Review Summary: Get ready for the mothership!
Parliament – Mothership Connection
#274 on the Rolling Stone list of Top 500 albums
Vocals: George Clinton, Calvin Simon, Fuzzy Haskins, Raymond Davis,
Grady Thomas, Garry Shider, Glen Goins, Bootsy Collins
Horns: Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker,
Boom, Joe Farrell
Bass: Bootsy Collins, Cordell Mosson
Guitars: Gary Shider, Michael Hampton, Glen Goins, Bootsy Collins
Drums and Percussion: Tiki Fulwood, Jerome Brailey, Bootsy Collins, Gary Cooper
Keyboards & Synthesizers: Bernie Worrell
Horn Arrangements: Fred Wesley, Bernie Worrell
Rhythm Arrangements: Bootsy Collins, George Clinton
Extras: Gary Cooper, Debbie Edwards, Taka Kahn, Archie Ivy, Bryna Chimenti,
Rasputin Boutte, Pam Vincent, Debra Wright and Sidney Barnes
The Beatles’ Revolver,
Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of The Moon,
The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Are You Experienced,
Iron Maiden’s The Number of The Beast, and
Parliament’s Mothership Connection. What do all of these albums have in common? Well, first they have pretty cool names (Okay, that’s not the real reason). All of these albums have in common that they are all classic albums that in a very large way defined their genre for years to come.
If you aren't a fan of this genre, then ask yourself about what you've heard. Mothership Connection is the Dark Side of The Moon for this genre, in two ways. First, it was a groundbreaking record. A second reason is the simple fact that it is a concept album. The latter is a fact that isn’t as significant as the former of course, but it makes the difference. Why? It is significant because this is an album that deserves to be listened to altogether. You do yourself a disservice when you skip around the album.
This, along with
Funkadelic's Maggot Brain, is the definitive funk album. George Clinton, the genius behind this genre, created a masterpiece of a concept album. Starting with the message of the arrival of a new groovy being in the universe (P-Funk); you then realize that this being, Star Child, is the coolest guy in all of space (Mothership Connection). While partying on his mothership, Star Child encounters many beings. For example, their first encounter is with an Unfunky UFO, whose inhabitants are suddenly turned on by Star Child’s funk, and they then demand it from him. Give Up The Funk basically has them reappearing and their message is stronger than before:
Ow, we want the funk
Give up the funk
Ow, we need the funk
We gotta have that funk
The concept may not be as in depth as Pink Floyd’s masterpiece, but it still makes for a great album. Since I’ve already stated what the basic idea of the album, I’ll go into the actual music. Lyrically, all of the songs are wonderful, except for Night of The Thumpasourus People, since its an instrumental.
The first song P-Funk starts out slow as a radio announcement. Bootsy Collins comes in with his funky bass rhythm along with the horns. This song basically gives you a taste, musically, of what Parliament can do.
The songs Mothership Connection and Give Up The Funk are the party songs of this album. The keyboards, bass, and horns definitely show on these songs, with Bootsy slapping and popping out a jumpy bass line. All of the instruments really compliment each other on these songs.
Unfunky UFO, Night of The Thumpasourus People, and Handcuffs are arguably the best songs off of the album. Unfunky UFO starts out with a simple guitar riff followed by horns and bass that altogether give you the feeling that there is going to be trouble.
Handcuffs is a slower song that shows much more emotion in the vocals. The horns are superb on this song, with their growing blast and staccato melody. Night of The Thumpasourus finishes the album off with a mysterious bass and horn rhythm. The only vocals in this song are a subtle chant. During the chants, Bootsy Collins plays a heavily distorted bass solos over the bass rhythm already established. Night of The Thumpasourus People is one of the best of the album. After Bootsy’s finishes off, the keyboard goes through its own solo which goes on to quietly finish off the album.
If you haven’t listened to this album, then you should go out and get it. If you listened to a greatest hits album and didn’t like it, go out and get this, this is the kind of album you can’t listen to in parts.
Highlights
Mothership Connection
Unfunky UFO
Tear the Roof Off The Sucker (Give Up The Funk)
Night of The Thumpasourus People
Pros
Great music
--Both lyrically and musically
Cons
To tell the honest truth, I cannot find anything wrong with this album, with the exception that there isn't more!
