"This was (in my opinion) one of the hottest live albums
of the 70's along with E,W&F's "Gratitude",
Kiss's "Alive", The Allman Brothers' "Filmore East", Sylvester's "Living Proof"
and of course, Peter Frampton's opus..
"Frampton Comes Alive"!!
The P-Funk Earth Tour of '76 -'78 had it all!
Theatrics, humor, an anti-establishment vibe,
high concept production and that 70's freeness,
the likes of which the world will never see again!
This album came out when I was 13 and had just
witnessed this life-altering concert in person
about two weeks before!
I was never the same after that!...
The funk had lifted me and I was transformed!
The cover art & pictures are, for the most part,
intact but sadly, there was no way that they could
recreate the full-sized poster that was in the
original album of Dr. Funkenstein (George Clinton)
all decked-out in white foxtails and leather
with 10" platform boots!
My only point of contention is that when they
re-issued it to CD, they left out a classic P-Funk mid-tempo
jam which was unlike any of their other output from
this time, but just as crucial to their catalogue....
"Fantasy Is Reality".
This song was the bomb and the late Glenn Goins
was putting down some serious gospel-like
vocalizations on it as only he could!
The lyrics were great too!
It is for this reason that I had to take away one star
in this review, but by no means think that this means
that this CD is not worth having if just for the
experience of Parliament/Funkadelic live in their prime!
(Also see in DVD, George Clinton: Parliament/Funkadelic
(The Mothership Connection Live)"
L.A. and Oakland taste the BOMB!
MUZIK4THAPEOPLE!! | 09/11/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The P-Funk live experience is put to wax for the very first time in 1977, during the band prime period of commercial exposure. The performances speak for themselves. This record is proof positive as to why P-Funk reigned supreme as black america's favorite band and America's top theatrical black experience. The only thing that spoils this package is the sub-standard recording which is only slightly improved on CD. One track, ironically their big hit of the day "Tear The Roof Off The Sucker" was one of a number of tunes recorded in an airplane hangar in Newburgh, New York in the fall of 1976, along with "Cosmic Slop" from the Funkadelic LP "Hardcore Jollies" . Crowd noise was added later. Why they chose to do this is beyond this reviewer's comprehension. Originally this album came with a iron-on transfer that read "TAKE FUNK TO HEAVEN IN '77" and a large full color poster of G.C. in his Dr. Funkenstein garb. The CD also omits one track "Fantasy Is Reality", which you can find on the double CD "Tear The Roof Off: 1974-1980". If your into the live P-Funk experience, then this CD will do you no harm other than pee in your afro. As the good doctor instructs, "Come fly tonight...ain't nothin' but a party!""
When Live Music was Huge!
M. Gray | San Francisco | 08/17/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The horn arrangements and the Bootsy truck drivin base creates a combination that tears the roof off the mother. Recording is through boom microphones so you here a lot of the audience. However, the sound of the instruments comes through. This is an incredibly exciting disc. History was made. Ellington at Newport / Revolution of the Mind Apollo III / Clinton in LA. They just don't make em like this anymore.
"
Take Funk to Heaven in '77
Interplanetary Funksmanship | Vanilla Suburbs, USA | 11/19/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For this white boy from the Vanilla Suburbs, this excellent live LP set is the best one way ticket to Chocolate City and to the mind-blowing fusion of jazz, soul and psychadelic rock that was Parliament. Back in the late 1970s, there were two musical acts that were great in the studio, but immortal on stage: Kiss and Parliament. Like Kiss, George Clinton and his maggots and clones put everythang they had into the music, and their stage shows were notorious for being hours-long funk extravaganzas. This album is Da Bomb! Even though its missing my favourite P-Funk tune, "Up For the Down Stroke," it's a really solid set: "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker," "Gamin' On Ya," a 15-minute long acid-rock laced "Dr. Funkenstein" (Mike Hampton sounding like Jimi Hendrix bumps solos with Maceo Parker's gravelly sax), Bootsy Collins rubber band grinding away on "Night of the Thumpasaurus People," and "Do That Stuff." This CD has a killer lineup of songs anyone would die for."Fantasy Is Reality" is missing, but it was just a filler song anyways. For posterity (booty) however, it should be on this."
Bring down that FUNK
funkidelicize | 01/12/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I am a HUGE live music fan. I am also a big parliament fan so i thought, why not combine the two? this album funks but i can stand how bad the quality is!! i am not a person who obseses about the quality of recordings but this cd's quality is horrible! if you want to groove out to some FUNKY $hit go buy mothership connection or Funkentelechy Vs. Placebo Syndrome"