Track Listing:
Too Many Fish In The Sea {Norman J Whitfield, Edward Holland Jr.} 4:04
In And Out Of Love {Mallia Franklin, Ernestro Wilson} 4:17
Buzzards (Don't Let Em Get Me) {Walter Morrison} 8:45
Time To Feel Good {M Franklin, E Wilson} 4:49
Hipnotize (In Under The Influence) {Lanar Kern Brantley, M Franklin} 4:30
Interlude (Of Love) {W Morrison} 2:38
This Must Be Truely Love {M Franklin, Eddie Hazel} 5:06
Rat-A-Tat-Tat (At My Door) {M Franklin, E Hazel} 5:05
Universal Jam "Y'all" {M Franklin, E Wilson} 4:54
Got My Body Hot {K Shoukar, M Franklin, J Ali} 5:48
Personnel:
"Too Many Fish In The Sea"
Producer: Mallia Franklin
Rhythm Track Arrangement: Richard "Kush" Griffith
Background Vocal Arrangement: Garry "Dowop" Shider, Gary "Mudbone" Cooper
Lead Vocal Arrangement: Mallia Franklin, Gary Shider
Pre-Production-1983:
Bass: J. Ali
Drums: Jerry Jones
Keyboards: David Lee Spradley, Ernestro Wilson
Guitar: Tony Thomas, Dwayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight
Horns: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Richard "Kush" Griffith, Larry Hatcher
Horn Arrangement: Richard "Kush" Griffith
Saxophone Solo: Maceo Parker
Update Production-1994:
Bass: Allen McGrier
Drums: Land Richards
Keyboards: Ernestro Wilson, David Lee Spradley, Harry Bowens
Guitar: Ricky Rouse, Dwayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight
Horns: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Richard "Kush" Griffith, Larry Hatcher
Horn Arrangement: Richard "Kush" Griffith
Background Singers: Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, Gary "Dowop" Shider, Eddie Hazel,
Robert "P-Nut" Johnson, Mallia Franklin, Michael "Clip" Payne, Ron Ford,
Joe "Pep" Harris
"In and Out of Love"
Producer: Mallia Franklin
Background & Lead Vocal Arrangement: Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, Mallia Franklin
Pre-Production-1983"
Bass Keyboards, Keyboards: Ernestro Wilson
Guitar: Gordon Carlton
Horns: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Richard "Kush" Griffith, Larry Hatcher
Horn Arrangement: Fred Wesley
Saxophone Solo: Maceo Parker
Drum Program: A.J. Sparks
Update Production-1994:
Bass Keyboards: Tony Stone
Keyboards: Ernestro Wilson, Sir Harry Bowens
Guitar: Gordon Carlton
Drum Program: David Scheffler
Background Singers: Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, Mallia Franklin
"Buzzards (Don't Let Em Get Me)"
Producer: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Lead & Background Vocal Arrangement: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Pre-Production-1982:
Bass, Keyboards, Guitar, Drums: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Update Production-1994:
Additional Background Vocals: Mallia Franklin
Additional Lead Vocals: Mallia Franklin, Conley Abrams
Additional Arrangement: Conley Abrams, Mallia Franklin
Horns: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Richard "Kush" Griffith, Larry Hatcher
Trumpet Solo: Tyrone Griffin
Horn Arrangement: Walter "Junie" Morrison, Tyrone Griffin
Background Singers: Walter "Junie" Morrison, Kimberly Abrams, Mallia Franklin,
Conley Abrams, Robert Jordan
"Time To Feel Good:
Producer: Mallia Franklin
Background & Lead Vocal Arrangement: Mallia Franklin
Pre-Production-1982:
Drums: Bobby Franklin
Bass Keyboards: Ernestro Wilson
Keyboards: Ernestro Wilson, Manon Salsby
Guitar: Gordon Carlton, J. Ali
Horns: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Richard "Kush" Griffith, Larry Hatcher
Horn Arrangement: Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker
Saxophone Solo: Maceo Parker
Update Production-1994:
Bass Keyboards: Ernestro Wilson
Keyboards: Vincent Bonham, Ernestro Wilson
Guitar: Ricky Rouse, J. Ali, Gordon Carlton
Drum Program: David Scheffler, Conley Abrams
Horns: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Richard "Kush" Griffith, Larry Hatcher
Horn Arrangement: Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker
Background Singers: Cynthia Girty, Carolyn Stanford, Tony Arnell Carmichael,
Steve Boyd, Bobby Franklin, Mallia Franklin
