Track Listing:
Pleasure Principle {G Clinton, Ron Ford, B Worrell} 8:54
Love Amnesia {G Clinton, Ron Dunbar, Billy Nelson} 5:10
Cookie Jar {Clarence Haskins} 5:30
Misunderstanding {G Clinton, R Ford, B Worrell} 7:20
Are You Dreaming? {Linda Brown, Garry Shider, G Clinton} 6:58
Mr. Melody Man {R Dunbar, Gary Cooper} 4:55
Personnel:
Producer: George Clinton
Lead Vocals (Parlet): Jeanette Washington, Debbie Wright, Mallia Franklin
Guitars: Garry Shider, Mike Hampton, Glen Goins, Billy Nelson
Bass: Rodney "Skeet" Curtis, Rick Gilmore, Billy Nelson
Drums: Jim Wright, Frankie Waddy, Bootsy Collins, Gary Cooper
Keyboard: Bernie Worrell
Horns: Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Richard Griffith, Rick Gardner
Background Vocals: Brandie (Telma Hopkins, Joyce Vincent), Ron Ford
Horn Arrangements: Bernie Worrell, Fred Wesley
String Arrangements: Bernie Worrell, Dave Van De Pitte
Rating: RC: ***1/2 MM: **1/2
Comments:RC: As George Clinton's funk empire grew in the late 70's, he wanted to expand the number of groups that P.Funk was associated with. He dreamed of having a Motown-type stable of acts, featuring many of the same musicians and singers, but under different names and concepts. One concept that he always kept close to his heart was producing a classic 'girl-group' like he had done in the 60's, with the likes of Pat Lewis, Tawala Lewis, and Theresa Lindsay. He had the notion of doing a female version of Parliament, first called the Parlettes and later just Parlet. The first version consisted of the backup singers for Parliament at the time, Jeannette Washington, Debbie Wright and Mallia Franklin. A number of the tracks they recorded had already been recorded, and the trio simply sang over them. Like many of the P.Funk songs of the time, the songs are long, multilayered and leaning slightly towards disco-funk. The album is surprisingly coherent, despite the fact that the tracks weren't recorded specifically for this album. Ron Dunbar and Ron Ford both play parts writing and working with the singers.
"Pleasure Principle" features lead-swapping and an infectious chant 'DA da, Da deedle-dee da da, deedle-dee deedle-dee deedle-dee deedle-dee da da' that really keeps the song going. Fantastic bass playing from Skeet and lots of solos from the horns also make this a memorable song. Skeet's bass solo towards the end rivals his best with P.Funk. The horns (Maceo in particular) accent the strings. "Love Amnesia" is a very clever song, again with a strong bass presence (from Billy Bass, I think) and cool rhythm with claps. Keyboards and horns match the high tones of the singers as the bass holds down the bottom. The version of "Cookie Jar" on here, a song written years earlier by Fuzzy Haskins, is one of P.Funk's greatest works. A churning guitar lick and descending keyboard figures make this super heavy and funky. The acoustic guitar strum at the end of each verse is a nice touch, as are the claps that appear halfway through. It's also a clever idea lyrically, 'put you in a cookie jar, save you for a rainy day.' "Misunderstanding" is a delicate ballad once again punched up by horns and great bass playing, as well as particularly excellent vocals. "Are You Dreaming?" is a more disco-ish song that once again benefits from great bass playing but is mostly pretty dull musically. "Mr. Melody Man" is a sappy ballad that is pretty dull musically.
Parlet never did tour much, but they did have a stable of musicians assigned to them for later studio work and possible live work. These included Ernestro Wilson, kbd and sax; Mannon Saulsby, kbd and sax; Gordon Carlton, gtr and voc; Jerome Ali, gtr; Donnie Sterling, bass and voc; Kenny Colton, drm; and Janice Carlton, perc. Many of these names showed up on the later P.Funk albums.
The album is out of print, but most of the highlights can be found on the Best Of Parlet CD. The LP itself will run you anywhere from $10-25. The cover is interesting, with a drawing of the Parlet members on a spaceship bridge, dressed in flowing gowns.