Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

One Nation Under a Groove

 
Album Review: One Nation Under a Groove
 
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Albums

One Nation Under a Groove

Buy Now

Similar Albums:

Live at Museum of Modern Art, Sound of Funk, Vol. 1, Release Yourself, Gap Band II, I Gotcha, Purple Rain, Mothership Connection, Street Songs, Thriller, Conversations
  • Artist: Funkadelic
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: 1978
  • Total Time: 58:51
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

One Nation Under a Groove was not only Funkadelic's greatest moment, it was their most popular album, bringing them an unprecedented commercial breakthrough by going platinum and spawning a number one R&B smash in the title track. It was a landmark LP for the so-called "black rock" movement, best-typified in the statement of purpose "Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!"; more than that, though, the whole album is full of fuzzed-out, Hendrix-style guitar licks, even when the music is clearly meant for the dancefloor. This may not have been a new concept for Funkadelic, but it's executed here with the greatest clarity and accessibility in their catalog. Furthermore, out of George Clinton's many conceptual albums (serious and otherwise), One Nation Under a Groove is the pinnacle of his political consciousness. It's unified by a refusal to acknowledge boundaries -- social, sexual, or musical -- and, by extension, the uptight society that created them. The tone is positive, not militant -- this funk is about community, freedom, and independence, and you can hear it in every cut (even the bizarre, outrageously scatological "P.E. Squad"). The title cut is one of funk's greatest anthems, and "Groovallegiance" and the terrific "Cholly" both dovetail nicely with its concerns. The aforementioned "Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!" is a seamless hybrid that perfectly encapsulates the band's musical agenda, while "Into You" is one of their few truly successful slow numbers. The original LP included a three-song bonus EP featuring the heavy riff rock of "Lunchmeataphobia," an unnecessary instrumental version of "P.E. Squad," and a live "Maggot Brain"; these tracks were appended to the CD reissue. In any form, One Nation Under a Groove is the best realization of Funkadelic's ambitions, and one of the best funk albums ever released. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
One Nation Under a Groove Walter "Junie" Morrison, George Clinton, Gary Shider Funkadelic (7:28)
Groovallegiance Bernie Worrell, Walter "Junie" Morrison, George Clinton Funkadelic (7:00)
Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?! Walter "Junie" Morrison, George Clinton, Michael Hampton Funkadelic (6:18)
Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo Doo Chasers) L. Brown, George Clinton, Gary Shider Funkadelic (10:45)
Into You Walter "Junie" Morrison, Bootsy Collins, George Clinton Funkadelic (5:41)
Cholly (Funk Gettin Ready to Roll) Walter "Junie" Morrison, Bootsy Collins, George Clinton Funkadelic (4:27)
Lunchmeataphobia ('Think! It Ain't Illegal Yet') Bernie Worrell, George Clinton Funkadelic (4:12)
P.E. Squad/Doo Doo Chasers ["Going All-the-Way-Off" Instrumental Versi] L. Brown, George Clinton, Gary Shider Funkadelic (4:18)
Maggot Brain [Live] Eddie Hazel, George Clinton Funkadelic (8:30)

