Funkadelic (album)  

From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

Related e

Wikipedia Wiktionary Shop Featured: Rhombicuboctahedron by Leonardo da Vinci

Funkadelic (1970) is the debut album by the American funk band Funkadelic, released in 1970 on Westbound Records.

The album showcased a strong bass and rhythm section, as well as lengthy jam sessions, future trademarks of the band. The album contains two remakes of songs from The Parliaments, an earlier band featuring George Clinton: "I Bet You" and "Good Old Music".

"Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?" and "What is Soul" contained the beginnings of Funkadelic's mythology, namely that "Funkadelic" and "the Funk" are alien in origin but not dangerous.

"I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody's Got a Thing" was particularly notable for the epic guitar solo by Rare Earth's Ray Monette's. "I Bet You" was later covered by the Jackson 5 on their album ABC, and sampled by the Beastie Boys for their song "Car Thief". In more recent years The Red Hot Chili Peppers have combined the main riff of "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?" and certain parts of the lyrics from "What Is Soul?" in live shows, a version appears as a B-Side on their 2002 single By The Way.

Track listing

All songs written by George Clinton, unless otherwise noted.

Side one

1. "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?" - 9:04
2. "I Bet You" (Clinton, Pat Lindsey, Sidney Barnes) - 6:10
3. "Music for My Mother" - 5:37
4. "I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody's Got a Thing" (Clarence Haskins) - 3:52

Side two

1. "Good Ole Music" - 7:59
2. "Qualify and Satisfy" (Clinton, Billy Nelson, Eddie Hazel) - 6:15
3. "What is Soul" - 7:40

2005 CD reissue bonus tracks

8. "Can't Shake it Loose" - 2:28
9. <li value=9>"I'll Bet You" - 4:10
10. <li value=10>"Music for My Mother" - 5:17
11. <li value=11>"As Good as I Can Feel" - 2:31
12. <li value=12>"Open Our Eyes" - 3:58
13. <li value=13>"Qualify and Satisfy" - 3:00
14. <li value=14>"Music for My Mother (instrumental)" - 6:14

Personnel

• George Clinton: Vocals
• Eddie Hazel: Lead guitar, vocals on "Mommy" and "I Bet You"
• Tawl Ross: Rhythm guitar, vocals on "Music for My Mother"
• Ray Monette: Guitar on "I Got a Thing"
• Billy Nelson: Bass on "Mommy" and "I Got a Thing"; vocals on "Mommy" and "Music for My Mother"
• Bob Babbitt: Bass on "I Bet You"
• Mickey Atkins: Organ on "Mommy"
• Bernie Worrell: Organ on "I Got a Thing"
• Earl Van Dyke: Keyboards on "I Bet You"
• Tiki Fulwood: Drums on "Mommy", "I Bet You", "I Got a Thing" and "Qualify and Satisfy"
• Brad Innis: Drums on "Music for My Mother"
• Gaspar Lawal: Conga on "Music for My Mother"
• Herb Sparkman: Lead vocals on "Music for My Mother"
• Fuzzy Haskins: Lead vocals on "I Got a Thing"
• Calvin Simon: Lead vocals on "Qualify and Satisfy"
• Additional vocals by Ray Davis, Grady Thomas and some unknown female vocalists