Parliament
Parliament, a pioneering American funk band, was formed in 1968 by George Clinton as part of his expansive P-Funk collective. It evolved from an earlier doo-wop vocal group called The Parliaments, shifting to a commercial funk sound distinct from its rockier sister act, Funkadelic.
The Parliaments originated in the late 1950s in Plainfield, New Jersey, at a barbershop co-owned by Clinton, featuring singers like Ray Davis, Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Simon, and Grady Thomas. They scored their first hit in 1967 with "(I Wanna) Testify" on Revilot Records, prompting Clinton to assemble a touring band with Billy Nelson on bass, Eddie Hazel on guitar, Tawl Ross on guitar, Tiki Fulwood on drums, and Mickey Atkins on organ. A contractual dispute led Clinton to rebrand the backing musicians as Funkadelic on Westbound Records in 1970, while reviving Parliament (without the "s") on Invictus with the album Osmium, featuring the R&B hit "The Breakdown."
Parliament relaunched in 1974 on Casablanca Records, embracing Afrofuturism, elaborate horn sections, synthesizers, and theatrical live shows with characters like Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk. Key additions included keyboardist Bernie Worrell (1970), guitarist Garry Shider (1971), and bassist Bootsy Collins (1972, from James Brown's band), plus horns from Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker. They released landmark albums like Up for the Down Stroke (1974), Mothership Connection (1975, with the #1 R&B hit "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)"), The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein (1976), and Funkentelechy vs. the Place of Keepers (1977).
Key Members:- Leader/Producer George Clinton; Bass: Bootsy Collins, Billy Nelson, Cordell "Boogie" Mosson; Guitar: Eddie Hazel, Garry Shider, Michael Hampton; Keyboards: Bernie Worrell Vocals: Calvin Simon, Fuzzy Haskins, Grady Thomas, Ray Davis Horns: Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Bennie Cowan.
By the late 1970s, internal disputes over Clinton's management caused departures, including original vocalists in 1977 and others like Glenn Goins and Jerome Brailey in 1978; albums like Gloryhallastoopid (1979) underperformed. Legal issues and Casablanca's changes led Clinton to dissolve Parliament and Funkadelic as entities in the early 1980s, though P-Funk side projects (e.g., Bootsy's Rubber Band, Brides of Funkenstein) thrived. Parliament-Funkadelic earned Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction (1997) for 16 members and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2019); Clinton reformed Parliament in 2018, releasing Medicaid Fraud Dogg.
Live (P.Funk Earth Tour)
Written-By – B. Worrell, B. Collins, G. Clinton
6:14
Dr. Funkentstein's Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication Medley (4:58)
A2a Let's Take It To The Stage
Written-By – G. Clinton, B. Collins, G. Shider
A2b Take Your Dead Ass Home (Say Som'n Nasty)
Written-By – G. Clinton, G. Shider, B. Worrell, G. Goins
A3 Do That Stuff
Written-By – B. Worrell, G. Shider, G. Clinton
5:15
A4 The Landing (Of The Holy Mothership)
Written-By – G. Clinton
3:05
B1 The Undisco Kid (This Girl Is Bad!)
Written-By – B. Worrell, B. Collins, G. Clinton
7:03
B2 Children Of Production
Written-By – B. Worrell, B. Collins, G. Clinton
2:44
B3 Mothership Connection (Star Child)
Written-By – B. Worrell, B. Collins, G. Clinton
5:55
B4 Swing Down, Sweet Chariot
Lead Vocals – Glen Goins
Written-By – B. Worrell, B. Collins, G. Clinton
5:07
C1 This Is The Way We Funk With You
Featuring, Vocals [Lead Snore] – Mike Hampton
Written-By – B. Worrell, E. Hazel, G. Clinton, G. Goins
5:04
C2 Dr. Funkenstein
Written-By – B. Worrell, B. Collins, G. Clinton
15:04
D1 Gamin' On Ya!