Credits

Joe Miller (Lighting), Joe Miller (Staging), Funkadelic (Main Performer), Bernie Worrell (Synthesizer), Bernie Worrell (Keyboards), Bernie Worrell (Vocals), Walter "Junie" Morrison (Synthesizer), Walter "Junie" Morrison (Keyboards), Walter "Junie" Morrison (Vocals), Pete Bishop (Engineer), Bootsy Collins (Bass), Bootsy Collins (Percussion), Bootsy Collins (Drums), Jerome Brailey (Percussion), Jerome Brailey (Drums), George Clinton (Vocals), George Clinton (Vocals (Background)), George Clinton (Producer), George Clinton (?), George Clinton (Liner Notes), George Clinton (Art Direction), George Clinton (Concept), Rodney Curtis (Bass), Raymond Davis (Vocals), Raymond Davis (Vocals (Background)), David Denny (Lighting), David Denny (Staging), Ron Ford (Vocals), Ron Ford (Vocals (Background)), Mallia Franklin (Vocals), Mallia Franklin (Vocals (Background)), Mullin Franklin (Vocals), Lawrence Fratangelo (Percussion), Lawrence Fratangelo (Drums), Michael Hampton (Guitar), Mark Holmes (Lighting), Mark Holmes (Staging), Michael Iacopelli (Engineer), Bob Krasnow (Administration), Tyrone Lampkin (Percussion), Tyrone Lampkin (Drums), Bobby Lavis (Guitar), Louis Levin (?), Lynn Mabry (Vocals), Lynn Mabry (Vocals (Background)), Cordell Mosson (Bass), Cordell Mosson (Vocals), Cordell Mosson (Vocals (Background)), Gary Shider (Guitar), Gary Shider (Vocals), Gary Shider (Vocals (Background)), Dawn Silva (Vocals), Dawn Silva (Vocals (Background)), Calvin Simon (Percussion), Calvin Simon (Vocals), Grady Thomas (Vocals), Greg Thomas (Vocals), Greg Thomas (Vocals (Background)), Jim Vitti (Engineer), Jeanette "Baby" Washington (Vocals), Jeanette "Baby" Washington (Vocals (Background)), Debbie Wright (Vocals), Debbie Wright (Vocals (Background)), Mario Medious (?), Pedro Bell (Graphic Design), Pedro Bell (Camera Operator), Charles Bishop (Lighting), Charles Bishop (Staging), Jack Kramer (?), Sir Lleb of Funkadelia (?), Sir Lleb of Funkadelia (Liner Notes), Sir Lleb of Funkadelia (Concept), Bob Bishop (Lighting), Bob Bishop (Staging), Bobby Lewis (Banjo), Ed Thrasher (Artwork), Ed Thrasher (Art Direction), Ed Thrasher (Direction), Laurie Goldman (?), Ron Dunbar (?), Archie Ivy (?), Arpil Wildflower (Graphic Design), Holy Terra (Coordination), Patrice Gramenz O'Neil (Lighting), Patrice Gramenz O'Neil (Staging), Brenda Adams (?)
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a word or phrase...
All Community Q&A Reference topics

 
Wikipedia: One Nation Under a Groove
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
 This article may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (January 2009)
This article is about the album. For the song, see One Nation Under a Groove (song).
One Nation Under a Groove
One Nation Under a Groove cover
Studio album by Funkadelic
Released September 1978
Recorded 1978
United Sound
(Detroit, Michigan)
Monroe Civic Center
(Monroe, Louisiana)
Genre Funk, rock, funk rock
Length 41:40 (original album)
16:58 (bonus EP)
58:38 (total)
Label Warner Bros.
WB 56-539
Producer George Clinton
Professional reviews
Funkadelic chronology
Hardcore Jollies
(1976)		 One Nation Under a Groove
(1978)		 Uncle Jam Wants You
(1979)
Alternate cover
Original LP inner sleeve
Original LP inner sleeve

One Nation Under a Groove is the tenth studio album by American funk and rock band Funkadelic, released in September 1978 on Warner Bros. Records. Recording sessions took place at United Sound Studio in Detroit, Michigan, with one song recorded live on April 15, 1978 at the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, Louisiana.[1] The album was the first album to include keyboardist and frequent songwriter Walter "Junie" Morrison. One Nation Under a Groove also marked the pinnacle of Michael Hampton's development as a guitarist.

One Nation Under a Groove was Funkadelic's most commercially successful album, and one of its most critically lauded. It is also regarded by many as the greatest funk album of all time and ranks at or near the top of many "best album" lists in disparate genres.[2] The album was later featured on Vibe magazine's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century list. In 2003, the album was ranked number 177 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[3]

Contents

Songs and music

One Nation Under a Groove is a very loose concept album (as are most of Funkadelic's works), essentially declaring the power of Funk (see P Funk mythology) to do two interconnected things: become an open-minded, happy and goal oriented person, and dance well. This is the power of Funk stated in less clear terms on previous albums (Free Your Mind... And Your Ass Will Follow).

