Track Listing:
Flatman and Bobin {G Clinton} 8:12
I Didn't Know That Funk Was Loaded (Count Funkula) {Lonnie Greene} 5:25
Thumparella (Oh Kay) {Ron Ford} 3:46
Eyes of a Dreamer {Jessica Cleaves} 3:49
I Found You {Phillippe Wynne} 4:36
Ice Melting in Your Heart {Ron Dunbar} 5:18
Clone Ranger {Tracey Lewis} 5:55
Who Do You Love {B Worrell} 5:02
Up Up Up And Away {R Dunbar} 4:33
Can't Get Over Losing You {Walter Morrison} 6:42
Rat Kissed The Cat {Ben Edwards} 6:26
Too Tight For Light {W Morrison} 5:00
Every Little Bit Hurts {no writing credits} 8:06
Final Thoughts {G Clinton} 5:00
Personnel:
"Flatman and Bobin"
Artist: Parliament (1978) Producer: George Clinton
Drums: Tyrone Lampkin
Bass: Bootsy Collins
Keyboards: Bernie Worrell
Guitars: Garry Shider
Horns: Horny Horns
"I Didn't Know That Funk Was Loaded (Count Funkula)
Artist: Lonnie Greene (1980) Producers: Ron Dunbar, Lonnie Greene
Drums: Lonnie Greene
Bass: Donnie Sterling
Guitars: Tony Thomas
"Thumparella (Oh Kay)"
Artist: Ron Ford (1981) Producer: Ron Ford
"Eyes of a Dreamer"
Artist: Jessica Cleaves (1981) Producer: Ron Dunbar
"I Found You"
Artist: Phillippe Wynne (1981) Producer: Phillippe Wynne, Ron Dunbar
Background Vocals: Brandie (Telma Hopkins, Joyce Vincent)
"Ice Melting In Your Heart"
Artist: Brides of Funkenstein (1977) Producer: Ron Dunbar
Drums: Tyrone Lampkin
Bass: Junie Morrison
Guitars: Junie Morrison, Garry Shider
Keyboards: Bernie Worrell
"Clone Ranger"
Artist: Treylewd With Flastic Brain Flam (1978)
Producers: Gary Shider, George Clinton
Drums: Tony Davis
Bass: Stevie Pannall
Guitars: Garry Shider, DeWayne McKnight
Background Vocals: Brides, Parlet
"Who Do You Love"
Artist: Bernie Worrell (1978) Producers: Bernie Worrell, George Clinton
Drums: Tyrone Lampkin
Bass: Rodney 'Skeets' Curtis
Percussion: Larry Fratangelo
Keyboards: Bernie Worrell
Guitars: Gary Shider
"Up Up Up And Away"
Artist: Brides of Funkenstein (1979) Producer: Ron Dunbar
Drums: Jerry Jones
Bass: Rodnick Chandler
Guitars: Eddie Willis
Keyboards: Rudi Robinson, Bernie Worrell
"Can't Get Over Losing You"
Artist: Junie Morrison (1978) Producer: Junie Morrison
All instruments by Junie Morrison
"Rat Kissed The Cat"
Artist: Dr. Funkenstein & Brides Of Funkenstein (1977) Producer: George Clinton
Drums: Tiki Fullwood
Bass: Billy Bass
Guitars: Gary Cooper, Garry Shider
Keyboards: Bernie Worrell
Horns: Horny Horns
"Too Tight For Light"
Artist: Funkadelic (1979) Producer: George Clinton, Junie Morrison
"Every Little Bit Hurts"
Artist: George Clinton, Diane Brooks & Funkadelic (1972)
Producer: George Clinton
Rating: RC: ****
Comments:RC: The last volume in the Family Series is probably the best. "Flatman and Bobin" is a Horny Horns workout with a tacked-on narrative. It's the Horns at their best, featuring a solid rhythm section and irresistable horn riff after riff. "Count Funkula" is a Sterling/Greene funk workout, with Sterling beating on his bass while reciting a bunch of funny nursery rhymes. "Thumperella" is a decent Ron Ford mid-tempo funker. "Eyes Of A Dreamer" is a very good Jessica Cleaves song with an almost Latin beat. "I Found You" is a solid Philippe Wynne tune, sounding not unlike a typical Spinners cut. "Ice Melting" is an ancient Clinton tune that the Brides milk for all it's worth. Junie's solid bass playing keeps this one going. "Clone Ranger" is yet another reason why it was a damn shame that Flastic Brain Flam never had their first album released. The underrated Stevie Pannall stands out at bass, as does the subtle guitar work of Shider and McKnight. "Who Do You Love" is Bernie Worrell's only solo entry in this series; unfortunately, despite the great personnel, it's a weak crossover attempt. "Up Up Up And Away" is pretty much a straight disco song from the Brides, fairly insubstantial. "Can't Get Over Losing You" is a demented Junie tune that sounds like it came straight off of One Nation. Definitely his best entry in the Family Series. "Rat Kissed The Cat" is the album's best track, a funky tour de force, with Billy Bass anchoring the Horny Horns' wandering hooks, and solid rhythm guitar from Garry Shider and Gary Cooper. Top that off with odd lyrics and great singing from the Brides, and you have a brilliant song that could have appeared on any number of albums. "Too Tight For Light" is a choice Junie dance track that was supposed to be the follow-up to "Knee Deep" but never quite made it. "Every Little Bit Hurts" is a brilliant, slow string-dominated number from the America Eats Its Young era that outshines several songs on that album. George talks about Lonnie Greene and trips to jail, Ice Melting with the Brides and Ron Dunbar, Bernie Worrell and his array of instruments, and Tracey Lewis. Clinton talks about wanting to extend this series, and rumor has it that Part 6 will be out in Japan soon.