Reviews
Clinton's latest albums
sound an earthy note
By Angelo Vecchio
George Clinton is perhaps the
most underrated performer on to
day's music scene. As the leader
of Parliament/Funkadelic, Clin
ton was responsible for the
release of about twenty-five
albums since 1970. In addition to
these, he produced a countless
nmumber of LP's for the P.
Funk spin-off groups, including
Bootsy's Rubber Band, The
Brides of Funkenstein, Parlet,
Godmoma, The Horny Horns,
Eddie Hazel and others. These
names may be unfamiliar to many
pop music fans, but Clinton's
groups doninated the soul/R&B
charts for about four years
(1976-79).
Clinton experienced a relative
dry spell for a couple of years un
til he hit number one on the soul
charts last year with the upbeat
"Atomic Dog."
"Dog" and the album from
which it was cut, Computer
Games, were released under the
name George Clinton. This was
the first time he opted to use his
own name instead of "Parlia
ment," "Funkadelic," or "P.
Funk All-Stars."
Computer Games was a huge
success for Clinton, giving his
large group of musicians financial
stability for the first time in two
years, and re-establishing Clinton
as a soul superstar.
For 1984, Clinton has released
two new LP's: You Shouldn't-
Nuf Bit Fish, and the P. Funk
All-Stars' Urban Dancefloor
Guerrillas.
Both albums are winners loaded
with funk and soul. They stay
with the dance groove Clinton has
been employing faithfully since
1978's One Nation Under a
Groove.
Don't misunderstand; Clinton
has almost always encouraged
music fans to take to the dance
floor. "Cosmic Slop" from 1973
included a funky bass line and
driving percussion. It's just that
One Nation almost forced the
listener to move.
The same could be said about
this year's "Last Dance," the
best track on Clinton's You
Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish. "Last
Dance" borrows from David
Bowie's "Let's Dance," and it
asks, "What are you, some kind
of psychadelic wallflower?" It
goes on to encourage the shy guy
to ask his favorite gal to dance by
starting, "Maybe she'll funk with
you."
Some other tracks on Bit Fish
also lay dpwn some great party
music. "Nubian Nut" is a funky
rap. "Quickie," the story of how
Clinton falls for a foxy groupie,
and "Stingy" include some meam
guitar riffs, backed with a power
ful rhythm track and forceful
beat.
The two disappointing songs on
the album are the title track and
"Silly Millameter." Both are too
drawn out. Still, You Shouldn't-
Nuf Bit Fish is an outstanding
LP, the best funk album in quite
a long time.
The P. Funk All-Stars' Urban
Dancefloor Guerrillas is better
than Bit Fish in that it includes
an element of jazz and soul that
show Clinton to _be more versatile
than his "funkmaster" label.
"Accupuncture"--"stick it where
it feels good; stop the pain where
it feels bad"--has an airy, wide
open saxophone accompaniment.
Again, the lyrics are suggestive.
But before you accuse Clinton of
being perverted, consider this:
Webster defines "funky" as
"having an earthily sexual quali
ty." Through his lyrics, Clinton
encourages dancing and reckless
sex. But he does it in a unique
way, not a perverted way. This is
obvious on both new albums.
The remainder of Urban Dance
Floor Guerrillas includes perhaps
the best song on the album,
"Generator Pop," and the soulful
masterpiece, "One of those Sum
mers."
"Generator Pop has an ir
resistible keyboard work, and
"One of those Summers" in-
cludes a great vocal arrangement
"Copy cat" is the answer record
to "Atomic Dog." It states right
at the start, "Bring in the dog,
let's put out the cat."
The balance of Urban Dance
Floor Guerrillas is smooth, in
teresting and well done. Clinton
has become one of the best pro
ducers anywhere.
As is traditional with Clinton,
the album cover and liner notes
(on both new LP's) are loaded
with his brand of fun.
If you enjoy upbeat party
music, give a listen to You
Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish. If you
prefer a smoother, better balanc
ed selection of music, check out
Urban Dance Floor Guerrillas. In
any event, if you're in the market
for something very different, very
explicit, but at the same time,
very danceable and very good,
these records are for you. George
Clinton has thrived on musical
adventure for many years, and so
have his legion of fans. Now
Clinton is attempting to appeal to
a larger audience. Nineteen
eighty-four might be the year he's
exposed.
Capitol Times Friday, March 16, 1984
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