Written-By – B. Worrell, B. Collins, G. Clinton
3:30
Tear The Roof Off The Sucker Medley (5:43)
D2a Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)
Written-By – G. Clinton, B. Collins, J. Brailey
D2b Get Off Your Ass And Jam
Written-By – Parliament, Funkadelic
D3 Night Of The Thumpasorus People
Written-By – B. Collins, G. Shider, G. Clinton
6:14
D4 Fantasy Is Reality
Written-By – B. Worrell, G. Clinton, L. Ware
5:45
Label: Casablanca – NBLP 7053
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Seventies Funk, P.Funk
Mothership Connection
Written-By – B. Worrell, B. Collins, G. Clinton
7:42
A2 Mothership Connection (Star Child)
Written-By – B. Worrell, B. Collins, G. Clinton
6:14
A3 Unfunky UFO
Written-By – B. Collins, G. Shider, G. Clinton
4:24
B1 Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication
Written-By – B. Worrell, B. Collins, G. Shider, G. Clinton
5:01
B2 Handcuffs
Written-By – G. Clinton, G. Goins, J. McLaughlin
4:01
B3 Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)
Written-By – B. Collins, G. Clinton, J. Brailey
5:45
B4 Night Of The Thumpasorus Peoples
Written-By – B. Collins, G. Shider, G. Clinton
5:12
Label: Casablanca – NBLP 7022
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1975
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: P.Funk, Funk
Released in December 1975, Parliament’s Mothership Connection is a foundational, platinum-certified funk masterpiece that defined the genre and pioneered Afrofuturism. Featuring iconic hits like "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)," the seven-track album showcases the virtuosic bass of Bootsy Collins, innovative keys by Bernie Worrell, and the tight horn lines of Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley. It is widely celebrated for its infectious, danceable grooves and imaginative space-themed mythology.
This was the first album to heavily feature ex-James Brown musicians Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley, offering them more creative freedom under George Clinton. It established the "P-Funk mythology," introducing characters that would anchor the group's work for years.
The album is described as "funk to the max", featuring deep, distorted basslines, intricate horn arrangements, and a mix of, boisterous chants, and soulful vocals.
Key Tracks:
"Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)": A quintessential, anthemic party track that became their biggest hit.
"Mothership Connection (Star Child)": The title track that introduced the central concept.
"P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)": A defining, high-energy opener.
"Unfunky UFO" & "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication": Highlighted for their unique, energetic grooves.
The album, particularly its Afrofuturist themes and the "Mothership" stage prop, is recognized for its immense influence on jazz, rock, and particularly hip-hop (notably sampled by Dr. Dre).
Mothership Connection is frequently ranked among the greatest albums of all time, with 1001 Albums Generator calling it a "5-star funk album".
Motor Booty Affair
Written-By – B. Worrell, G. Clinton, M.Hampton
6:44
A2 Rumpofsteelskin
Written-By – W. Collins, G. Clinton
5:35
A3 (You're A Fish And I'm A) Water Sign
Written-By – G. Shider, G. Clinton, J.S. Theracon, R. Griffith
4:35
A4 Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)
Written-By – B. Worrell, W. Collins, G. Clinton
6:40
B1 One Of Those Funky Things
Written-By – G. Clinton, R. Banks
3:46
B2 Liquid Sunshine
Written-By – G. Clinton, J. Vitti, L. Brown, P. Bishop
4:24
B3 The Motor-Booty Affair
Written-By – G. Shider, G. Clinton, J.S. Theracon, R. Ford
6:15
B4 Deep
Written-By – W. Collins, G. Clinton, J.S. Theracon
8:50
Label: Casablanca – NBLP 7125
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: Seventies P.Funk
The Best of Parliament....Give Up The Funk
2 Bop Gun (Endangered Species) 8:31
3 P. Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up) 7:40
4 Mothership Connection (Star Child) 6:12
5 Do That Stuff 4:47
6 Theme From The Black Hole 4:37
7 Ride On 3:34
8 Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker) 5:45
9 Up For The Down Stroke 5:08
10 Agony Of Defeet 4:25
11 Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioquadoloop) 6:41
12 Dr. Funkenstein 5:44
13 Chocolate City 5:36
14 Let's Play House 3:36
Label: PolyGram – 314 526 995-2
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1995
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: P.Funk
Trombipulation
Written-By – W. Collins, G. Clinton
3:51
A2 Trombipulation
Written-By – W. Collins, G. Clinton
4:34
A3 Long Way Around
Written-By – G. Clinton, W. Morrison
5:40
A4 Agony Of Defeet
Written-By – D. Clinton, D. Sterling, R. Dunbar
6:23
B1 New Doo Review
Written-By – G. Clinton, R. Ford
5:55
B2 Let's Play House
Written-By – W. Collins, G. Clinton, W. Morrison
3:39
B3 Body Language
Written-By – G. Clinton
5:57
B4 Peek-A-Groove
Written-By – G. Clinton, R. Ford
7:48
Label: Casablanca – NBLP 7249
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul
Style: P.Funk