Parliament/Funkadelic is the biggest crew of funky dudes that has ever been. I’m posting three tracks this time. It’s actually pretty crucial for me to warn anyone of the male persuasion that reads this post of something REALLY important: There are some horn sections in the songs that you’re about to hear that are intensely funky. If you are gettin’ down with a lady-friend during said sections, things could get nasty… It’s a bit TOO funky. You, and most likely your lady as well, may not be able to control yourselves. I cannot be held responsible for what happens…

That being said, here are a few tunes for you:

RIDE ON – Chocolate City (1975)

DR. FUNKENSTEIN – The Clones Of Dr. Funkenstein (1976)

BOP GUN (ENDANGERED SPECIES) – Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome (1977)

If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense that this is direction a lot of the doo-wop and Motown musicians went in the ’70s. They played the same grooves with more synthesizers and for longer; FUNK. And you know, truthfully, Parliament is the only band in my book that can get away with the fade-out, fade back in routine. On any other occasion, I might have a problem with a trick ending, but these dudes just wanna make it clear that the groove really DOES go on forever, despite a fade-out. I am okay with that.

Though I’m sure nothing could top having seen Parliament play live in ‘76, George Clinton is still around and still playing all your favorite jams today. I went to see him for New Year’s Eve at the Warfield this year with my dear friend Annierose and it might have been the best decision of my life. Yeah, it was expensive (80 smackeroos) but well worth it. My suggestion to you is that you do not pass up on a chance to see Parliament play live. Also, with the amount of acid and crack that George Clinton has done in his time, there’s no telling when he’s gonna just keel over… Funky Funky.

You know, sometimes I wonder if these dudes just conceptualized “funk” prenatally. Few things have made more sense to me than the connection between the idea of “funk” and the records created by all the Parliament & Funkadelic dudes. I have no doubt in my mind that they were born with extensive knowledge about what is funky, what’s not funky, where the funk is at, why funk, and how to do funky…

Bootsy Collins. This fool lives up to his funky-ass name. Aside from being one of the few musicians solid enough to play with James Brown and not get kicked out of the band for playing a single wrong note, Bootsy is currently a living legend in the world of funk. Along with George Clinton, Bootsy has created some of the funkiest music fathomable. Not sure if any human has a greater capacity for funk than these two. I mean, Bootsy is famous for playing his signature Space Bass.

The two songs here are by Bootsy’s Rubber Band. The first is off of their debut album called Stretchin’ Out In Bootsy’s Rubber Band (1976). The song following is from their equally funky second record called Ahh… The Name Is Bootsy, Baby! (1977). If you walk by these albums at your favorite record store, they’ll catch your eye. Pick ‘em up. If you find them on CD or record, I doubt either of them will be more than 10 or 11 bucks. Worth every penny.

Rubber Duckie – Bootsy’s Rubber Band

Psychoticbumpschool – Bootsy’s Rubber Band

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Fred Wesley is the man.

Some people may respond to this statement by saying, “who?“  Others may have heard his name tossed around. Some may have even been listening to his records for quite some time. Regardless, I’m confident that pretty much everyone who learns more about the dude would agree that he is the man…

Fred Wesley was James Brown’s main trombone player and did a huge portion of horn arrangements for The Godfather’s hits that you know and love. He has produced and recorded a ton of music with Mr. Brown, as well as on his own with a bunch of the same musicians. I posted two tracks here. Both of them are the title tracks from their respective albums. The first is the band The J.B.’s who are famous for being James Brown’s main backing band. It’s the title track off the album Breakin’ Bread. The second is the title track off of a record called Say Blow By Blow Backwards by the band Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns.

Pick up these albums and you shan’t be disappointed. And trust me, there are many more grooves to come…

Breakin’ Bread - Fred Wesley & The J.B.’s

Say Blow By Blow Backwards - Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns