Lost/Forgotten Album #267

This week's selection might not be the fifth in a series. Then again, it most probably is.

I've received lots of email from people complaining that this current series isn't funky enough. I also received an email from someone complaining that some albums, like last week's selection, aren't really lost or forgotten since they, or it, sold a bunch of units. That email I deleted quite quickly. Scrubbed it from my system. I don't need or want that kind of negativity.

Well, this week's selection (which is an anniversary pick) should provide funk on top of the funk along with more funk. It's the 1975 release from Parliament, "Mothership Connection". For people in the know, they'll figure out what connection this has to last week's album. For those not in the know, they'll have to figure it out.

By posting this around 15 hours earlier than usual, I wonder if I'll get email(s) from people complaining about that. Who knows, but we shall see.

Of course this wouldn't be complete without a review from allmusic.com. Didn't I provide enough information about this album above?

The definitive Parliament-Funkadelic album, Mothership Connection is where George Clinton's revolving band lineups, differing musical approaches, and increasingly thematic album statements reached an ideal state, one that resulted in enormous commercial success as well as a timeless legacy that would be compounded by hip-hop postmodernists, most memorably Dr. Dre on his landmark album The Chronic (1992). The musical lineup assembled for Mothership Connection is peerless: in addition to keyboard wizard Bernie Worrell; Bootsy Collins, who plays not only bass but also drums and guitar; the guitar trio of Gary Shider, Michael Hampton, and Glen Goins; and the Brecker Brothers (Michael and Randy) on horns; there are former J.B.'s Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker (also on horns), who were the latest additions to the P-Funk stable. Besides the dazzling array of musicians, Mothership Connection boasts a trio of hands-down classics -- "P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)," "Mothership Connection (Star Child)," "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)" -- that are among the best to ever arise from the funk era, each sampled and interpolated time and time again by rap producers; in particular, Dr. Dre pays homage to the former two on The Chronic (on "The Roach" and "Let Me Ride," respectively). The remaining four songs on Mothership Connection are all great also, if less canonical. Lastly, there's the overlapping outer-space theme, which ties the album together into a loose escapist narrative. There's no better starting point in the enormous P-Funk catalog than Mothership Connection, which, like its trio of classic songs, is undoubtedly among the best of the funk era.

Mothership Connection

1. P. Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)
2. Mothership Connection (Star Child)
3. Unfunky UFO
4. Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication
5. Handcuffs
6. Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off The Sucker)
7. Night Of The Thumpasorus Peoples
8. Star Child (Mothership Connection) (Bonus Track, Promo Radio Version)

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by RJhog (Admin) on October 1, 2015 at 4:54pm

Alright, a song about Paul Stanley.

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Permalink Reply by Jon on October 1, 2015 at 4:59pm

Yeah.......no.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on October 1, 2015 at 5:16pm

8 tracks, 15 hours early! Perfect! I cant wait to hear the Paul Stanly tune....

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Permalink Reply by Jon on October 1, 2015 at 5:20pm

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Permalink Reply by Scott on October 1, 2015 at 5:32pm

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Permalink Reply by Scott on October 2, 2015 at 1:45pm

Just a quick defense of my opening comment in last weeks post. No ill will was intended it was only an observation of irony...

Admittedly I had heard quite a bit about this band but never really heard their music. I get the influence but where I grew up it didn't translate in to radio play, play at dances, or friends who spun them. But never the less, they persisted and still do, so I am appreciative of getting the chance to hear them.

Did he just say "doin' it to you in the earhole"?? (don't answer that)

Interesting lead off track but he does tell us to stay tuned for that Paul Stanley tune! Not sure where this track is taking me, it seems to wants to party and then tapers off for a good bit before funking up more for the last minute. I can see this being played at a party!

Hey! This isn't about Paul Stanley at all! False advertising! This song has been sampled, not that shocking until you realize it was Kool and the Gang that did it! This sampling stuff goes way back I guess... This one does get a bit repetitive until the last minute when it changes up a bit. Weird, that's two songs in a row that this happened.

Not surprisingly UnFunky is the most funky so far! Thenexttrackisaprettycoolgrooveaswell, butitsoundsmorelikeanimpromtujamsession! WhichIlike!

Handcuffs, I should have known it was slow jam!

Give Up The Funk! OK, totally know this one! I retract my previous statement of not hearing these guys much, this song was played a lot! Didn't realize it was Parliament. Now I'm having flashbacks to Junior High dances, not good!! You wont believe it, but my dance moves weren't very good back in those days. No, seriously! I could not give up the funk!

I will consider Thumpasorus as the closer since you included the radio promo of Paul Stanleys, I mean Star Child. Another jam session sounding tune. Fun band no doubt, probably a freaky cool experience live, but a full albums worth (sans Give Up The Funk) is a bit repetitive considering the style played, spoken, and sang here.

Still fun!