"Interlude (Of Love)"
Producer: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Keyboard: Brian Tate
Keyboard Arrangement: Mallia Franklin
Lead Vocal Arrangement: Mallia Franklin
Pre-Production-1986"
Bass Keyboards: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Keyboards: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Drum Program: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Update Production-1994
Bass: Brian Tate
Guitar: Gary "Dee Dee" James
Drum Program: Conley Abrams, Mallia Franklin
Bass Keyboards: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Keyboards: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Background & Lead Vocal Arrangement: Mallia Franklin
Producer: Mallia Franklin
Background Singers: Mallia Franklin, Kimberly Abrams, Teresa Allman,
Robert Jordan
"This Must Be Truly Love"
Producer: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Background & Lead Vocal Arrangement: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Pre-Production-1986:
Engineer-Eric Morgenson
Bass Keyboards-Walter "Junie" Morrison
Keyboards-Walter "Junie" Morrison
Drum Program-Walter "Junie" Morrison
Update Production-1994:
Bass: Brian Tate
Guitar: Gary "Dee Dee" James
Drum Program: Conley Abrams, Mallia Franklin
Bass Keyboards: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Keyboards: Walter "Junie" Morrison
Background Vocal Arrangement: Mallia Franklin
Lead Vocal Arrangement: Mallia Franklin
Producer: Mallia Franklin
Background Singers: Mallia Franklin, Kimberly Abrams, Teresa Allman,
Robert Jordan
"Rat-A-Tat-Tat"
Producer: Mallia Franklin, Eddie Hazel
Background Vocal Arrangement-Eddie Hazel, Mallia Franklin
Lead Vocal Arrangement-Eddie Hazel, Mallia Franklin
Pre-Production-1983:
8 String Bass: Eddie Hazel
Keyboards: David Lee Spradley, Ernestro Wilson
Guitar: Tony Thomas, Eddie Hazel
Drums: Jerry Jones
Horns: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Richard "Kush" Griffith, Larry Hatcher
Horn Arrangement: Richard "Kush" Griffith, Maceo Parker
Update Production-1994:
Bass: Eddie Hazel
Keyboard: David Lee Spradley, Ernestro Wilson
Guitar: Eddie Hazel, Gary "Dee Dee" James, Ricky Rouse
Drums: Jerry Jones
Drum Program: Conley Abrams
Background Singers: Eddie Hazel, Brian Bellamy, Conley Abrams,
Maxsimilliano Marsinelli, Robert Jordan, Mallia Franklin
Horns: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Richard "Kush" Griffith, Larry Hatcher
"Universal Jam 'Y`all'"
Producer: Mallia Franklin
Background & Lead Vocal Arrangement: Garry Shider,
Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, Mallia Franklin
Pre-Production-1983:
Drums: Jerry Jones
Bass: J. Ali
Keyboards: Ernestro Wilson, Manon Salsby
Guitar: Gordon Carlton, J. Ali
Drum Program: A.J. Sparks
Horns: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Richard "Kush" Griffith, Larry Hatcher
Update Production-1994:
Bass Keyboards: David Scheffler, Mallia Franklin
Keyboards: Ernestro Wilson, Sir Harry Bowen
Guitar: Gordon Carlton, J. Ali
Horns: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Richard "Kush" Griffith, Larry Hatcher
Horn Arrangement: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley
Drum Program: David Scheffler, C. Abrams, Mallia Franklin
Background Singers: Shirley Hayden, Janice Evans Edwards, Gwen Evans,
Jeanette McGruder, Kim Seay, Linda Brown Shider, Sheila Horne Washington,
Eddie Hazel, Ray Davis, Ron Ford, Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, Garry "Dowop" Shider,
Belita Woods, Robert "P-Nut" Johnson, Pat Lewis, Larry Hatcher,
Hoe "Pep" Harris, Sir Harry Bowen, Steve Boyd
Baby Funkers-1982:
Andre Fox, Tracy Lewis, Steve Parnell, Michael "Clip" Payne, Patty Walker
Kids-Seth Neblett, Shelly Hayden, The BoBo Family, The Perkins Family,
Azzure Bobo, Sheldon Jarmon
"Got My Body Hot"
Producer: Mallia Franklin
Background Vocal Arrangement: Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, Mallia Franklin,
Garry "Shy Guy" Shider
Lead Vocal Arrangement: Mallia Franklin, Garry Shider
Pre-Production-1981:
Drums: Kenny Colton
