Reviews (page 3 of 14)
funky AND fresh!
Kind of perfect.
Legendarisk plate
Holy crap I LOVED THIS ALBUM. Absolutely brilliant and funky beyond words. I was fairly certain it was gonna be a 5 star before the end of track 1. Cannot find a single fault with it. Top Track - Give Up The Funk, belter of a song
Always a good time
This was so much fun.
An amazing album it’s no wonder why so many hip hop artists sample them.
All timer. Never a bad time to listen to this album. It’s like an instant good mood.
SupercaliSkronkaFunkaLICIOUS Sunglasses obliged whilst listening to this album How can anyone not enjoy this?
real ga ga goo ga music
FOHNK. 9/10 but it's high so it gets the 5.
IF YOU HEAR US MAKING NOISE ITS JUST ME IN THE BOYS!!!!!!!! Classic, classic, classsssiccccccccc record right here. Reminds me of my mother and I will be rocking to this with her next time I see her!
Awesome funk album, impossible not to enjoy.
Greatest Funk album of all time and it's not even close.
It has not, will not, and cannot get any funkier than Parliament. Here we have on display, the deepest of pockets in the drums, the squiggliest popping on bass, resulting in a group that is LOCKED in, exploring the great beyond.
The lifeblood of all that is good and groovy within this world pulsates throughout the Mothership, propelling our Earthly bodies to surrender completely to the irresistible call of pure, unfiltered funk, ya dig?
11/10 would get funked up again.
Iconic. Easy to draw a line straight to Outkast, and a bunch of other artists have sampled from this album. Clear influences from Black church scene.
Damn!
One type of music i have discovered on this journey is funky, I think it's great
Afro-futurism in the form of ass shaking. Beam me up Bootsy!
maravilloso
“Let me put my sunglasses on so I can see what I am doing”
BANGER
"Funk not only moves, it can re-move, dig?" It's good for what ails you.
Amazing album. P-funk at its best.
Hot damn! Were there any funkier MF’ers on earth or beyond in 1975 than Parliament? I think not! I had no idea so many classic hiphop tracks owe their samples to this seminal album. George Clinton is a genius.
I felt the funk. "P-Funk" sets a great tone for just how zany the lyrics could be all while the music does some incredible, forward-thinking things. The title track kinda feels like one big party with amazing one liners like "If you hear any noise it's just me and the boys" or "doing it in 3D". "Give Up The Funk" is so memorable and timeless that I cant imagine too many people have lived their lives without hearing this track. "Night Of The Thumpasorus Peoples" is so goofy that you have to meet it where it's at and just have fun with it. Kinda sneaks up on you considering Maggot Brain has potentially even more historical cult praise but this is a 5/5. Innovative, extremely fun, with songs that are memorable, songs that are a bit experimental, and a perfect run time!
super funky, head bopping awesome for an afternoon drive, drums are amazing, i really didn't expect for it to be that good
Perfect album
5 The history of Parliament/Funkadelic is like the tea leaves spelling out the future applications of Funk. It still has James Brown's stomp, Sly's filigrees, and the body-moving syncopation from New Orleans. Fused together into one endless groove here, it might as well be our Voyager silver record to a distant solar system. When you listen, go outside and maybe a sweet chariot will come down and let you ride.
This was Suave.
Bootsy! Macro! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
bliss euphoria freedom aspiration dreams dreams dreams dreams dreams. george clinton could orchestrate a soundscape like no one else, everything ends up in exactly the right place with no visible effort or constrictions. the funkadelic material ive heard ranges from utopian to apocalyptic, but the parliament material ive heard is just pure floating joy...if ur not dancing to it, u better at the very least be lying down and imagining that ur flying. the first time in this project ive restarted a record Immediately after finishing it...some feelings u just dont want to end!
Make my funk the p-funk
Fucking love p-funk, so good, loved supergroovalisticprosifunkstication, give up the funk, mothership connection
Damn, this is so funky off the start. I think I've heard a lot of funk that does the instrumentals really well, but these guys also have some fun harmonized vocals that really add to it. Highlight: give up the funk
That's a big chunk o funk. But I liked it. Nit normally a fan of electric music, this somehow works.
I made a go funk yourself joke a couple albums back with off the wall but it applies even more. It is kinda a glorified jam session but they throw so many ideas at the wall it might as well be musical Jackson pollock. Honestly? It works surprisingly well. Would get funked in all my orifices again
Wow! I wish this was played on the family AM radio station in my house in 1975!
Arguably the greatest funk album ever. This album is pure fun and is groovy as hell. The influence of this album can be heard for decades to come. I've undoubtedly been funked in my ear-hole.
1975. Funk. 9/10 Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)
One of my favs
If this doesn't get you bobbing your head and bouncing - you are dead.
Simultaneously enjoy the PFunk and recognize the GFunk samples.
You can make my funk the P-funk any day of the week. This is the grooviest and these dudes are all the Mans.
Now this is what I'm talking about! These are bleeps and bloops that my ears enjoy.
i can still feel the funk a whole day later
We want the funk.
Tear the roof off the sucker
So much funk, so much fun
I have listened to Parliament in the past but usually it's been Maggot Brain so I wasn't really familiar with this one. That will change as this is incredible stuff here. Start to finish it's got more funk per minute than anything has a right to have. This is the real deal here.
Excellent P-Funk example and became Sample City. Although very different, this album and Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain are all-time top Funk albums. Bootsy’s on 🔥.
This funk got me funked up in a really good funking way that makes me just want to funk up at the funk party. Absolutely funky.
Absolutely a masterpiece. Parliament is in regular rotation in my home, and this album is usually up to bat first. Every song is great, it makes me wanna dance and groove and sing along. P-Funk forever.
It's only 8 am, but I'm grooving in my seat right now. Kind of a shame I got this one on a work day, you know?
To me this is a perfect P-Funk album. Others have amazing highs mixed with some lows, but this one doesn't have a weak moment. Bootsy is especially on and prominent in the mix which I also love
P funk
This album is connected me to funk-rock-soul.
Funk as it was intended! Soooo cool!
The only way to make George Clinton and Parliament any funkier is to add Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley, and that's what you get on Mothership Connection. This album is like a galaxy of good times and great musicianship.