"One Nation Under a Groove"

see main article One Nation Under a Groove (song)

This song was a big hit for the group, and is today regarded as one of their signature songs, being a part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll and Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". It was also a top 40 hit. The song refers to dancing as a path to freedom: the "dancing" can be seen as metaphoric, though. The song's title most likely refers to the line in the Pledge of Allegiance "One nation, under God". Furthering the religious imagery, the song references the groove being a god.

"Groovallegiance"

A song with a slight reggae feel, Grooveallegiance continues the album's loose concept about forming "One Nation Under a Groove". It references the "United Funk of Funkadelica", supposedly the one nation referred to in the title.

"Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!"

In keeping the album's theme of breaking political, social, and musical barriers, this song is a cross between funk and rock, mixing a funky bassline with heavy, more rock oriented guitar and drums. The lyrics are simple, referring to why a funk band can, contrary to popular belief, play rock: regardless, it is one of their most popular songs.[citation needed]

"P.E. Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers)"

"Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers)" is a long, scatological song with references to the world being, among other things, a toll-free toilet. It also can be seen as a satire of the dumbing-down of world culture[citation needed].

"Into You"

A Funk ballad.

"Cholly (Funk Getting Ready To Roll!)"

This song deals with a man once interested in classical music who is introduced to funk and phone cords by some friends of his: at first, he is doubtful of it, but he eventually grows to love it.

The last three tracks of CD reissues were originally distributed as "bonus-EP". Some latter vinyl editions omit these tracks.

Track listing

Main album
# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "One Nation Under a Groove"   George Clinton, Walter Morrison, Garry Shider 7:29
2. "Groovallegiance"   Clinton, Morrison, Bernie Worrell 7:00
3. "Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!"   Clinton, Morrison, Michael Hampton 6:18
4. "Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers)"   Clinton, Shider, Linda Brown 10:45
5. "Into You"   Clinton, Morrison, William Collins 5:41
6. "Cholly (Funk Getting Ready To Roll!)"   Clinton, Morrison, Collins 4:27
41:40
Bonus EP
# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Lunchmeatophobia (Think!...It Ain't Illegal Yet!)"   Clinton, Worrell 4:12
2. "P.E. Squad/DooDoo Chasers ('Going All-The-Way Off' Instrumental)"   Clinton, Shider, Brown 4:18
3. "Maggot Brain" ((Live)) Clinton, Eddie Hazel 8:28
16:58

In Europe, the Bonus-EP was replaced by a bonus 12" 45rpm mini-album containing the 3 EP tracks on one side and an extended version of "One Nation Under a Groove" on the other.

Personnel

Funkadelic Main Invasion Force (All below is as given in the liner notes):

References

  1. ^ Tower.com: One Nation Under a Groove. Tower.com. Retrieved on 2008-08-11.
  2. ^ Acclaimed Music - One Nation Under a Groove (rankings, ratings, etc.). www.acclaimedmusic.net. Retrieved on 2008-08-11.
  3. ^ 177) One Nation Under a Groove : Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2008-08-11.

External links

v • d • e
 
Parliament-Funkadelic
 
Related articles
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees
Related bands
Related articles
 
Discography
Parliament
Ruth Copeland
Funkadelic
Bootsy Collins/
Bootsy's Rubber Band
Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins
Eddie Hazel
Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs • Jams From the Heart • Rest in P • At Home (With Family)
The Horny Horns
Bernie Worrell
The Brides of Funkenstein
Parlet
Quazar
Mutiny
Sweat Band
George Clinton/
P-Funk All-Stars
Jimmy G and the Tackheads
INCorporated Thang Band
Billy Bass Nelson
Michael Hampton

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "One Nation Under a Groove".  Read more

Related answers
» More
 
Answer these
» More

Mentioned in

» More» More