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Parliament-Funkadelic: Standing On the Verge … of The Down Stroke

parliament funkadelic

1974 was a roller-coaster year defined by the kidnapping of Patti Hearst, the “Rumble In The Jungle” between heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and his formidable opponent George Foreman, and the resignation of President Richard Nixon. In the world of Black popular music, Funk further solidified its position as the new standard bearer of the genre. One of Funk’s prime progenitors, Parliament-Funkadelic, was about to initiate a double-barreled assault on the record-buying public. In that year, the Parliament wing of the empire had resurfaced after a four-year hiatus, after their 1970 debut entitled Osmium on Invictus Records.

The reemergence of Parliament was partially empowered by the return of bassist William “Bootsy” Collins, who came back to the fold after a two-year absence. He emerged, along with keyboardist Bernie Worrell, as the star players on this project. The eventual result: Up For The Down Stroke released on July 3rd, 1974.

Funkadelic would release their sixth album on Westbound records entitled Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On almost around the same time. What was unique about this outing was the fact that lead guitarist Eddie Hazel would serve as the principal instrumentalist, as he co-wrote every track on the album. The following analysis of this double-barreled shot of P-Funk attempts to explain how one hand washes (or in this case), “Funks” the other.

UP FOR THE DOWN STROKE

Release date: July 3rd, 1974.

Parliament’s second album in four years was released on the newly formed Casablanca Records, headed by longtime record industry stalwart Neil Bogart. The album’s title track brought Parliament back into the top ten on the Billboard R&B singles charts for the first time in seven years. It would also be the song to solidify the dynamic songwriting team of George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and Bernie Worrell (this time along with vocalist Fuzzy Haskins).

The cosmic energy of Funkadelic creeps slightly into the mix on the remaining seven tracks.

“Testify”, a remake of the 1967 Parliaments hit, receives the full thrust of Funk modernization. The remake pounds hard with lead vocals shared by George Clinton and Garry Shider. A second version which is primarily a group vocal mix was featured on the 2003 CD reissue.

“The Goose” and “Whatever Makes Baby Feel Good” represent the only contributions by guitarist Eddie Hazel. It also isn’t surprising that those two tracks inject a considerable amount of Funkadelic vibe into the album, particularly Eddie’s sparse lead playing on the latter cut.

The aforementioned 2003 CD reissue features the previously unreleased track called “Singing Another Song”, which swims in the influence of Sly and the Family Stone. To the hardcore P-Funk fan, it sounds like what could be the first Clinton-Collins-Worrell composition. The alternate take of “Down Stroke” features Clinton rapping about the eternal badness of the U.S. Funk Mob, reminding us that to each his reach and more than 3 shakes is a beat.

Related: “To Hell With Concept Albums: Parliament Did A Concept Series”

STANDING ON THE VERGE OF GETTING IT ON

Release date: July 10th, 1974

Almost simultaneously, Funkadelic released their sixth album on Westbound Records, reaffirming their role as the leading foot soldiers of Black Rock. Many of the tracks on this album are still performed by the Funk Mob to this day, particularly the title track, as well as “Red Hot Momma” (a remake of the 1971 Parliament single released on Invictus Records). The “Red Hot Momma” single originally featured a non-LP B-side called “Vital Juices” which is basically a continuation of RHM.

“Alice In My Fantasies” utilizes a thoroughly Hendrix-inspired groove while referencing Frank Zappa’s “Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow.”  Eddie Hazel, Ron Bykowski, and Garry Shider deliver a three-prong guitar assault that would make Jimi proud.

The album takes an unexpectedly sympathetic turn with the track “Jimmy’s Got A Little Bit Of Bitch In Him.” Displaying a surprisingly compassionate lyrical approach to alternative lifestyles over a playful but direct blues groove, the Funk Mob prove themselves to be light years ahead of their time in recognizing the LGBTQ community.

Related: “1978: The Year That Parliament-Funkadelic Ruled the Universe”

From 1974 until 1979, Parliament and Funkadelic would both release albums within a calendar year, while at the same time expanding the empire with spin-off groups including Bootsy’s Rubber Band, Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns, Parlet, the Brides Of Funkenstein, and Eddie Hazel himself. But the beginnings of that illustrious empire took root in 1974. It’s been expanding ever since.

-Tim Kinley

Photo: Parliament-Funkadelic, 1974 (publicity still)

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5 comments on “Parliament-Funkadelic: Standing On the Verge … of The Down Stroke

  1. Bustin Bob

    Thanks for spotlight on these remarkable albums, both of which are near to my heart. These are part of the PF cannon I was too young to hear when released. I was baptized and funkatized at the Funkenetelechy and had to go back and find these. Didn’t hear them in entirety until well into the mid 80’s. I was floored. I played Whatever Makes Baby Feel Good loud the other day. Don’t sleep on this cooker. Although Down Stroke as a whole dosen’t “jam” like side one of Chocolate City, musically speaking it’s a better offering.

  2. kaikoi2

    Thank you so much for your coverage of P-funk. George Clinton & crew were seriously ahead of their time yet arrived at the right time. I’ve attended many-a concert back in the day (Earth,Wind & Fire faithfully when they came to the now-gone Capital Center in Landover, MD) but was never brave enough to go see Parliament-Funkadelic. LOL. I still have all their albums though and to this day “One Nation Under a Groove” (extended version) is my favorite.

    There were a lot of musicians during the 70’s, particularly “supergroups” (black and white) who made us appreciate the art of being an instrumentalist. They made sounds come out of guitars that were otherworldly. You’re probably aware of this but it was only within the past decade when I learned that the late P-F member Raymond “Stingray” Davis was born in the small town of Sumter, SC. I have a few relatives who live there.

    Anyway, keep making the mothership connections. ~ Sharon Oliver

  3. As someone who was “there”,–with the photos from the Capital Center to prove it—“Standing on the Verge” was originally P-Funk’s get-you-out-your-seat instrumental, strut-out-on-stage opening number, touring with it for months before (IMHO) toning it down with lyrics and that particular studio rendition. And, while “Jimmy” is “compassionate” (even the Sun “goes down”), the impression back then among the DC P-Funk Mob–and supported by the Hendrix-like production of the tune–was that they were “outing” Jimi Hendrix as bisexual. Also–don’t forget the lyrics of the amazing 12-minute “Good Thoughts, Bad Thoughts” is, basically, James Allen’s classic 1903 self-help book, As a Man Thinketh, translated into mid-’70s Ebonics.

  4. chris edwards

    The Jimmy that funkadelic was referring to was their engineer George and them found out he was crossdressing and they decided to out him but yes it’s said that Hendrix was bisexual so both theories might be true

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