IMMEDIATE 5!!!!! I would give this a 6 if I could.
Mothership Connection by Parliament and released on December 15, 1975 has long been one of my favorite Funk Albums. It was the first Parliament-Funkadelic release to feature horn players Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley, previously of James Brown's backing band, the J.B.'s and was the first Parliament album to be certified gold and later platinum. I found the album years ago, and it was my introduction to Parliament / George Clinton. It made my funk the P-Funk, because I must always have wants to get Funked Up! Key musicians include Bootsy Collins on Bass, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Joe Brecker, Randy Brecker and Joe Farell on Horns, and Bernie Worrell on Keys (Minimoog, Wurlitzer electric piano, ARP Pro Soloist and String Ensemble, RMI Electra Piano, Hammond organ, grand piano, Fender Rhodes, Clavinet D6). Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood was the drummer. The album begins with an invitation to the Funk through the song P-Funk (We Wants the Funk). Mothership Connection (Star Child) continues with a groovy riff "If you hear any noise, It's just me and the boys. Hit me, You gotta hit the band" grounded by the bass and embellished by the Horn section. From Wikipedia: "The album is held together by an outer-space theme. Describing the concept, George Clinton said "We had put black people in situations nobody ever thought they would be in, like the White House. I figured another place you wouldn't think black people would be was in outer space. I was a big fan of Star Trek, so we did a thing with a pimp sitting in a spaceship shaped like a Cadillac, and we did all these James Brown-type grooves, but with street talk and ghetto slang." The album's concept would form the backbone of P-Funk's concert performances during the 1970s, in which a large spaceship prop known as the Mothership would be lowered onto the stage." "Retrospectively, Mothership Connection has been widely acclaimed, and it is typically considered to be one of the best albums by the Parliament-Funkadelic collective." Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothership_Connection
I liked it a lot! Fun to listen to and I thought the space setting was pretty unique. Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication was my favorite track.
AMAZING album. Such a good time
Loved it. Not a bad song on the entire album. George Clinton is the galactic king of funk. Say it with me now, “We’re not gonna protest”.
Heavy space funk that'll take you places they don't want you to know exist, Parliament Funkadelic are the foundation! Welcome to another universe!
Hell yeah, the p funk! Fun album, I will be throwing it on as background or car music in the future. Main critique is song length, but the vibe is a jam vibe so i think it fits for that. I'm a big fan of Outkast's debut album "Southernplayalisticcadillacmuzik" which i feel must have been influenced by track 4 "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication", and generally has the funky sound. I also had to google where exactly i knew it from, but the "let me ride" refrain from track 2 Mothership Connection is sampled or reproduced in Dr Dre's "Let me ride"
now THIS is for me
P-Funk.
100%
Like a bit of 70's funk and soul, this one with its concept of aliens and outer space was a bit different. Really enjoyed this music, so evocative of the era
Funky, soulful, and just a pure blast to listen to. I don't really have much to rate as this normally isn't my favorite style of music, but anytime I can hear the hook to "Let Me Ride" is another good day.
yea it's p groovy
I had never even heard of Parliament before this, and I'm so glad it was recommended! Fantastic, lively, feel-good, amazing inventive lyrics. Impossible not to bop to.
Extraterrestrial brothers, dealers of funky music. What else is there to say??
Yoooo this album goes HARD. Maybe the most fun I have ever had listening to music. From the opening track, it is just so COOL. Great funk basslines obviously, lot of mud, a little wah, vocal talent that stands on its own and good chorus unison/octave work. Makes me want to listen to more funk. And all of this before I realized this was the album with Give Up the Funk! The power of great vocal hooks and great riffs.
gosh where do i even start. this album is absolute heat i love it. funk is just too good to be honest and this album is very funky. first time i’ve listned to it and i can proudly say it gets 5 BIG BOOMSSSS.
Wow! Super fun and definitely would have this playing in the house cooking or hanging out as fun background music. Also good if I found this vinyl, good guest music.
Loved! So fun.
We were so close in 1975. We were right there. We are Orpheus and we had gone to hell and rescued our true love and were on the cusp of stepping out into the sunshine with her by our side. All people - no matter their race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, nationality - were all slowly and tentatively walking up the steps of the mothership, getting ready to join an intergalactic rainbow coalition of peace, love, fun and funk. Parliament-Funkadelic were leaving us musical breadcrumbs leading us up to Nirvana. A future where everyone had enough and lived with all their brothers and sisters in harmony. We were RIGHT THERE!!!! And then we lost faith, started to fear and doubt, and turned back to look and make sure Eurydice was still there. Then the CIA pumped crack into our communities and we elected Reagan and started watching “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”. And now we’re here. Make my funk the p-funk. I want to get funked up.
heard this before p funk japan yeah!
Looooove it already new a song and I'm thrilled this was recommended
V fun! Great introduction to funk which i haven’t heard much of.
The funk is within me. Everything here is so tight. The basslines, the drumming, the horns, the synths. Everything works together. Incredible stuff.
I am all for everything this album has going on (except Handcuffs, that song kinda sucked). The imagination, the coined slang, the call and response.
Oooh, another delightful discovery courtesy of this project. A playful, fun concept album with excellent beats - no boredom here!
It s funky and cheer you up!
The greatest funk album of all time!
I would have never guessed that I'm a fan of 70s funk, but this list gave me an inside into Parliament, Funkadelic, some Stevie Wonder records and many others which turned me into a believer. Mothership Connection is a great album, I had a great time listening to it and it easily becomes one of my favourite funk releases.
All-time classic
Pass me a cigarette.....I am spent !!
Solid funk album
T’was a bland and bleak existence. Then came the funk…
i love funk, i love parliment, i love this album, i love bootsy. this album is funny bc it is only 38 minutes long, but i know in real life, when George and the gang play live, EACH song is like 38 minutes long! lol. i wonder how the sudio guys got them to cut it short. maybe the producer just cut off the song after 5 minutes each lol. album makes me reflect on meditation, and the transcendental meditation theory of a repeating a syllable(s) to bring peace. Each song is lyrically simple, with just one or 2 repeated phrases, repeated over and over and over, like an Om. i feel it would not be out of funkadelic's wheelhouse to be attempting to bring a trance like state to themselves and audience.
