I search the open sky
To find a reason why
Oh Lord, why Lord?
The color of my skin
Is said to be and awful sin
Oh lord, why Lord?

No I can't understand
I can never understand
Oh Lord, why Lord?
I've got to give and give
Much more than I can give
oh Lord, why Lord?

(why...why...why..why..)







I just really listened to Osmium and this is one powerful song! I love when the female singer comes on and bellows it out in an opratic tone. Sends chills down my spine. What a classical creation. They dont make music like this no more. The music is so rich and renaissance like-the vocals are strong provoking and powerful.


Amidst all the nuttiness, there are some perhaps surprising depths — consider "Oh Lord, Why Lord/Prayer," which might almost be too pretty for its own good (Worrell's harpsichord almost verges on the sickly sweet) but still has some lovely gospel choir singing and heartfelt lyrics. -Ned Raggett

Osmium is more like Funkadelic than Parliament. It's my least fav album by them.

I,on the other hand, think it's among their best stuff. That's probably because I prefer Funkadelic records to Parliament records.

PFunkjazz said:

Well, that explains it

FuNkeNsteiN said:

But how u like this song?

paisleypark4 said:

I don't recall liking any of the songs on 'Osmium'.
I should prolly give it another spin...

paisleypark4 said:

aww lookatcha with yo Tommy Boy Avatar

IAintTheOne said:

cuz man that logo is so legendary..always loved it since my mom picked up Force M.D.'s "Chillin"


Funkenstein..u should check this song out....

PFunkjazz said:

I love this album. The female singer is Ruth Copeland. She was on Invictus at the time and worked with George Clinton + band on her solo stuff. The best purchase is called 'Gimme Shelter' and is a re-release of her first two albums including a different version of Silent Boatman, this is not a cover, it is her on lead with all the Parliament boys recorded around the same time. The song 'Medal' is a powerful anti-Vietnam song. This is essentially a Ruth Copeland/Parliament collaboration and is excellent. The below is from www.allmusic.com:

She also struck up an unlikely partnership with George Clinton and became a massively influential force on Parliament's debut album, 1971's Osmium. Not only did she co-produce the sessions, she also wrote what remain two of the most bizarre (and decidedly unfunky) songs in that band's entire repertoire, the haunting "Little Old Country Boy" and "The Silent Boatman." Two further songs, "Come In Out of the Rain" (co-written with Clinton) and "Breakdown" (with Clinton and Clyde Wilson) appeared as Parliament singles in 1971 and 1972.

Copeland's partnership with Clinton naturally flowed into her solo career. Viewed today as a virtual twin of Osmium, her Self Portrait debut featured contributions from Eddie Hazel, Lucius Ross, Bernie Worrell, Billy "Bass" Nelson, Tiki Fulwood, and Clinton himself, while the co-writes included a new version of the epic "The Silent Boatman.

Late 1971 brought the release of Copeland's second album, I Am What I Am, recorded with many of the same musicians as its predecessor, only now they were her own band. In an odd twist, Hazell, Worrell, Fulwood, and Nelson had all quit Parliament/Funkadelic, but remained together to back Copeland, first in the studio and then on tour as she promoted the album. The tour was a success; the shows were solid and the audiences receptive. Unfortunately, Copeland quickly found herself in an uncomfortable position. Touring as support to Sly Stone, she took to introducing her band as Funkadelic — much to the headliner's annoyance. The last straw came when she allowed the band to take one of her encores. Stone insisted she either leave the tour or lose the band. She lost the band.

andymacfunky said:

WOW. I am really interested in her now. She has a beautiful voice!

FuNkeNsteiN said:

yes...do that

The cd has bonus tracks

Come In Out Of The Rain