Keyboards: David Lee Spradley, Ernestro Wilson
Bass: J. Ali
Guitar: DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight, Tony Thomas, J. Ali
Horns: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Richard "Kush" Griffith, Larry Hatcher
Horn Arrangement: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley
Trombone Solo: Fred Wesley
Update Production-1994 :
Drums, Bass Keyboards: Tony Stone
Keyboards: David Lee Spradley, Ernestro Wilson
Guitar: DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight, Tony Thomas
Drum Program: David Scheffler, Tony Stone
Background Singers: Shirley Hayden, Janice Evans Edwards, Kim Seay,
Linda Brown Shider, Mallia Franklin, Gwen Evans, Jeanette McGruder,
Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, Garry "Shy Guy" Shider, Robert "P-Nut" Johnson,
Val Young
Rating: RC: ***
Comments: VW: As for the music on the CD - no big deal. It seems that most of the update production consists of throwing on a boring drum machine rhythm and turning the guitars way down.
Mallia's claim of being the Queen of Funk is not helped by this CD. If I were a person who had no clue about Mallia and if someone were to tell me after listening to this Cd, that Mallia is the Queen of Funk, I would have to assume she earned the title based on past accomplishments, because _Funken Tersepter_ proves nothing. If there were a competition for that title (Queen of Funk), it seems there would be nothing on this CD for the competition to fear. The lyrics are dull (and I really don't pay much attention to lyrics), the songs don't stand out at all.
It's good to see a woman in Funk Mob take responsibility for her own output, though. In cases like the Brides, Parlet, and Jessica Cleaves, it still seems most of the writing, producing, and so on is done by the P-Funk men. Good to see a change, but I was expecting more.
About the liner notes, track 5, "Hipnotize" has no player information. It might have been omitted or it *could* be the same as track 6, "Interlude (Of Love)". On "Rat-A-Tat-Tat", which like the rest of the songs has an Update Production date of 1994, Eddie the Maggot Brain is credited as the bassist, a vocalist and as one of the guitarists. The only thing I can come up with is he obviously did his parts before he passed away in '92, and the year given, 1994, is used to indicate completion of the project.
The rest of the CD's liner notes contain three pages written in Japanese, a little six-pane comic book (shades of Gloryhallastoopid), and a little-bitty, grainy picture of Mallia in the back. There had to be a good, clear picture of the woman somewhere. I wonder why it wasn't included?
Also notice on track 7, the misspelling of the word, "truly". In the liner notes, it's spelled correctly. On the back of the jewel box and on the inside cover of the liner notes, it's spelled "truely". No big thang.
All-in-all, if you want good music, you can pass this cd by without feeling you missed anything. If you want to have a complete collection of P-Funk related material, it won't hurt to find and buy the CD. Make sure you check the used section of your music store first. Maybe the funk will be upon thee!
RC: While I agree that for the most part the 'production updates' don't serve any good purpose, there's still too much talent on here to be dismissed quickly. "Too Many Fish..." is a great track, punched up by Maceo's presence and great background vocals. "Time To Feel Good" is a classic funky Parlet-type track with some great singing from Mallia. "Rat-A-Tat-Tat" is a hot track that features more good singing from Mallia and hot guitar from Eddie Hazel. Other songs, while somewhat weak, still feature great backup vocals from Gary Cooper and Garry Shider, horns from the Horny Horns, and guitar work from Eddie Hazel, Dee Dee James and DeWayne McKnight. I'd like to hear the material on here before it was reproduced and slickified.
The album is available only as a Japanese import. It's too expensive to really be worth it, although it is worth a listen if you can find it cheaper.