The bigger the headache, the bigger the POLL: A (not at all exhaustive) Parliament/Funkadelic/P-Funk albums poll

Yeah, I LOVE Motor-Booty Affair, it's one of their masterpieces, maybe even the last great Parliament album.

I was going to post earlier that "most of their albums are probably worth owning, especially Parliament's," but deleted it because it might've been misinterpreted. I don't think either Parliament or Funkadelic is "better," but given the Parliament albums' more funk and dance-oriented approach, they tend to feel like more consistent listens. Like even a less-than-great groove moves by easier and fits well and organically within the framework of other danceable tracks.

"Up For the Down Stroke" isn't great, by no means bad though!

the early funkadelic records are kinda genre agnostic which can be to their strength and/or detriment (very much imo). the aesthetic is i guess more solidified by the time parliament gets revived in 1974 and that's why i'm attracted to the records from that era (including let's take it to the stage / one nation under a groove). this is still complicated by records like clones of dr. funkenstein, which as someone described accurately upthread is more of a pop-soul record, and is awesome

Let's Take It to the Stage or Standing on the Verge... will be my pick.

yeah i pulled the trigger for standing on the verge. the title track has been running through my head.

Here's the albums and songs list from Dave Marsh's New Book of Rock Lists, from 1994. I'm pleased to see "The Goose" getting recognition, it's a much more light-hearted Hazel feature than "Maggot Brain".

5 Greatest Parliament-Funkadelic (P-Funk) Albums of All Time

1. Let’s Take it to the Stage (Funkadelic)
2. Mothership Connection (Parliament)
3. Standing on the Verge of Getting It on (Funkadelic)
4. Funkentelechy Vs the Placebo Syndrome (Parliament)
5. One Nation Under a Groove (Funkadelic)

10 Greatest Parliament-Funkadelic (P-Funk) Songs of All Time

1. One Nation Under a Groove
2. Cosmic Slop
3. Maggot Brain
4. P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)
5. Funkentelechy
6. The Goose
7. Red Hot Mama/Vital Juices
8. Aqua Boogie
9. (Not Just) Knee Deep
10. I Wanna Know if It’s Good to You

"the goose" is like the greatest song of all time

“Funky dollar bill” from free your mind is sick

I'd toss in "Jimmy's Got a Little Bitch in Him." ("Depending on the angle of the dangle/Increased by the heat of the meat").

One of my dearest friends used "Can You Get to That" as his wedding march.

Amazing song but kind of downbeat lyrics for a wedding!

Probably too late in the game for this, but I do wish their was a legit, complete, and well-mastered comp of the Parliaments singles and odds & ends. I've got an ok bootleg, but it leaves something to be desired (like it has the backing track for "All Your Goodies Are Gone", but not the actual single w/vocals).

xp better than "hit it and quit it"!

as cool as "maggot brain" is i think it's a bit unfortunate that it does kinda overshadow the rest of their discog in terms of reputation

I didn't know it did tbh. Maybe among rock fans, I don't know.

“Funky dollar bill” from free your mind is sick

yeah that's one of my favourites

I didn't hear "Maggot Brain" until long after I'd heard Parliament. I knew Funkadelic were supposed to be like the rock side of the equation but I'd never heard any of that stuff... having said that, "One Nation Under a Groove" was a Top 10 hit in the UK! Actually I was just watching a clip from Top of the Pops in 1979 where "One Nation Under a Groove" is preceded, somewhat bizarrely, by the Shadows doing "Don't Cry For Me Argentina".

ok yeah i should've included the quazar record

I hate love to say I told you so! Glenn Goins was the best vocalist they ever had (even though my fave line up is the early one) and it was a real tragedy he died so young.

I hope the S/t and Free your mind get votes here, the early line up really was special.

This is the greatest live tv performance ever. Breathtaking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmmzbVM5BMw

Vcls :Fuzzy Haskins, Grady Thomas, Calvin Simon, Ray Davis, George Clinton
Gtr: Eddie Hazel, Tawl Ross
Kybd: Mickey Atkins
Drumps: Langston Booth
Bass: Billy Bass

poll is missing the Fuzzy Haskins solo albums btw. Brad, have you heard them?

Junie's albums should be there too. He left Ohio Players made a few great solo albums on Westbound, joined Parliament/Funkadelic wrote most of One Nation Under a Groove then made more excellent solo albums.

We should have a separate poll on what we think George was on during that performance.

I think Mr T might have been watching it, lol

Two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, etc.

Best non Eddie Hazel Funkadelic version of Maggot Brain?

I can't speak to Osmium as a whole album, but it has "The Silent Boatman" on it, which is one of P-Funk's best ever/most gorgeous songs, and inhabits my mind, so
In fact, I do find it impossible to choose between most of these as albums, but I guess it's the first half decade of Funkadelic that I tend to listen to the most. But really I just stick on my P-Funk discography playlist and enjoy whatever track pops up.

Feel exactly the same about that album and song.

the silent boatman is great, even though it is just the skye boat song.

'oh lord, why lord/prayer' is another fave from it, even though its just Pachelbel's Canon In D Major

on paper neither should work, but they do.

the electric spanking of war babies is so awesome. i also love that it includes a reggae song about the one, that's hilarious

potentially controversial statement but the best side a of any parliament or funkadelic album is uncle jam wants you

for all of that i think my favorite album is motor booty affair???

I was just listening to Uncle Jam and I'm inclined to agree. That would be a contender for my favorite Funkadelic if not for the way it ends on side 2.

Uncle Jam is amazing except for holly wants to go to california which is one of their worst songs

My fave Funkadelic reggae song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBMb-d8jkZ4

scratch that, i got the name wrong, lol

I forgot it was Shock Waves from Electric Spanking.... the song Brad was talking about.

I don't think reggae was a good idea for P-Funkers tbh.

Went in the end for the first ‘Bootsy’s Rubber Band’…vv consistent and has 2 of the best P-funk ballads on there…the Eddie Hazel is great but has got a couple of covers on there and ‘Mothership’ and ‘Funkentelachy’ always get love.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

You can’t miss what you can’t measure

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

not what i voted for, but really the right answer here is many answers.

Surprised there were no votes for “One Nation…”

Up for the Down Stroke is the best place to hear them keeping in line with conventional contemporary R&B; it has some great songs, well sung and played.

could Motor Booty Affair be their Presence? Listening to it now and it's so obviously their best. Not one dud, so much life squiggling through all the songs. "Aqua Boogie" might go on just a little long for at-home listening, but I love how the piano gradually takes over at the end.

In his book, George Clinton say he considers it his/their Sgt. Pepper's.

it rules on headphones.

I love Motor Booty Affair, the last great album credited to "Parliament," but Presence is Zep's worst, a thoroughly underwhelming and mediocre album.

Yeah, on second thought I don't think it's anywhere near as forgettable as the Presence thread title suggests. Just looking for a way to say "amazing album where I often forget how amazing it is when I'm not currently listening to it."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjLTiqAzo5c