it's quite impossible to do, as there are so many roads into P-Funk. Personally, I prefer the 72-76 era, it still had the metal and rock and times and also the horns prominently, which got a bit less around 78 (although the Junie tracks were great) and definitely much less when the synths/computers took over in the 80's (never been a fan of the Jimmy G and the Tackheads, Our Gang Funky and those albums) and after the 90's it seemed like George was mostly interested in keeping rap fans entertained.

.

If I had to pick a few standout albums:

.

Parliament - Chocolate City

Funkadelic - America Eats Its Young

Bernie Worrell - All The Woo In The World

Parliament - Trombipulation

Quazar (the original Funk'n'Roll!)

.

Like mentioned before, they indeed have great tracks on albums that don't always work as a whole. Once you have all their stuff, it allows for amazing mixtapes and playlists!

mediumdry said:

it's quite impossible to do, as there are so many roads into P-Funk. Personally, I prefer the 72-76 era, it still had the metal and rock and times and also the horns prominently, which got a bit less around 78 (although the Junie tracks were great) and definitely much less when the synths/computers took over in the 80's (never been a fan of the Jimmy G and the Tackheads, Our Gang Funky and those albums) and after the 90's it seemed like George was mostly interested in keeping rap fans entertained.

.

Thats where my listening fell off even his Paisley albums i never bought

paisleypark4 said:

mediumdry said:

it's quite impossible to do, as there are so many roads into P-Funk. Personally, I prefer the 72-76 era, it still had the metal and rock and times and also the horns prominently, which got a bit less around 78 (although the Junie tracks were great) and definitely much less when the synths/computers took over in the 80's (never been a fan of the Jimmy G and the Tackheads, Our Gang Funky and those albums) and after the 90's it seemed like George was mostly interested in keeping rap fans entertained.

.

Thats where my listening fell off even his Paisley albums i never bought

That's my impression too after attending a George Clinton and Parliament / Funkadelic gig on Sunday here in Helsinki too.

It's wasn't that bad, of course, but it's just obvious to me that he relies on the hiphop crowds to fill up the venues. They tend to show up in masses when the Facebook invites start getting forwarded...

I'll do just the Parliament / Funkadelic ones:

One Nation Under A Groove
Standing On The Verge Of Getting it On
Mothership Connection
Funkentelechy vs. Placebo Syndrome
Chocolate City
Funkadelic (s/t) (the sound quality on this one is mindbogglingly good for a record so old)
Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will FollowTales Of Kidd Funkadelic (the older I get the more I appreciate this)
Electric Spanking Of War Babies (Prince fans should be able to appreciate this a lot)
Gloryhallastoopid (Side B is pure gold)
Let's Take It To The Stage
Motor Booty AffairUp For The Downstroke
Hardcore JolliesThe Clones Of Dr. Funkenstein (not as good as people say it is?)
Maggot Brain (I genuinely think this one's overrated as an album)
Cosmic Slop
Trombipulation
Uncle Jam Wants You (Side B is just silly)
Osmium (this one I consider mostly a historic curiosity)
America Eats Its Young (the production is just awful)

... eh, okay, I'll do the 80s too:

Urban Dancefloor Guerillas
Computer Games
You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish
R&B Skeletons In The Closet
Some Of My Best Jokes Are Friends
Cinderella Theory (blergh)

It's been a while since I've given the associated acts the attention they'd deserve (even Bootsy). I've played the Family Series stuff a lot lately though.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Brides of Funkenstein vs. Parlet?

.

In general, Parlet, although the Bride's Disco To Go is probably the best track of both bands combined! (not that Parlet's Huff-N-Puff or Cookie Jar don't rock like a mug and I love Skeet on bass in Pleasure Principle)

.

For the most parts, they are quite similar though, not really that recognizable as separate bands.. Godmoma is only a slightly different female vocal act, both because Bootsy and the year it came out, but it's also a band with multiple women singing in unison. (by the way, their best track is probably Godmoma Of Love, if only because of the start of it)

[Edited 5/9/17 9:47am]

by the way, as an excellent introduction into Funkadelic (or even P-Funk in general), I can only highly recommend Music For Your Mother, a collection of the Westbound singles with some great versions and non-album tracks.

Dancelot said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

what year is your CD from, there was a 1990 remaster, but that might be the original CD release.

I'm seeing George/P-F tonight, can't wait!

[Edited 5/12/17 4:41am]

Have fun, let us know how it was! I didn't go earlier this month for a variety of reasons. Not sure if it was the right decision.

SoulAlive said:

Had both of those, the Motor Booty Affair with the pop-up aquarium and the push-out characters. Still.. I went through a bad patch and had no money. So I sold all my vinyl. The idea was traumatic, but when I actually made the decision, it really brought a sense of calm.

.

I still have the music. But now I also have a lot more cupboard space (it was around 2500/3000 albums) and my stereo is much simplified (playing to it through iTunes, all my cds are ripped).

.

In short, while owning all the (original) vinyl is great, it's just a thing. Having the music is worth much more. (to me anyway)

.

And so ends my philosophical saturday night drunk post.

