Funkadelic

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Funkadelic
Studio album by Funkadelic
Released	1970
Genre	Funk, psychedelic soul, rock
Length	46:37
Label	Westbound W-2000
Producer	George Clinton
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (C+) link Julian Cope (favorable) link Pitchfork Media {9.0/10} link Rolling Stone link Spin (9/10) link
Funkadelic chronology
Funkadelic (1970) Free Your Mind...And Your Ass Will Follow (1970)

Funkadelic was the debut album by the American funk band Funkadelic, released in 1970 on Westbound Records. The album showcased a strong bass and rhythm section, as well as lengthy jam sessions, future trademarks of the band. The album contains two remakes of songs from The Parliaments, an earlier band featuring George Clinton: "I Bet You" and "Good Old Music".

"Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?" and "What is Soul" contained the beginnings of Funkadelic's mythology, namely that "Funkadelic" and "the Funk" are alien in origin but not dangerous.

"I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody's Got a Thing" was particularly notable for the epic guitar solo by Rare Earth's Ray Monette's. "I Bet You" was later covered by the Jackson 5 on their album ABC, and sampled by the Beastie Boys for their song "Car Thief". In more recent years The Red Hot Chili Peppers have combined the main riff of "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?" and certain parts of the lyrics from "What Is Soul?" in live shows, a version appears as a B-Side on their 2002 single By The Way.

Track listing

Side One

1. "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?" (George Clinton) - 9:04
2. "I Bet You" (George Clinton, Patrick Lindsey, Sidney Barnes) - 6:10 (released as a single: Westbound 150)
3. "Music for My Mother" (George Clinton, Eddie Hazel, Billy Nelson) - 5:37 (released as a single: Westbound 148)
4. "I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody's Got a Thing" (Clarence Haskins) - 3:52 (released as a single: Westbound 158)

Side Two

5. "Good Old Music" (George Clinton) - 7:59
6. "Qualify and Satisfy" (George Clinton, Billy Nelson, Eddie Hazel) - 6:15
7. "What Is Soul" (George Clinton)- 7:40

2005 CD reissue bonus tracks

8. "Can't Shake It Loose" (George Clinton, Sidney Barnes, Joanne Jackson, Rose Marie McCoy) - 2:28
9. "I Bet You" (George Clinton, Patrick Lindsey, Sidney Barnes) - 4:10
10. "Music for My Mother" (George Clinton, Eddie Hazel, Billy Nelson) - 5:17
11. "As Good as I Can Feel" (George Clinton, Clarence Haskins) - 2:31
12. "Open Our Eyes" (Leon Lumpkins) - 3:58
13. "Qualify and Satisfy" (George Clinton, Billy Nelson, Eddie Hazel) - 3:00
14. "Music for My Mother" (George Clinton, Eddie Hazel, Billy Nelson) - 6:14

Alternate 45 versions and non-album b-sides.

Track 8: Recorded in 1969 and scheduled as Westbound W 159
Track 9: Westbound W 150
Track 10: Westbound W 158
Track 11: Recorded in 1969 and scheduled as Westbound W 149
Track 12: Westbound W 150
Track 13: (45 version) Westbound W 150
Track 14: (Instrumental 45 version) Westbound W 159

Tracks 8-11, 14 are mono recordings.

Personnel

Note: Exact records of all personnel on all songs have been lost.

• George Clinton: vocals
• Eddie Hazel: lead guitar, vocals on "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?" and "I Bet You"
• Lucius "Tawl" Ross: rhythm guitar, vocals on "Music for My Mother"
• Ray Monette: guitar on "I Got a Thing"
• Billy "Bass" Nelson: bass on "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?" and "I Got a Thing"; vocals on "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?" and "Music for My Mother"
• Bob Babbitt: bass on "I Bet You"
• Mickey Atkins: organ on "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?"
• Bernie Worrell: organ on "I Got a Thing"
• Earl Van Dyke: keyboards on "I Bet You"
• Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood: drums on "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic", "I Bet You", "I Got a Thing" and "Qualify and Satisfy"
• Brad Innis: drums on "Music for My Mother"
• Gasper Lawal: conga on "Music for My Mother"
• Herb Sparkman: lead vocals on "Music for My Mother"
• Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins: lead vocals on "I Got a Thing"
• Calvin Simon: lead vocals on "Qualify and Satisfy"
• Additional vocals by Ray Davis, Grady Thomas and some unknown female vocalists

Later Samples

• "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?"
  • "Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa" by De La Soul from the album De La Soul Is Dead
  • "Two to the Head" by Kool G Rap & DJ Polo from the album Live and Let Die
• "I Bet You"
  • "Car Thief" by the Beastie Boys from the album "Paul's Boutique"
  • "A Penny for My Thoughts" by Common from the album Can I Borrow a Dollar?
• "Good Old Music"
  • "Young Black Male" by 2Pac from the album 2Pacalypse Now
  • "Intro" by Nas from the album Street's Disciple
  • "A Message to the Feds, Sincerely, We the People" by Nas from the album Street's Disciple

Focus On Funkadelic

In conjunction with the release of Funkadelic, Westbound Records circulated a promotional single called "Focus On Funkadelic" to radio stations. The single features six snippets of tracks from the LP.

External links

• the Motherpage