Funkadelic standing on the verge of getting it on songs

9 users contributed to this page

Contains samples of 1 song

Multiple Elements
Soul / Funk / Disco

Was sampled in 4 songs see all

Hook / Riff
Hip-Hop / Rap / R&B

Vocals / Lyrics
Hip-Hop / Rap / R&B

Vocals / Lyrics
Hip-Hop / Rap / R&B

Do you know an interesting fact or story about this track? Submit it to us and it will be shown here after review.

Check out the latest facts and stories submitted to the site here.

Discussion

Be the first to comment on this track!

You must be logged in to comment. Please sign in or sign up.

After taking a few albums off, Eddie Hazel’s back! Oh, happy day! And with his return, George Clinton could finally steer the flagship of the P-Funk armada (this being just before Parliament started ruling, you know) away from the rocks they were in danger of being dashed against by the unevenness of America Eats Its Young and the confused Eddie-less-ness of Cosmic Slop. Can you imagine what this band would’ve become if Eddie hadn’t rejoined the fold? Who would take his place? Bernie Worrell? No, he’d turn everything into a ten-minute keyboard freakout, the last thing George “Mr. Crossover” Clinton was looking for at this point. Thankfully, they lured Eddie back into the band with a trail of acid tabs leading to the studio. I know because I was there. You can read all about it in my new book, Heart of Darkness II: Heart of Darkness vs. Space-Squid from Hell.

Anyway, right, the album. Sure, it's slightly flawed, but it's definitely the best mid-period Funkadelic album, and along with Maggot Brain shows them at the peak of their funk-rock phase, which was their best phase to begin with. Like Maggot Brain, the album concludes with a classic bit of voiceover plus guitar solo, only this time it's a lot less intense and depressing. The song, "Good Thoughts Bad Thoughts," is one of my all-time favorite P-Funk tracks. Soothing and gorgeous, with great lyrics on top of that. Definitely the strongest thing here.

And there's all kinds of good stuff here. "Alice in My Fantasies" is an unlistenable mess that nobody has any need for, but the rest is damn good. If it's funk-rock you're looking for, I would highly recommend the searing "Red Hot Mama." To be specific, I'd recommend you get the version with bonus tracks, because it includes the b-side "Vital Juices." "Vital Juices" continues the guitar jam that sadly faded out at the end of "Red Hot Mama," and it's all the proof I need that Eddie Hazel was an unsung guitar god who deserves a lot more attention than he gets. He wasn't just some acid burnout, he was an acid burnout who could play guitar like a motherfucker.

Meanwhile, "I'll Stay" demonstrates just how versatile of a guitarist the guy was. It's a slow, trippy, sexy tune that's among my favorites in the Funkadelic canon. Not only are there great harmonies and an awesome descending wah-wah hook and all kinds of cool headphone goodies, there's also a smokin' guitar solo. "Standing on the Verge of Getting it On" returns us to funk-rock territory, and it's at least as good as "Red Hot Mama." For some reason the "Let's see what time it is!" voiceover makes me laugh very, very hard.

The other two tracks are good as well. "Sexy Ways" is an interesting diversion into Latin music that definitely does not sound like your average Funkadelic song (if anything can indeed be described as "your average Funkadelic song" - these guys are kind of weird, after all), and "Jimmy's Got a Little Bit of Bitch in Him" is an amusing light-hearted song about a gay dude. Think of Alfred having a joke at Batman's expense. You know he doesn't mean it, and it's all in good fun, so you laugh along. This, of course, being Adam West's Batman, and not Christian Bale's.

This album is an unfairly forgotten funk-rock gem. Anyone who likes either funk or rock and isn't opposed to seeing the two crossed would do themselves well by checking it out.

Track picks: "Red Hot Mama," "I'll Stay," "Standing on the Verge of Getting it On," "Good Thoughts, Bad Thoughts"

Why did Funkadelic break up?

What funk artist had a group called Parliament and a group called Funkadelic?

What is George Clinton's most famous song?

Is Funkadelic still active?