That is a difficult one for me because my collection isn't complete so I will list the ones I play the most, so here is my Top 10

1. The Clones of Dr Funkenstein (1976)

2. Motor Booty Affair (1978)

3. Chocolate City (1975)

4. Mothership Connection (1975)

5. Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome (1977)

6. Gloryhallastoopid (1979)

7. Uncle Jam Wants You (1979)

8. Osmium (1970)

9. Trombipulation (1980)

10. Up For The Downstroke (1974)

Compilations

1. Live: P-Funk Earth Tour (1976)

2. Tear The Roof Off: 1974-1980

mrwiggles said:

SoulAlive said:

question: has 'The Clones Of Dr.Funkenstein' ever been remastered? I have it on CD but I want a fresh,remastered copy.

Want I want is a sealed copy of the original vinyl, with the offer in the inner sleeve for the life size Dr Funkenstein stand-up. Also would like the original Motor Booty Affair sealed.

I have that ad there is a vinyl reissue of Clones Of Dr.Funkenstein with an amazing 3-D cover.I really want that! They did the same thing for Mothership Connection,as well.

mediumdry said:

Had both of those, the Motor Booty Affair with the pop-up aquarium and the push-out characters. Still.. I went through a bad patch and had no money. So I sold all my vinyl. The idea was traumatic, but when I actually made the decision, it really brought a sense of calm.

.

I still have the music. But now I also have a lot more cupboard space (it was around 2500/3000 albums) and my stereo is much simplified (playing to it through iTunes, all my cds are ripped).

.

In short, while owning all the (original) vinyl is great, it's just a thing. Having the music is worth much more. (to me anyway)

.

And so ends my philosophical saturday night drunk post.

Isn't the same thing?

Goddess4Real said:

mrwiggles said:

Mothership to me has the "jams" on it but from an arrangement standpoint I take Clones. These days I'm far more likely to cue it up over MC. Something about the production on that record is smoother. It's got a muffled kind of sound on it. The MC mix in big with more treble or something.

same here.Both albums are sensational,but there is something really special about Clones.Songs like "Dr.Funkenstein","Gettin To Know You","Children Of Production" and "Funkin' For Fun" are excellent....some of the finest Parliament jams.The weakest track is "Everything Is On The One" but I even enjoy that one,too.I think the album cover is one of their wildest

Haven't heard nearly enough, but I like everything I have heard!

Here are my ratings for the albums I have:

Ahh... The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!: 9.7
Mothership Connection: 9.1

Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band: 9.0

Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome: 9.0

Up for the Down Stroke: 9.0
Computer Games: 8.6

Bootsy? Player of the Year: 8.6

Chocolate City: 8.5
Ultra Wave: 8.4

One Nation Under a Groove: 8.2

Maggot Brain: 8.1

You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish: 8.1
The One Giveth, The Count Taketh Away: 8.0
Standing on the Verge of Getting It On: 7.9
Tales of Kidd Funkadelic: 7.7
Funkadelic: 7.5
Cosmic Slop: 7.5
Free Your Mind... And Your Ass Will Follow: 7.5
Let's Take It to the Stage: 7.3
America Eats Its Young: 7.3
This Boot Is Made for Fonk-N: 7.1

SoulAlive said:

mrwiggles said:

SoulAlive said:

same here.Both albums are sensational,but there is something really special about Clones.Songs like "Dr.Funkenstein","Gettin To Know You","Children Of Production" and "Funkin' For Fun" are excellent....some of the finest Parliament jams.The weakest track is "Everything Is On The One" but I even enjoy that one,too.I think the album cover is one of their wildest

Hahahaha. Everything Is On The One is my favorite on that album and one of my favorite Parliament songs.

here's an interesting,lengthy article that rates all of the albums from worst to best......

P-Funk Albums From Worst ... Stereogum

mrwiggles said:

I like to stand up for those last 2 Parliament records that often get panned by both fans and critics alike. Stoopid has some straight jams on it in the tradition of Mothership era P-Funk. Sheeeeit, Black Hole is one of the funkiest tracks they did.

Gloryhallastoopid has two great tracks: "Theme From The Black Hole" and "The Big Bang Theory"."May We Bang You" is OK,too.But the rest of the album is surprisingly disappointing."Party People" is an overlong groove in search of a hook."The Freeze" is another overlong track that goes nowhere.Not sure what went wrong,but this album lacks the power of their previous work.

SoulAlive said:

What are your thoughts on Trombipulation? I love "Agony Of Defeet" (which recalls some of the finest P Funk jams,like "Flashlight" and "Knee Deep") and I think "Let's Play House" is a cool jam.Most of the other tracks are just 'OK'.Maybe I need to revisit this album again.

Much like Funkadelic's albums after Hardcore Jollies seem to be from a different band, Trombipulation does not sound like classic Parliament. Personally I love it, like I love Bootsy's The One Giveth album, which is also a bit of an oddball in his repertoire.

.

Rhythmically, songs like Let's Play House just slay me. Look at the album as a standalone thing, it'll make it easier to really appreciate it.