkadelic and later the Talking Heads) seems to be the man with the sound. Definately worth a listen.
Posted by: Peter Adams | April 02, 2005 at 07:43 PM
Peter- there are a lot of people who deserve credit for the pfunk sound, tho' certainly there was something special about the songs credited to clinton-collins-worrell.
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