Funkadelic / Parliament (& related) ~ USA ~ New Jersey ~ Detroit, Michigan

Eddie Hazel - Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs (1977) + Jams From The Heart (EP) (1975 / 1994)

---Nov 2004

Eddie Hazel's sole album is absolutely essential for fans of Hendrix fueled funk. As close as we’ll ever get to knowing what it would be like if Hendrix were to go the funk route outside of classic Funkadelic of course.

The bonus tracks are from the posthumous Jams From the Heart EP recorded in 1975, and not released until 1994. The music is just as stated - long overloaded guitar jams. Good stuff, if not overly focused, more boogie oriented on the first long jam, more blues based on the other. There are two shorter pieces as well including my fave ‘Unkut Funk’.

---12/29/25

And that was my last listen long before the advent of UMR. Since that time, my interest in funk has gone considerably up. Especially from the 45 scene, where there are many more examples of psychedelic funk. 45s are a good format for the style as they usually get right to business and don't piddle around to fill the LP length. Eddie Hazel's album is like one big string of psych funk 45s. The covers are so rearranged and distorted you'll be hard pressed to name the original. That's a plus. As indicated in my original review, essential for the style. 

Though Jams from the Heart is technically an EP, it isn't much shorter than the Game LP. These recordings weren't ever meant for commercial release, so we basically get to hear Hazel jam in the studio. Sounds like a great idea to me.

Ownership: 2004 Rhino Handmade (CD). Four bonus tracks. Numbered edition (mine is #3233).

11//04 (acquired / review); 12/29/25 (update)

Standing on the Verge of Getting It On (1974)

Funkadelic's 6th album brings back Eddie Hazel on guitar after a two album break. If you didn't know any better, one could be forgiven in thinking this was a hard rock album. Or at least heavy psych in the Hendrix tradition. It's hard hitting rock that eventually does demonstrate their funk roots in the middle of the album. The final track 'Good Thoughts, Bad Thoughts' proves that Funkadelic still had reverence for the last part of their name. Considered by many to be their finest album, it certainly gives Maggot Brain a run for its money. The latter possessing stronger material but is less consistent. 

Lyrically this album is Standing on the Verge of Getting Can-Celled. In our current bizarre culture, even a clinically crazy group like Funkadelic is finding themselves under the lens. The opening silly dialogue and tracks like 'Jimmy's Got a Little Bitch In Him' are already under scrutiny by those that feel they are insensitive and do not pass their "purity test". At the current rate, this album will be banned in 10 years. No wonder everyone is running out to get their copy. America Eats Its Young indeed. Who said that anyway? Oh yea, I know.

To this day I haven't heard the two albums that precede this, something I'm sure will be rectified eventually.

Ownership: 1974 Westbound (LP). Gatefold.

3/15/05 (CD acquired); 8/25/22 (LP acquired / review)

Funkadelic (1970) 

In recent years, funk has become one of my favorite styles. So I was very much looking forward to revisiting this title in the collection. It's an interesting debut - not particularly funky at all. It does have psychedelic aspects, mostly found in the production and with Eddie Hazel's guitar. The latter is not near as focused or as intense as their 3rd album Maggot Brain. A lot of loose jamming can be heard here - many compare to Jimi Hendrix's albums from the same era, but I would suggest this is more laid back than that might imply. One of those albums I'm sure I'd appreciate more as an original LP, but those are extremely hard to find at any kind of a reasonable price. For now I can let the CD fly. 

Former ownership: 2000 Westbound (CD) 

2003 (CD acquired); 6/20/22 (review) 

Parliament - Mothership Connection (1975) 

So... what would be the opposite of Fleetwood Mac? Rhetorical question. Whatever traces of seriousness George Clinton had left for Funkadelic are now completely wiped out on the resuscitated Parliament project (once a doo-wop group going back to the 1950s called The Parliaments, when Clinton was still a young teen). This album has one purpose - to Par-Tay. It's funked up, prosifunkstication, and thumpasorus. P-Funk is its own genre for a reason. It's pure funk too, so no psychedelic guitar frenzies or progressive rock charting to get in the way of the dance floor. And a heck of a lot of fun.

Ownership: 1976 Casablanca (LP). New label design.

12/22/20 (acquired / review)

 

Maggot Brain (1971)

Maggot Brain is the 3rd album from Funkadelic, and is often cited as their masterpiece. No argument from me, though it is quite a departure from their ordinary sound. The title track has to be the darnedest opening to a funk rock album that has ever been. Sounding like a cosmic Krautrock piece, Eddie Hazel conjures up My Solid Ground on 'Dirty Yellow Mist' playing the music of Dom's Edge of Time. I will never tire of music such as this. Can you imagine if Eddie Hazel was the guitarist for Del Jones? Well then, there would be no point in owning any other albums.

I'm not particularly fond of the more traditional soul funk tracks here such as 'Can You Get to That' or 'Back in Our Minds'. The hard hitting psychedelic funk of 'Hit It and Quit It' and 'Super Stupid' are Funkadelic at their energetic best. And 'Wars of Armageddon' closes in great fashion with more heavy guitar and some experimental collage work. Yep, I'm standing in line for this one. 

Ownership: Westbound UK (CD). 90's pressing.

1998 (acquired); 2/7/15; 12/20/19 (review)

12/20/19 (new entry)