Some of the best work on one record - Afrofuturism found. Hard to imagine more influential playing on another record.
Love it ! My first funk album
Pre-listening thoughts: you know, I’ll take anything over Slipknot yesterday but funk is very welcome today. Feel like this is going to be fire. Post/during listening thoughts: I didn’t realize this was only 7 songs! 😭 this is what I THOUGHT the funkadelic album was gonna sound like, but that was an idiot assumption on my behalf considering their name is literally a fusion of the words funk and psychedelic. I usually am against long songs but Jesus this is so fun. Every piece of this band is heard/balanced and in sync and playing with a really infectious energy. If this doesn’t get you dancing I’m not sure anything will. I have no choice but to give this a 9/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: yes this is 100% essential listening and a staple of its genre Fav tracks: everything but was lukewarm on the last track being the last track if that makes sense Least fav tracks: n/a
Funky
By 1975, funk had already made its mark, but Mothership Connection took it to the cosmos. George Clinton and Parliament didn’t just make an album—they built a world, one where groove was gospel, and the funk was a ticket to transcendence. Bootsy Collins’s bass bounces like it’s got its own gravitational pull, Bernie Worrell’s synths stretch reality, and the horn section punches through the mix with an almost military precision. Musically loose but perfectly in sync, Mothership Connection is a party, a sermon, and a revolution rolled into one. Standout tracks? No shortage of those. “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” is anthemic funk at its purest—thunderous basslines, call-and-response vocals, and a groove that demands movement. “Mothership Connection (Star Child)” is pure Afrofuturist theater, Clinton fully stepping into his intergalactic alter ego, backed by Worrell’s swirling keyboards and some of the tightest horn arrangements in funk history. And then there’s “P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up),” where Parliament turns a laid-back groove into a hypnotic, slow-burning manifesto. It reshaped the very idea of what funk could be, blending Afrofuturism with funky beats and political commentary. Clinton and Parliament pushed the concept of “Star Child” as a mythical figure escaping to a better world through the transcendence of funk, making the album as much about the future as the music. This wasn’t just a record—it was an ideological shift. Its influence is everywhere. Dr. Dre built The Chronic on its DNA (just listen to “Let Me Ride”), OutKast’s ATLiens wouldn’t exist without its space-funk blueprint, and Prince absorbed its theatricality into his own purple kingdom. The Beastie Boys sampled it, Kendrick Lamar carries its spirit, and Janelle Monáe channels its Afrofuturist vision. Respected by your favorite artists, sampled by your favorite rappers, this is foundational.
Concentration of funk
So unbelievably cool. The band is so tight, the album flows perfectly. The songs are long and evolving without the album feeling drawn-out. So funky, I dig it.
I’m not usually into funk but top to bottom this album is so much fun
Tear the roof off the sucka
The world would be a better place if everyone listened to Parliament and felt the funk.
We should change St. George's day to December 15th to commemorate the day George Clinton brought us this album back in 1975. I wish my inner voice sounded like George Clinton. His speaking voice is as comforting as it is funky. This was great. Recognising the 2nd song as the sample from Dr. Dre's Let Me Ride was also fun. The instruments were so simple but were woven together masterfully and that bass guitar felt like a heart beat carrying me through each track. I started listening to it just before bed and thought I'd just check out the first song and finish the rest in the morning, but, once I started, I couldn't pause it. This thing is a masterpiece. Clearly I'm a big fan of albums with spaceship cover art. In summary, there isn't a single weak song on here. After one listen, it's already one of my favourite full albums of all time. Also shout out to Garry Shider. The vocals on Handcuffs are incredible.
Solid groove, more jazzy than I remembered, definitely cures migraines and arthritis
Straight bangers, Mothership connection, supergroovalisticprosifunkstacation and Night Of The Thumpasorus People are my favorites, but all of them are great
Didn't know what to expect but this was so much freaking fun. Lots of head bobbing. Funk isn't necessarily my thing but I can appreciate the music and how it works so well with all of the moving pieces, great piece of music
Starting with P-Funk, which is a classic that was already on my liked songs. Parliment has always been in my wheelhouse. Though I haven't gave this entire album a proper listen. So I'm gonna kick back and let my ear drums be soothed by funk. I love how tongue in cheek this band is, "Let me put on my sunglasses so I can see what I'm doing." Most of the lyrics are very about making love, but also playing funk, which go hand in hand I'm sure. I love the outlook of a horny alien coming to Earth to give us mortals a party and a good time. The samples in Mothership are sooo good. Let Me Ride by Dre and Regulate by Nate Dogg is where I first heard this sample of course. With Unfunky UFO I am reminded of The Mighty Boosh show about how George Clinton kicked the funk over the mothership and it landed at the bottom of a lake for Old Greg to find. Where is the funk today? Those keys were so impressive on The Bumps Bump song that I had to look up who it was. Of course it's a musical prodigy, Bernie Worrell. Who played with the Washington Symphony at age 10! Bootsy calls him the Jimi Hendrix of keyboards. I think I agree. He also did Talking Heads for Stop Making Sense! And Fela Kuti. I never knew, but now it makes sense. He used the minimoog keyboard for Parliament. Anything Moog from the 70s was gold. Speaking of he also used a gold wah wah. Alright went on a deep dive about the sounds and keyboards used by Bernie. Definitely adding him to my list of innovators. Well Handcuffs is a little problematic but this seems to be a theme from all these albums from the 70s. "I have to keep you barefoot and pregnant." Rules for you, but not for me mentality. God bless this song even says they don't care if they appear chauvinist. Just look at the lyrics. This album is just a party. Next up is the classic, "We want the funk, give up the funk." Overall this is a classic album, and now I am seeing that George Clinton and Pariament are coming to Ventura Music Hall. I might have to buy tickets, even though my wife is probably pissed about all the ones I've already bought.
