Funkadelic / Parliament-Funkadelic / Parliament… George Clinton’s visionary group of musicians have such an impact on the genre and the 70s; there are many albums and tracks to choose from. Here is a favourite from the start of the decade, “Maggot Brain” of Funkadelic from 71 - a landmark in funk history! 🎸🌟

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Funkadelic's core lineup is formed in 1967, initially to serve as the touring band for the doo-wop group The Parliaments but Funkadelic is beyond being an extension of it! Funkadelic is certainly an explosion of creativity, taking the soulful foundation and infusing it with psychedelic rock elements, creating a sound that is both familiar but also excitingly new for its era: funk rock.

 

Released in 71, "Maggot Brain" stands as a defining moment in Funkadelic's career and a huge contribution to the funk genre. With elements of free jazz and psychedelic rock, the album is significantly different from their previous work, it has a sound that is both avant-garde and incredibly soulful.

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Guitarist Eddie Hazel is the major name behind the legacy of "Maggot Brain"  - his masterful playing throughout the album, particularly apparent on the title track, is characterized by the unique combination of technical mastery, emotion, and innovative phrasing. (As many posts about 'Maggot Brain' mention: “Clinton instructs Hazel to play as if he had just learned of his mother's death” - resulting in the raw sorrow evident in every note). This 10 minutes song defies categorization.

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The album is, of course, a product of teamwork rather than just individual genius; however, as the lead vocalist and co-writer, it serves as a showcase for Eddie Hazel.

(George Clinton says he had largely faded the others out of the final mix of Maggot Brain so that the focus would be on Eddie Hazel's guitar).

The same goes for "Wars of Armageddon," the final tune on the album, nearly as long as the title track - yet another incredible jam by EH.

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Finally, he is also the lead vocalist (and shares songwriting credits with other band members) on “Super Stupid” (which happens to be my favorite track in the album). 🎸🤯🚀

"Super Stupid” is a standout track - perfectly encapsulating Funkadelic's signature sound & also is an exceptional example for EH’s energetic guitar playing.

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And a fun fact: "Can You Get to That?" is featured in the 2021 "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" 🌟 It is an unexpected but fitting tribute (maybe celebrating the album's 50th anniversary?) - bridging the gap between generations, a reminder of the band's ongoing impact, as well as the realization of George Clinton’s theories about building an audience over generations ✨

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Gülben - 04/2024

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📌Official site

📖 Consequence features Eddie Hazel

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