Funkadelic
Funkadelic is an American funk-rock band formed in 1968 in Plainfield, New Jersey, led by George Clinton One of the two primary groups in the P-Funk collective (alongside Parliament), Funkadelic is renowned for its experimental sound that blends heavy psychedelic rock, soul, and hard funk.
The group began as the unnamed backing band for Clinton's doo-wop group, The Parliaments, in 1964. After a contractual dispute over the name "The Parliaments" in 1968, Clinton rebranded the ensemble as Funkadelic.
The early core included guitarist Eddie Hazel, bassist Billy Bass Nelson (who coined the name "Funkadelic"), keyboardist Bernie Worrell, and drummer Tiki Fulwood. Their early 1970s work was characterized by "freestyle" guitar-driven rock, heavily influenced by Jimi Hendri.x The lineup later expanded to include bassist Bootsy Collins and his brother Catfish Collins, as well as guitarist Michael Hampton.
Maggot Brain (1971): This landmark album and its eponymous title track became a defining moment in psychedelic funk, featuring Eddie Hazel’s legendary 10-minute guitar solo. In the late 1970s, the band moved toward a more melodic, dance-based sound The 1978 album One Nation Under a Groove became their most successful, with the title track spending six weeks at #1 on the R&B charts.
Legal disputes and financial difficulties led Clinton to dissolve Funkadelic and Parliament as separate recording entities in 1981 Clinton thereafter toured under the name George Clinton & the P-Funk All-Stars.
Sixteen members of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 They received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
Funkadelic’s "P-Funk" sound was a foundational influence on West Coast hip-hop (G-Funk) and has been sampled extensively by artists such as Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, and De La Soul.
Cosmic Slop
Drums, Performer [Guest Funkadelic] – Tiki Fulwood
Written-By – C. Mosson, G. Shider, G. Clinton
4:31
A2 You Can't Miss What You Can't Measure
Written-By – G. Clinton, S. Barnes
2:54
A3 March To The Witch's Castle
Written-By – G. Clinton
5:54
A4 Let's Make It Last
Written-By – E. Hazel, G. Clinton
4:10
B1 Cosmic Slop
Written-By – B. Worrell, G. Clinton
5:16
B2 No Compute
Written-By – G. Shider, G. Clinton
3:01
B3 This Broken Heart
Strings – Bernie Worrell
Written-By – W. Franklin
3:39
B4 Trash-A-Go-Go
Written-By – G. Clinton
2:23
B5 Can't Stand The Strain
Written-By – E. Hazel, G. Clinton
3:28
Label: Westbound Records – WB 2022
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: P.Funk, Psychedelic
Released in July 1973, Funkadelic’s Cosmic Slop is a critically acclaimed, eclectic mix of funk, rock, and soul that marked a shift toward tighter, more structured song compositions. Despite initial low commercial performance, it is regarded as a high-point in their discography, featuring darker, socially conscious lyrics, standout tracks like the title song, "Nappy Dugout," and the debut of iconic illustrator Pedro Bell's art.
Moving away from the chaotic, long-form jams of previous albums, Cosmic Slop offers a more polished, concise "psych-funk" sound.
The album features darker, socially conscious, and sometimes disturbing themes, with the title track exploring the desperate life of a mother forced into prostitution to feed her children.
The album features a different lineup, operating without guitarist Eddie Hazel, yet retains a high level of musicianship.
Key Tracks:- "Nappy Dugout": Opens the album with a hard, gritty, and incredibly funky groove; "Cosmic Slop": The titular track is lauded for its intense emotion, blending gospel, rock, and soul; "March to the Witch's Castle": A standout track exploring the harsh return of soldiers from war; "Trash A-Go-Go": A rock-heavy, humorous track.
It was a commercial failure upon its 1973 release, peaking at only #112 on the Billboard pop chart. It has since been heavily praised as a "masterpiece" that strikes a perfect balance between funk, soul, and rock, often cited as one of the band's strongest, most focused efforts.
The album is noted for cementing the band's, and particularly George Clinton's, position in the pantheon of 1970s funk, often seen as a crucial bridge between their early psychedelic sound and the later, highly produced P-Funk era.
Cosmic Slop is considered a crucial, if initially overlooked, album in the Funkadelic catalog, offering a more nuanced, "darker" side to their sound that has aged exceptionally well.