All timer. Long live George Clinton
Awwww yeahhhh. What is there to say about this album? It’s an absolute classic, a behemoth of music history and culture, a stroke of crazy creative genius. Better enjoyed than talked about. 10/10
Did every late 90’s early 2000’s hip hop album sample from this album or what? My Gosh, did I miss the “ship” when it came to Parliament. This album is the shit. Not shit, THE shit. I got so caught up in the album that it finished and I just kept listening to whatever Spotify played next, thinking it was Parliament. I don’t know how one could not like this album but I’m sure there are hippies, country people and metal heads that will melt like the Wicked witch of the west when they hear it. Her problem was water, I know that. Choice cut: Mothership Connection
AW HELL YA FUNK!
essential funk! “we need the funk, we gotta have that funk”
sound super cool and funky. lyrics full of contextual mysticism and humour.
Oh, we are starting like this? P-Funk has to be one of the best opening tracks ever.
We are all connected to the mothership. A monument in funk, culture, and fun whose influence reaches far beyond the bounds of its own genres (looking at you Dr. Dre and every other sampler). It engages the listener the whole time and is one of the best showcases of P/F's true talent
Such a banger. One of the best on this list. No complaints, all vibes.
some of the best funk I’ve heard from this planet
funk it up
Love the funky vibe of this album!
A great funk album.
these recent recs are killing it. i love the concept of interstellar funk & the record is just so much laid back fun. excellent stuff!
Funk not only moves but it can remove, so best tune up your interplanetary funksmanship and put on your sunglasses so you can see what you're doing. Unfunny UFO is one of the best songs ever.
The best
Favourite songs: Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker), Mothership Connection (Star Child), Unfunky UFO, P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up), Handcuffs Least favourite songs:Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication (The Bumps Bump) 5/5
Ah yes! R&B meets heavy psychedelics!!! Gotta love the funk years lol. I was a big fan of Funkadelic after hearing them in college and the song Maggot Brain is probably one of my all-time favorite guitar solos of all time (sorry not on this album lol). Close your eyes and experience it on headphones - it is just SO emotional. Eddie Hazel recorded it after the producer told him to go play the solo as if someone just told him his mother had died. And he succeeded. Sorry I am on a tangent but Parliament was part of the funk craze and Parliament and Funkedelic were sort of the same entity and had a lot of similar members back/forth so it does somewhat apply. George Clinton started this fun crazy experimental direction into funk. It was like this journey through incredible beats, R&B, awesome back-ground vocals, horns, shit - everything! lol. It's just fun crazy intelligent music. It's where Bootsy Collins started to shine (after eary years with James Brown). Lots of talent and I love this era because it was VERY experimental and did a lot of really cool new stuff. Completely new sound. And so much of this sound you can here in a lot of current hip-hop. While this isn't something I would normally just pop on in the car to listen to, it is VERY fun to listen to and my leg was bouncing up and down the whole time. No skip-throughs and I enjoyed the whole album. Honestly I don't think I had heard anything before off of this album, but I enjoyed all of them. I appreciate it because musically there is a lot of great stuff going on here. Very well produced (lot of shit going on). Just fun. I really enjoyed this! Great stuff!
This album brings back a sense of nostalgia that I didn’t even know I had. Just hearing the initial groove and funkiness that sets the tone for the rest of the album in “P-Funk”, I am immediately transported to the backseat of my parents Chrysler Town & Country when I was a kid watching my mom jam out to the songs she, herself, grew up on. My mom introduced me to the sounds of soul, funk and disco that defined the part of the 70’s she was growing up in. Not only did her listening to bands like Parliament and artists like Levert teach me to appreciate their unique sound, it has also helped widen the entire scope of my music taste and to always be open to what is out there. This album, while not something I would always turn to to listen straight through, makes me smile. You know the band is just having the time of their lives jamming out and that is an amazing thing to be able to feel just through listening while you are by yourself listening to their album in a one bedroom apartment. Despite being in my apartment, I still feel like I am seeing them performing live, dancing and just feeling the soul of the music they are making; and I think that is something very special for a band to be able to create. Once again, while this is not an album I will go back and listen to all that much, it is one that holds a special place in my heart. I also think its cultural significance with such a unique soul and twist to the way music is heard and listened to with the purpose to spread FUNK and groove is undeniable. Heard Before: Mothership Connection, Give up the Funk, Handcuffs Favorite: Mothership Connection Least Favorite: Honestly don’t have one. I vibe to every single of these tracks, even when it’s just them talking or just grooving Sleep: Unfunky UFO or Handcuffs
Great funk album
Everything you want from a funk album. Kind weird, talking about spaceships, but always keeping a heavy groove. Loves it.
Interplanetary weed session
What an amazing album, short but very powerful. Vibes so funky, it cured my arthritis!
I got one word for this record: teartheroofoffthesucker!
Not the biggest fan of dubk
the amount of high-quality music George Clinton released in the 1970s across several bands, side projects and solo acts as a singer, songwriter and producer is staggering, and it's no surprise that he's one of the most revered artists in the history of The Funk. whereas Funkadelic leans more heavily on the rock side of things, Parliament were a little bit more on the soul and synth end. having recently gotten very into Dr. Dre's The Chronic, it's clear how much of a lasting impact Mothership Connection had on Black American musical culture. the drum pockets, the squelchy basslines (courtesy of the one-and-only Bootsy Collins), the murderer's row of horn players, and especially Bernie Worrell's work on keys and synths all give this music so much color and, more importantly, a ton of groove, while also pointing towards the future, both sonically and philosophically. the science fiction streak running through the lyrics here imagines a future where Black astronauts interact with aliens throughout the galaxy and bring The Funk with them. sitting inside of tracks like "P. Funk" or "Give Up the Funk" is a sheer delight. how Parliament manages to sound so tight and loose all at the same time is one of music's great mysteries. light 9/10.
"Swing down, sweet chariot, stop, and let me ride"
Yeah!!! This is their best one.
So much fun and plenty of 90s rap Easter eggs too
Yes yes yes yes YES Short and funky and full of life!
Straight bangers 5/5
Solid Funk. True Love
Good lord this is funky. The levels of stank are immeasurable.
Grandparent Funk Pinnacle! GFP!
Classic. Gotta have the funk, indeed. They don't make them like this anymore.
I am of the exactly correct age to vividly remember PCU, a 90s college comedy which culminates in P-Funk playing a frat house rager to save the day, playing on Comedy Central roughly twice a week after school, leaving me with both specific feelings about Jessica Walter and an inability to give a George Clinton album less than 5 stars.
