Funkadelic - a psych funk band like no other

I'm afraid I only know the album Maggot Brain, but that's one hell of an album.  

Actually, I'd have to agree with you that the first album is also an essential and a fine album in it's own right, like for example one of the tracks at the end called "What is Soul?".   Also worthwhile picking up is the live album from this period, the title escapes me, and even thought the sound quality is subpar, you get a pretty good idea of the psychedelic/bluesy/funk ladden music that was Parliament Funkadelic in those days.   With all that's written about the influence on modern bands by krautrock groups, Funkadelic was ahead of the curve in it's own right and had a heavy influence on urban music for years to come, in fact on the album "CRAC" by Area, again I can't recall the exact name of the tune, but I think it's the 2nd or 3rd track that clearly has Funkadelic's influence all over it.

actually not really, because at one point the parliments and funkadelic were actually 2 separate bands, but it is in the early albums under the Funkadelic banner that they created the gritty acid/psych/funk that was groundbreaking, yet later on as Parliment Funkadelic they would also release some great albums like "ONE NATION UNDER A GROOVE", "UNCLE JAM WANTS YOU",  I recommend starting off with the first couple of FUNKADELIC albums, such as the selftitled "FUNKADELIC", "FREE YOUR MIND AND YOUR ASS WILL FOLLOW", or the live album from this period, but "UNCLE JAM WANTS YOU" is also a great choice because it contains the great tune "Knee Deep in the Black Hole".

drziltox wrote: actually not really, because at one point the parliments and funkadelic were actually 2 separate bands, but it is in the early albums under the Funkadelic banner that they created the gritty acid/psych/funk that was groundbreaking, yet later on as Parliment Funkadelic they would also release some great albums like "ONE NATION UNDER A GROOVE", "UNCLE JAM WANTS YOU",  I recommend starting off with the first couple of FUNKADELIC albums, such as the selftitled "FUNKADELIC", "FREE YOUR MIND AND YOUR ASS WILL FOLLOW", or the live album from this period, but "UNCLE JAM WANTS YOU" is also a great choice because it contains the great tune "Knee Deep in the Black Hole".

the actual title is (not just) Knee Deep (and it was sampled by De La Soul for their hit Me, Myself And I), the original was 15mins  long. In the late 60's the Parliaments and Funkadelic were 2 bands, the Parliaments being the vocalists and Funkadelic the backing band, later on the whole gang started recording for different labels, the band expanded with different band names (Bootsy's Rubber Band, The Horny Horns, The Brides Of Funkenstein, Parlet) and recorded up to 6,7 albums each yearin the late 70's. the 'Black Hole' in the quote above might be from a Parliament song: Theme from the Black Hole. most of all this glorious P-Funk is quite spaced-out Funk, with psychedlic overtones (mostly Funkadelic)

I love P-Funk.  I'll just mention that I saw an entertaining documentary that is largely available on youtube.com ("One Nation Under a Groove" in three parts). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOCKk_FwdG4&feature=related

Maggot Brain is truly one of the five best guitar solos of all time. Just so searing and beautiful.

jammun wrote: Parliament's Mothership Connection and The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein (and to a lesser extent Funkentelechy vs....) are excellent.  Maceo Parker!    In the days of the funkapuss...

Funkentelechy is my fave Parliament album, although Mothership is essential for funkateers as well (not to mention Motor Booty Affair)

be sure to check out Eddie Hazel's solo albums!