2008 Woodie Awards
Funkadelic's self-titled album remains a timeless classic
Chris Garza
Issue date: 2/7/07 Section: Features
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Before Uncle Jam wanted to enlist you in his army, all George Clinton and the Funkadelics wanted to do was "lick your funky emotions."
Originally stigmatized as "Parliament's back up band," Funkadelic sought to gather the recognition and respect it deserved with the 1970 self-titled debut release.
The kaleidoscope-faced cover and candy-coated group picture on the back invite the listener into the funkadelically inclined world before the record even spins.
Allow me to advise the reader that this is not the same Funkadelic that put out such tunes as "One Nation Under a Groove" or "Knee Deep" from the later albums One Nation Under a Groove and Uncle Jam Wants You!
The Funkadelic that put out Funkadelic, Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow and Maggot Brain had a completely different sound and style.
A mixture of funk, gospel, soul, psyche, blues and precise guitar pickings await your hungry little ears.
With a careful drop of the needle and a slight crackly tinge, the listener is locked into a surreal conversation with George Clinton on the opening track "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?" Clinton does his best to pull the shroud off of the Funkadelic mystique on this cut.
The music builds and builds, then finally drips from the speakers as Clinton kindly explains, "If you will suck my soul, I will lick your funky emotions."
Complete with giggles and yelps, Clinton continues to engage the listener throughout the cut as he asks over a steady rhythm, "Can you feel that?" pauses for a brief moment allowing the listener to gather thoughts, and then proceeds to let out a slight chuckle and then responds "Yeah, you got it now."
The track is carried out with a mellow grove and ends with a round of applause from those in the studio as it flows into "I Bet You."
The rest of side one is quite the listen.
"I Bet You" opens with steady drumming from Tiki Fulwood as Tawl Ross keeps the rhythm on his guitar and Eddie Hazel lays down some nice Hendrix-like guitar licks. The members of Funkadelic interchange vocals on this track from line to line.
Originally stigmatized as "Parliament's back up band," Funkadelic sought to gather the recognition and respect it deserved with the 1970 self-titled debut release.
The kaleidoscope-faced cover and candy-coated group picture on the back invite the listener into the funkadelically inclined world before the record even spins.
Allow me to advise the reader that this is not the same Funkadelic that put out such tunes as "One Nation Under a Groove" or "Knee Deep" from the later albums One Nation Under a Groove and Uncle Jam Wants You!
The Funkadelic that put out Funkadelic, Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow and Maggot Brain had a completely different sound and style.
A mixture of funk, gospel, soul, psyche, blues and precise guitar pickings await your hungry little ears.
With a careful drop of the needle and a slight crackly tinge, the listener is locked into a surreal conversation with George Clinton on the opening track "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?" Clinton does his best to pull the shroud off of the Funkadelic mystique on this cut.
The music builds and builds, then finally drips from the speakers as Clinton kindly explains, "If you will suck my soul, I will lick your funky emotions."
Complete with giggles and yelps, Clinton continues to engage the listener throughout the cut as he asks over a steady rhythm, "Can you feel that?" pauses for a brief moment allowing the listener to gather thoughts, and then proceeds to let out a slight chuckle and then responds "Yeah, you got it now."
The track is carried out with a mellow grove and ends with a round of applause from those in the studio as it flows into "I Bet You."
The rest of side one is quite the listen.
"I Bet You" opens with steady drumming from Tiki Fulwood as Tawl Ross keeps the rhythm on his guitar and Eddie Hazel lays down some nice Hendrix-like guitar licks. The members of Funkadelic interchange vocals on this track from line to line.
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