It's funky. What else is there to say about it? Low 9
Grooviest music I've ever heard. Great from beginning to end.
This is a bit of me. Pure funk and soul that I didn’t know existed. 10/10
There's a lot to love about this album. George Clinton is like a caricature of himself, but it adds to his personal charm. He embodies funk in a way that even the greats can't manage to do. James Brown was a great performer but he maybe took himself too seriously. Clinton on the other hand, dared to imagine and dream and present visions that others would have never dared to let themselves think. Why the hell shouldn't a funk album be a blueprint for equality where African Americans can become the bravest astronauts that ever lived? The Afrofuturism may have almost sounded silly but it's too inspiring not to love. Packaged in a fantastic, feelgood album with some great performers, and Parliament more than earned their place on this list. Just try to have a bad time while listening to "Mothership Connection".
I love this. Gotta have that funk.
Great album. This one has been sampled many times.
Hell yeah. 4.5
groovy
I WANT THE FUNK! I WANT THE FUNK! So fun beginning to end, what a trip this record is. I love that George Clinton had his funk band in Parliament and his straight up druggy psychedelic band in Funkedelic. I think Kendrick Lamar got one his vocal styles from this album.
Well, that was fucking cool.
## In-Depth Review of *Mothership Connection* by Parliament Released on December 15, 1975, *Mothership Connection* is a landmark album in the genre of funk, crafted by George Clinton and his collective, Parliament. This album is celebrated not only for its infectious grooves but also for its ambitious themes and innovative production techniques. It has left an indelible mark on music history, influencing countless artists across various genres. This review will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its overall influence while also discussing its pros and cons. ### **Lyrics** The lyrics of *Mothership Connection* are a vibrant tapestry of funk-inspired storytelling, blending humor, social commentary, and cosmic themes. The album introduces listeners to a fictional universe where Black astronauts navigate space, reflecting George Clinton's desire to place Black people in scenarios traditionally reserved for white characters. This concept is encapsulated in the title track "Mothership Connection (Star Child)," where Clinton invokes spiritual imagery with lines like “Swing down sweet chariot, stop, let me ride,” merging gospel influences with funk rhythms. The lyrics often oscillate between playful and profound. For instance: - **"Handcuffs"** presents a humorous take on possessiveness in relationships, with lines that suggest a tongue-in-cheek approach to love and commitment. - **"Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)"** employs call-and-response choruses that invite listener participation while celebrating the joy of dancing and community. This duality in lyrical content—combining lightheartedness with deeper societal reflections—creates a rich listening experience that resonates on multiple levels. ### **Music** Musically, *Mothership Connection* is a masterclass in funk. The album features a tight ensemble of talented musicians including Bootsy Collins on bass, Bernie Worrell on keyboards, Maceo Parker on saxophone, and Fred Wesley on trombone. Their contributions result in a sound that is both complex and accessible. Key musical elements include: - **Groove-Centric Bass Lines**: The bass work throughout the album is foundational to its sound. Tracks like "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication" showcase infectious bass lines that drive the rhythm forward. - **Horn Arrangements**: The brass section adds a vibrant layer to the music, elevating tracks such as "Mothership Connection (Star Child)" with rich harmonies and dynamic interplay. - **Innovative Production Techniques**: The production blends live instrumentation with studio wizardry, creating a polished yet organic sound. The use of reverb and layering gives tracks an expansive feel, enhancing the cosmic theme of the album. Overall, the music is characterized by its upbeat tempos, catchy hooks, and an atmosphere that encourages dancing—a hallmark of funk music. ### **Production** The production of *Mothership Connection* was groundbreaking for its time. George Clinton's vision extended beyond just music; he aimed to create an experience. The album was meticulously crafted to ensure that each track flowed seamlessly into the next, creating a cohesive listening experience. Notable production aspects include: - **Layered Soundscapes**: The album employs multiple layers of instruments and vocals that create a rich auditory tapestry. This complexity invites repeated listens as new details emerge each time. - **Conceptual Cohesion**: Each song contributes to the overarching narrative of the P-Funk universe. This thematic unity is enhanced by transitions between tracks that maintain momentum and energy. - **Live Feel**: Despite being produced in a studio setting, the album captures the essence of live performances. The energy of Parliament's live shows is palpable throughout the tracks, making it feel as though listeners are part of a communal experience. ### **Themes** *Mothership Connection* explores several prominent themes: - **Afrofuturism**: The album is often cited as a pioneering work within the Afrofuturism movement. It imagines a future where Black people are not only present but thriving in roles typically absent from mainstream narratives. - **Community and Celebration**: Many songs emphasize togetherness and joy through dance and music. Tracks like "Give Up the Funk" serve as anthems for celebration and unity. - **Social Commentary**: While largely playful, some lyrics also touch on serious topics such as possessiveness in relationships ("Handcuffs") or societal expectations. This blend allows for both escapism and reflection. ### **Influence** The influence of *Mothership Connection* extends far beyond its initial release. It has been recognized as one of the greatest albums in music history: - **Sampling Legacy**: Numerous hip-hop artists have sampled tracks from this album, most notably Dr. Dre's use of "Mothership Connection (Star Child)" in "Let Me Ride." This sampling has introduced new generations to Parliament's music. - **Cultural Impact**: The album has inspired countless artists across genres—from funk to rock to hip-hop—highlighting its versatility and timelessness. - **Live Performances**: Parliament's elaborate live shows featuring costumes and props (including a replica Mothership) set new standards for concert experiences in popular music. ### **Pros and Cons** #### Pros - **Innovative Sound**: The album showcases cutting-edge production techniques that were ahead of its time. - **Cohesive Concept**: A strong narrative thread unites all tracks under an imaginative theme. - **Musical Mastery**: Features exceptional musicianship with memorable melodies and rhythms. - **Cultural Significance**: Acts as a powerful statement within Afrofuturism and continues to resonate across generations. #### Cons - **Repetitiveness**: Some listeners may find certain tracks repetitive or overly long. - **Mixed Reception on Specific Tracks**: Songs like "Handcuffs" have been critiqued for lacking depth compared to other tracks. - **Accessibility Issues**: The complex arrangements may overwhelm casual listeners who prefer simpler musical forms. ### Conclusion *Mothership Connection* by Parliament stands as a monumental achievement in funk music history. Its innovative blend of lyrical depth, musical complexity, thematic richness, and cultural significance solidifies its status as one of the defining albums of its era. While it may not appeal universally due to its experimental nature or specific lyrical choices, its influence continues to be felt across genres today. This album invites listeners not only to dance but also to reflect on broader societal themes—making it both an entertaining and thought-provoking experience.