Funkadelic
A2 I Bet You 6:10
A3 Music For My Mother 6:19
A4 I Got A Thing, You Got A Thing, Everybody's Got A Thing 3:50
B1 Good Old Music 8:01
B2 Qualify & Satisfy 5:16
B3 What Is Soul 8:40
Producer – George Clinton
Written-By – W. Nelson (tracks: B2), E. Hazel (tracks: B2), C. Haskins (tracks: A4), G. Clinton (tracks: A1 to A3, B1 to B3), S. Barnes (tracks: A2), P. Lindsey (tracks: A2)
Label: Westbound Records – WB 2000
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1970
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul, Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Funk
Released in 1970 on Westbound Records, Funkadelic is the self-titled debut studio album by the American band Funkadelic. It is widely regarded as a groundbreaking fusion of psychedelic rock, soul, gospel, and blues that laid the foundation for the P-Funk movement.
The album is characterized by a "chaotic fusion" of styles, blending raw grooves with heavy, hallucinogenic distortion.
Unlike the polished crossover appeal of Detroit's Motown records, Funkadelic embraced improvisation, fuzzed guitars, and "spiritual dissonance".
Often described as a "warped acid rock" project, the record's sprawling, loose jams were heavily influenced by psychedelic culture and LSD.
Key Tracks:-
"Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?": A nine-minute psychedelic opener featuring trippy effects and spoken-word elements.
"I Bet You": A gritty rock-funk track later covered by the Jackson 5.
"Music for My Mother": A raw, blues-drenched workout originally released as the band's first single.
"What Is Soul": A sprawling closer that humorously defines "soul" with gritty imagery like "a ham-hock in your cornflakes".
The album featured the original Funkadelic lineup, led by producer George Clinton: Eddie Hazel: Lead Guitar; Billy Bass Nelson: Bass; Tiki Fulwood: Drums; Tawl Ross: Rhythm Guitar; Mickey Atkins: Organ.
While initially met with mixed reviews due to its "dark, slow, tuneless" nature that "scared" traditional R&B fans, it has since been re-evaluated as a masterpiece. As of 2026, it holds high critical acclaim for its unpolished authenticity and influence on subsequent funk and hip-hop acts. Recent 2025/2026 remastered editions have restored the album's full "cosmic glory" across vinyl and digital formats.
One Nation Under A Groove
Written-By – G. Shider, G. Clinton, W. Morrison 7:33
A2 Groovallegiance
Written-By – B. Worrell, G. Clinton, W. Morrison 7:00
A3 Who Says A Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!
Written-By – G. Clinton, W. Morrison, M. Hampton 6:21
B1 Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo Doo Chasers)
Written-By – G. Shider, G. Clinton, L. Brown 11:00
B2 Into You
Written-By – W. Collins, G. Clinton, W. Morrison 5:43
B3 Cholly (Funk Getting Ready To Roll!)
Written-By – W. Collins, G. Clinton, W. Morrison 4:33
C1a Maggot Brain
Written-By – E. Hazel, G. Clinton 7:37
C1b Chant (Think It Ain't Illegal Yet!) 0:53
D1 Lunchmeataphobia (Think! It Ain't Illegal Yet!)
Written-By – B. Worrell, G. Clinton 4:16
D2 P.E. Squad / Doo Doo Chasers
Written-By – G. Shider, G. Clinton, L. Brown 4:40
Label: Warner Bros. Records – BSK 3209
Format: Vinyl, LP
Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: P.Funk
Funkadelic's One Nation Under a Groove (1978) is widely hailed as a funk masterpiece and their commercial breakthrough, a vibrant, conceptual album that solidified George Clinton's P-Funk vision with catchy hooks, psychedelic funk-rock, and dense grooves, featuring the iconic title track as a unifying anthem for dancing and freedom, despite its wild experimentation and complex tracks like "Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis" alongside accessible hits.
The Title Track: A timeless, accessible hit with a memorable bassline, handclaps, and a mission statement for unity and dancing.
Marked by the addition of Walter "Junie" Morrison and continued collaboration with Parliament members, bringing a cohesive yet wild sound.
Concept & Message: A "loose concept" about the unifying power of funk, using patriotic imagery (like the album cover) to call for breaking down barriers and celebrating diversity.
The album seamlessly blends psychedelic rock (Hendrix-esque guitar), hard funk, soul, and experimental elements, with intricate rhythms and chaotic vocals.
Highlights: Features standouts like "Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock!", the sprawling "Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad", and the fiery live "Maggot Brain" (from the EP).
Praised as one of the greatest funk albums ever, capturing Funkadelic's ambitions perfectly. A gateway album for many British listeners, introducing them to the P-Funk universe. Seen as a deep source of ideas for later rock and rap.
In essence, One Nation Under a Groove is an essential, energetic listen that is both a party starter and a statement, solidifying Funkadelic's legacy as innovators of funk.