Search - Parliament :: 12-Inch Collection & More

The Parliament 12" review.

07/26/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Track 1: Aqua Boogie was a rare treat even when it was released as a 12" in 1978, it has an instrumental 2nd half, which was and is still thrilling to hear. One didn't get to hear very many P-Funk instrumentals done in the studio, especially a hit record. Track 2: Flashlight is okay, as a re-edit but the same could've been done with two turntables and a slick DJ. If the master tapes still exist, a REAL re-mix could be done. Track 3: Agony of Defeet promo was heard only through a local Detroit DJ called The Electrifying Mojo in 1980. As I understand it, George would run in to the WGPR studio and have Mojo put up the 2" reel-to-reel stereo mix down after the song was completed (the same was done for One Nation and Not Just Knee Deep). It would be the first song of the night after the long spaced out intro to the Mojo show and after the song was played he would say, be the 10th caller and guess the artist of the song I just played and you can win blah blah blah. Everybody knew who it was. If you didn't have you're tape deck on record you didn't get this version anywhere. Excellent choice for this compilation. Track 4: Ridin' High is a funkateer collectable, it gave you more of what you're funkin' for. 'Cause the album version was long in itself. Track 5: Oh I is one of those tunes that could've been on either a Parliament or Funkadelic album. The guitar oriented edited version ends up on the Electric Spanking of War Babies album. There was a bootleg of the full length guitar version circulating at one time, I think it came from the original double album version of Electric Spanking. This Parliament version is a lot cleaner sounding because of the digital re-mastering. Another welcomed reissue gem from the P-Funk vaults. Speaking of gems, you can find an instrumental version of Oh I on the Horny Horns "Final Blow" CD. Track 6: Up for the Down Stroke is one of those live Bootsy jams turned into a party record (Ex: Parliament-Funkadelic Live 4 CD set 1972-1993, 7th song 4th CD). This record is the one of the early "Funkin' Stew" records as quoted by Bernie Worrell (ie, songs written by George, Bootsy and Bernie, including Cosmic Slop). The voice-over really sounds like a promo type of thang, which is cool. Hearing the funk mack rap gives you the idea and intention George had for everybody to look out for on those albums to follow. And the mix is different from the original and little longer. Another funkateer collectable worthy of this compilation. Track 7: Testify. Go through you're older uncles or cousins P-Funk record collection and you might find that original Up For the Down Stroke pressing with this version on it (I did! Hint: the Casablanca blue label.) Good to have this song on CD 'cause the CD reissue of Up For the Down Stroke gives you the George lead vocal, which is cool too. This is one of many songs where the singers would do it all together and individually. Track 8: Theme from the Black Hole/The Big Bang Theory edits the two records together. (See my review for Flashlight) It should be included anyway, only because it is a Parliament 12". Overall, it's an excellent buy for the funkateer who has once heard or had a copy of these recordings. Just think about it, it's on a CD now baby, so there ain't no excuse to get your long version funk on. Being a child of FUNK myself since 1975, The Parliafunkadelicment thang had laid down the law for the future of Black Music and I followed. Hmmm, I wonder what's up with the Warner Brothers 12" of One Nation Under A Groove b/w One Nation Under A Groove (Instrumental w/guitar solo)??? Mine got broken! We'll see I guess.-Black Planet"

Where would hip-hop be without these guys????

Reginald D. Garrard | Camilla, GA USA | 12/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Countless contemporary "homies" owe a debt of gratitude to George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and all the others that introduced the world to P-FUNK. This assemblage of eight of the funkiest tunes ever recorded, expanded, and gloriously "crunk" can pump up the volume at any party or even the dullest soiree.The classic "Flash Light" gets a new lease on life in a 10 minute-plus version here; the surreal "Aqua Boogie" is gloriously "tight" in its original 12" version; while the strings of "Oh I" when paired with the beat makes that one a memorable arrangement.Finally, the mixture of "Theme from the Black Hole and The Big Bang Theory" from "Gloryhallistoopid" takes the listener to a higher plane of existence.The songs are as fresh today as they were two decades ago."

What can I really say...

Karl Becker | Iowa, USA | 06/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw the collection of songs on here and saw a very nice collection, and then I took a gander at their play times - every song on here is a marathon, the shortest being Testify at 4:03, while the first four tracks all clocking in at over 9 minutes a piece. Plenty of funk for your money here, although the Flash Light re-edit isn't quite as smooth as the widely-distributed version. This album is a great piece for extended periods of funk. Read the first review written about it for a better telling of the album than I could give!"