"Ain't nothin' but a party, y'all." And I'm a sucker for a good party band. This album funk'd me up. I've heard a few of these songs before, but not the entire album--a rediscovered treasure for me. I listen to this at the gym. I started off with Gene Clark, and apologies to Gene, but I don't like to work out and I really need my gym music to bring the dopamine. This album did the trick and made me smile a lot. It was fun recognizing the moments that 90's artists referenced.
One day a coworker put on a funk mix CD he’d made. It was my introduction to Parliament and Funk in general. I definitely remember Give up the Funk was on it.
This truly belongs on this list. Great vision and sounds throughout. A listen that keeps you interested and engaged.
I was a little hesitant at first but then I got fully funked up. Started relistening to tracks immediately after the album ended.
Really funky, really groovy. Really fun to listen to.
Not a single bad song on this mother sucka'
Had me dancing the entire time....sofa king good.
Well, that's the best record I've discovered in 2024. I guess there's a point to this list after all.
Come on...it's Parliamont Mothership Connection. Chef's kiss.
Incredible
Nations were founded on less. If you don't like this then you don't like livin'.
Upbeat interesting sounds that have inspired many artists over the following decades. Oozing optimism and good natured fun.
- yeah -
pre: yes please post: no notes on the album, but reading briefly about George Clinton's career makes me want to read a full biography, and also go down a deep Parliament/Funkadelic/P-Funk All-Stars rabbit hole.
I’m not the biggest funk guy, but Parliament does it right! There were some definite bangers on this album.
I mean it’s Parliament so it’s gots to be funky, right? Even Handcuffs is great minus the lyrics. Uncut funk, the bomb as they so eloquently put it.
Pre: Hell yeah! Parliament on a Friday --- this is going to be a good day. Yup, still really good.
Bring in the funk! So fun. Really enjoyed this, have listened to parliament before but not as familiar with this album.
Groovy!
finally, some good fucking music. this album is a funk classic and give up the funk is a time-tested banger. i love the vibes, the album artwork, the space theme, the sound and production, the number of unnecessary parenthetical phrases in the song titles, just... everything. five stars, no notes. favorites: p-funk, mothership connection, unfunky UFO, handcuffs, give up the funk
It's funky, it's fun, it's silly. It's everything I want funk to be.
One of my all-time favorite records. From the opening line "Good evening. Do not attempt to adjust your radio" to the grand fadeout of baby talk on Night of the Thumpasaurus Peoples and everything in between, this is a great example of an album that is greater than the sum of its songs. Once upon a time called now!
FUNKY. This must be on here do to it's weight on the 70s funk scene. It's wild, and simply great.
4.5☆/5 10.29.2024
9.3/10. Great funky music.
Whose got the funk? We've got the funk!!!
…. Yes Now we’re talking
Great, funky album. Super fun and upbeat.
Joined this list hoping to find albums like this - something awesome that I'd never come across myself. I've heard Give up the Funk before, but the rest was all new. Super awesome.
Man such a funky album. Was fantastic.
Funk, r&b, funk rock, disco, progressive soul
Infectious funk, can't be stopped can't not groove
For me, this is a playlist album. Although I really enjoy it, I really do, my patience is not made for 38 minutes straight of this
Mothership Connection is Parliament's fourth album, and their first to find considerable success. This was the first of Parliament's recordings to include Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley, horn players from James Brown's band. This concept album had George Clinton and Bootsy Collins narrating their funk to an outer space theme. This album has been recognized as among the Parliament-Funkadelic collective's best work, and one of the best funk albums of all time. George Clinton's and Parliament's funk is a collective work, with a full band supporting the funk. The songs are bass-driven, engaging songs with outlandish narrative support. These are fun, danceable songs that are true to the funk that they talk about often; the funk draws you in because it is the convergence of a number of styles - R&B, soul, blues, with a good dose of afro-futurism.
Very good groovy album
We need the funk now more than ever!
My Funkometer EXPLODED and I got Funk particles (Funkocules) all over my room.
this album was straight up incredible will be listening again
One of those 'what's not to like/love about' albums. I got a kick out of the Merkavah reference on the title track ("swing down, sweet chariot. Stop, and let me ride."), which is based on an interpretation of Ezekiel's vision of God's throne and or chariot. Jewish mystics believed they we're able to ascend or descend into these other worldly locations, as well as various heavenly palaces, via meditation and special passwords to obtain secret knowledge. UFO enthusiasts would later refer to the same Ezekiel vision as a description of an alien spacecraft. I'm sure George Clinton was inspired by this and used this idea to describe a place where the party was at. He succeeded.
Это очень круто. Никогда не думал, что мне так зайдет фанк. Столько всегго, столько всего! Give up the funk -- самая мощная, прошло уже 3 дня, я все еще помню мелодии.
So much in here that became foundations, lyrics, samples, themes. And really good!
We need to save this dying world from its funkless hell!
This album is absolutely amazing. Its an invitation to a new musical experience and a trip down a diferent type of music. Very complex arrangements, insanely talented musicians. A CD everyone has to listen casue the production value is top notch. Its a great narrative album that tales you travelling through their planet. Im amazed and can easily put this as a top 2 funk album in a heated race with James Brown at the apollo theater.
I love this album from beginning to end . 5
This album was a real treat. I absolutely adore albums that have elements of radio or tv show broadcasts. This was definitely outside of my normal taste but I'm a big fan of funk and I thought the space theme was a cool concept that tied the entire album together really well.
Thank you for the fun, Mr. Clinton.
c'mon now, this is the shit
awesome
5/5? I'm feeling generous
What a fun ride! This is such a great album from start to finish. My first introduction to the P-Funk was at 12 or 13 in the movie PCU. I loved it then, and I've only become more of a fan over the years.
Five seconds in, I knew I was about to get my funk on...and I did. Listening to this album makes you feel like you're at an amazingly fun party. Liked Songs Added: - P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up) - Unfunny UFO - Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication - Handcuffs - Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)
I bought this when it came out. One of my most played albums.
GEORGE CLINTON YOU GENIUS
Listened to this four times. Didn't expect to see it on here but will take any excuse to listen to it.
Ohhhh yeahhhhhhhh. This is TASTY
I feel like there's a lot I could write about this album, but let's cut straight to the point: this is some the funkiest-ass funky ass funk I've ever heard. Grooves to interstellar degree. Jus', goodness me. Put this on, put on some sunglasses, and get the hell down. 'Nuff said.
Just some kick ass P-Funk from George Clinton and company (plus having a Daft Punk remix certainly helps out the stars for me). 4.5 bumped to 5.
It’s a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. It’s just funky as hell – the only reason I’m at a 4.5 instead of a flat 5 is because there’s a few tracks that are really fucking repetitive to the point of feeling stretched out to pad time, and I really don’t like the lyrics on Handcuffs. Besides that though, what a nice funky album. The first album we got as a group was One Nation Under A Groove, which came out after this – that album is funky as hell, but it relies a little more on a psychedelic sort of soundscape meant to hypnotize and zone out the brain a bit more than this does. What’s on this album has a lot more of a traditional feel, far more echoed in what was to come from say, Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall or Stevie Wonder’s Songs in The Key Of Life, and in that sense, I kinda like this album just a little more than One Nation Under A Groove, but they’re both great albums. This one is just more attuned to the soundscapes and styles that I love, and thus, it kept my attention for longer. I also didn’t realize just how damn much Dre took from this album for The Chronic (& Doggystyle, which I kinda hope is on the list), which was a nice happy surprise to my ears. I could keep going, but I just think this is funky as hell – I should’ve given One Nation Under A Groove a 5, but I’ll remedy that by giving this one a 5; it’s pretty deserved and pretty damn good. Certainly no less than a 4.
i dig it!!! very funky indeed
This is a pinnacle of funk. Dripping with space age sounds and other worldly beats, this album continues to take you to the mothership. Handcuffs feels a little aged with the line about trying to keep women from leaving by keeping them barefoot and pregnant, but otherwise a masterpiece. 5/5!
Über funky stuff. Super cool.
It's pretty hard to be in a bad mood listening to this album, and they kind of insist that you shouldn't either. The whole alien concept works pretty well I find. The music is interesting (and well done) and the lyrics are fun. 'Night of the Thumpasorus Peoples' basically has fart noises and somehow that kind of works. I can easily see how this would have inspired a lot of later artists. Standouts P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker) Handcuffs "Time to get funked-up"/5 (5/5)
From the first track , you can't stop bopping your head and the grooves are tight .
Another one that I have listened to 100's of times. Parliament/Funkadelic is a top 3 all-time favorite band. I am very biased in a positive way to all of their work.
This record is guaranteed to improve your interplanetary funkmanship.
9/10
I love funk disco
Funk uncut
Funky and delicious. Solid grooves, great basslines, great melodies, awesome production quality. Five stars.
These guys are the kings of concepts albums, and I don’t have a politically correct way of saying why: the concept is always “What if there were a bunch of cool black guys from the 70s in an unexpected place?” This one’s a bit cleaner and more precise than the previous Funkadelic records we’ve encountered, which is neither better nor worse here, just different. I could listen to a thousand of these and enjoy every single one I think.
It was my first time really listening to something from this genre of music, and I really enjoyed it. There was not a single bad song on the album. Very funky
Great album
An immediate 5 star album.
Super funky. Super fun. Super enjoyable
Influences on music genre are clear. Really cool.
Slaps
Amazingly funky, was grooving all throughout the album. 5/5
I'm a funkaholic
Shit y'all this is highly funky.
funky jam machine p funk jammy jams that are gonna blow the roof off this sucker and bring the mothership down and make some noise. Bring your sunglasses!
Shits great
Amazing
I dare anyone to put this on and try not to doing that funky head bob, you know the one. It can't be done. This is the funk. Pure funky fun. An album made for good times. Legitimate classic. 10/10
"Mothership Connection" by Parliament is an incredibly funky album which is credited with enormous influence on music in the following years. George Clinton was truly ahead of his time. These tracks are vibrant, exciting, and absolutely electric.
Phunky
vabbè supersonico
Yes! Loved
Shifted between dimensions at least 5 times while this album was playing
Huge fan. This isn't my favorite -- that would probably be "The Electric Spanking of War Babies" -- but it's a solid slab of P-Funk. I want the bomb!
Couldn’t stop bobbing my head or tapping my feet
Horns, synthesizer and funky bass lines. So many classic hits on this album. I remember when Ron got kicked out of the Filmore and the cop pulled his tape. Great album!
So many amazing things about this album. The musicianship alone is next level with Bootsy on the bass and Bernie on the synths, and the horns! True innovators here. And George directing it all in a drug-induced hazy musical gumbo that just works! Who knew synth-driven “musical farts” could be so melodic? 🤷🏽. No surprise why George is so sampled with only James Brown sampled more, both basically helping birth hip-hop. Only slight hiccup is Handcuffs which is pretty sexist… but damn if ain’t funky! Easy five star when you want your funk pure and uncut.
P-Funk doin' it to ya in the earhole.
Fantastic funk album!
Thank you P-funk, god bless you every one
I have never heard funkier funk. Quentesential.
Funk as delivered by the greats.
All stars.
Great album. So much going on with the music! And so many funky ass horns, bass lines, and yes, synth-driven fart sounds that make you dance and not get disgusted. So many musical pops and gurgles that never get old; it’s clear why it was a sampling gold mine for hip-hop. Handcuffs is a bit misogynistic but damn if it isn’t funky. All the musicians are next level, but Bootsy is the MVP here. Simple answer is YES, I want my funk uncut!
Damn is this a fun one. I've probably listened to this album a hundred times and look forward to the next one hundred plus between now and the day the great UFO in the sky takes me back. George Clinton had such a perfectly out there vision for this record that was executed perfectly. Bootsy Collins shows a masterclass of both funk and restraint. Give Up the Funk has such a simple bass line but I could listen to that groove for hours. The synth and instrument effects are a marvel as well. Listening to the horrors that were just starting to be inflicted on pop music (and would peak in the 80s) with terribly misguided synthesizers, there are hardly any misses here. The fart synth on Thumpasorous Peoples is the worst and even that one was tasteful. Bootsy work with filters on that bass are legendary and defined whole eras of playing. Even beyond the music, I love what Clinton said about the concept itself. "We had put black people in situations nobody ever thought they would be in, like the White House. I figured another place you wouldn't think black people would be was in outer space." This is a rare, lightning in a bottle type of album. It works on every level and defines while also breaking new ground on an entire movement of music. One of my all time favorite records.
This is the definition of funk. While I personally prefer Sly and the Famous Stone, this is a fun record with great grooves. I really enjoyed all of the self referential lyrics.
Let's get funky! This is one of the best examples of pure genre we've seen so far. These songs are not about anything except the GROOVE and that's ok with me. I guess there are some light sci-fi/afrofuturism themes which unify the album but this album is definitely about the music itself. Of course the bass is great, but the horns add a lot for me too. I had a lot of fun listening to this. Parliment is a very unique group and I bet their live show would have been fantastic in their prime. The line in the first song where they make fun of white artists doing funk is hilarious.
Love that funk. Live a themed album.
Fun and wild. Really good funk!
MAKE MY FUNK THE P FUNK Zap the zibble wiggle the wobble bippity boppity zap zap zap squiggle and squirm shake that thang jammin' and slammin' in the cosmic flow yickle the keys slap the bass get up on the mother dont be shy I WANTS TO GET FUNKED UP
If you want to talk about defining a genre, have a chat with George Clinton. What a freakishly creative and talented person he is, and his Parliament group gave birth to so much amazing music. George is basically the Miles Davis of funk’s roots in the 70s, and he has definitely earned that title. I think the only people who put this on and don’t enjoy it in some small capacity probably just bang their heads against the wall for fun. This has every single thing a funk record should have, and more. Fucking Bootsy Collins for god sake. What more needs to be said about that man’s otherworldly bass playing? But every member holds their own with ease. George is such a flashy vocalist and band leader, and makes his presence immediately. Even with how amazing everything sounds here, if George was removed from this, it would definitely be lacking a lot of the character. But it sure isn’t. They managed to create some of the strangest lyrical hooks I’ve probably ever heard, but they are total earworms. They just get stuck with you. The synth work is incredible. The drums and bass sound better than records produced in the last 6 months. It still amazes me how many artists manage to regress in production clarity nowadays. This was 1975, and still sounds beyond its time. P-Funk exists because of these guys. The genre pretty much gets its namesake from them. And they really succeeded in creating a bombastic and spectacular set of futuristic funk bangers. Rating: 9/10
This started out nice, but it might be a little too funky & jazzy for me. I wouldn't listen to all of the songs again, but Give Up the Funk is iconic.
This is so good. Classic. Infinitely influential. The fat synth funk. The bass of Bootsy Collins. The charisma of George Clinton. The general theme and tongue-in-cheek paired with premium musicianship and dynamics, so funking cool. Doing it in my ear holes. 4.5 easy.
Its funky delicious. Seriously, this is a blast of an album. Give Up the Funk is obviously the most well-known track, but honestly there's not a bad track on here. Great album.
Let the vibes flow through.
This album truly flows as one piece. A whole vibe. You can’t help but groove when you put this on!
I had Funkadelic a few days ago, now I get Parliament and that means George Clinton is responsible for me being *at least* 72% more funky this week. I'm super funky, fresh and fly, y'heard?
More music should sound like it came from another planet
It's fun, it's funky, it's got a sense of humor. Bootsy Collins wrote the book on funk
Wooooowwww super funkkkk
This is my music. I'm a proud owner of this album along with several other Parliament \ Funkadelic \ P-Funk albums. I could listen to this everyday and not get bored.
This still sounds like the future. What a fantastic album.
Although I wouldn't hold it as high as most of the other 5's I've given, it deserves it, for good vibes, and being one of the highest standards of funk music to ever come out.
This album is so good.
This album is a fuckin’ vibe man. These songs go hard. Great musicianship and really fun songs. Notable tracks include p-funk, mothership connection, supergroove, handcuffs (lyrics notwithstanding), and give up the funk. Make my funk the p-funk.
Funk! 4.5/5
Absolutely fun and brilliant Funk!
Amazing. Funky goodtimes
It feels like they had a really good time recording this album, and that vibe is infectious.
Wow - Funk-A-Delic. Phantastic funk music and genious musicians!
Would listen to this anytime!
10/10 give us that funk
An absolute joy to listen to. Love love loved this.
Really enjoyed this. I've liked funk but never really dove into it before. Groovy, good pacing mixups, good flow from song to song.
That’s a pretty good listen right there, and does not let up.
Love the funk sound - will defo listento others
Soooo funky and I loved the title song, very groovy
Funky, and vibes!
This was fun from the first drop of the needle until the final beat. Masters of the genre. Nothing more needs be said. 5 stars.
Funky, groovy, joyfully weird, infinitely fun. Probably the most cohesive, nuanced, perfectly executed funk album ever made. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker), Mothership Connection (Star Child), Unfunky UFO, Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication, Night of the Thumpasorus Peoples, P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up), Handcuffs
I never noticed how much influence Andre 3000/Outkast took from Parliament.
A funky good time like only P-Funk can bring. This one is a bit more gimmicky and not quite at the level of artistry of Maggot Brain but is still brilliant and irresistibly fun. The lyrics of “Handcuffs” are pretty cringe though and the talky bits take me out of it a bit.
Funky
Funk personified Serenely otherworldly Meteoric high flight
Listened 2/26/24. I actually own this currently. Absolute perfection of an album.
Funked me up all day.
One of the most quintessential funk albums and it is dope!
yeah this is extremely my shit. not a dull moment on this one. just the most exquisite grooves you've ever heard. wall to wall funky goodness. the rhythm section is on another level, the guitars are funky. just knocks the vibe out of the park. ga ga goo ga, ga ga goo ga, ga ga goo ga ga, indeed!