Track Listing:
So You Wanna Be A Gangster {Joseph Fiddler, Thomas Fiddler} 3:56
Cool About It {J Fiddler, T Fiddler, Danny Saber, Jeffrey Connor} 4:33
Blackout {J Fiddler, Andre Williams, Christopher Buckingham} 4:37
Cat In The Hat {J Fiddler, T Fiddler, Paul Hill, Bob "Barbarella" Bishop} 4:27
Pay Party {J Fiddler, Michael Payne, Overton Lloyd, Lashawn Clinton} 5:46
Henpecked {J Fiddler, T Fiddler, Chris Bruce, M Payne, William Collins} 5:03
Starvin' Like Marvin {J Fiddler, T Fiddler, Brett Turner} 4:23
Cutie On Duty {J Fiddler, T Fiddler, A Williams, C Buckingham} 3:39
Me And My Girlfriend
{J Fiddler, T Fiddler, Charles Fiddler, M Payne, L Clinton} 4:29
I Wanna Hang Out With You {J Fiddler} 4:35
Personnel:
"So You Wanna Be A Gangster"
Bass, Background Vocals: Thomas "Bubz" Fiddler
Keyboard, Lead & Background Vocals, Drum Programming: Joseph "Amp" Fiddler
Lead & Rhythm Guitar: DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight
Background Vocals: Brian McKnight
Trumpet: Bennie Cowan
Saxophone: Greg Thomas
Trombone: Greg Boyer
Guitar: Chris Bruce
Additional Drum Programming: Carmine Rizzo, Jr.
"Cool About It"
Bass, Vocals: Thomas "Bubz" Fiddler
Keyboard, Lead & Background Vocals, Drum Programming: Joseph "Amp" Fiddler
Guitar, Vocals: Andre "Foxxe" Williams
Keyboard, Guitar, Drum Programming: Danny Saber
Background Vocals: Lige Curry
"Blackout"
Keyboard, Lead & Background Vocals: Joseph "Amp" Fiddler
Background Vocals: Thomas "Bubz" Fiddler, Andre "Foxxe" Williams,
Stewart Manley, TC Ellis, Overton Lloyd
Keyboard and Drum Programming: Rodrick "Buck" Buckingham
Guitar, Background Vocals: Cordell "Boogie" Mosson
Sax: Skip Pruitt
Guitar: Chris Bruce
Additional Drum Programming: Carmine Rizzo, Jr.
"Cat In The Hat"
Keyboard, Lead & Background Vocals, Drum Programming: Joseph "Amp" Fiddler
Background Vocals: Thomas "Bubz" Fiddler, Steve Boyd, Paul Hill
Rhythm Guitar: Ras Kente Knight
Background Vocals, Additional Drum Programming: Michael "Clip" Payne
"Pay Party"
Keyboard, Lead & Background Vocals, Drum Programming: Joseph "Amp" Fiddler
Background Vocals: George Clinton, Pamela Starks, Diem Jones, Overton Lloyd
Rhythm Guitar, Background Vocals: DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight
Guitar Solo: Michael Hampton
"Henpecked"
Keyboard, Lead & Background Vocals: Joseph "Amp" Fiddler
Drums: Steve Jordan
Background Vocals: Thomas "Bubz" Fiddler, Andre "Foxxe" Williams, Leland Zales
Guitar Solo: Stevie Salas
Rhythm Guitar: Chris Bruce
Dialogue Vocal: Pamela Starks
Trumpet: Bennie Cowan
Saxophone: Greg Thomas
Trombone: Greg Boyer
"Starvin' Like Marvin"
Keyboard, Lead & Background Vocals, Drum Programming: Joseph "Amp" Fiddler
Bass, Background Vocals: Thomas "Bubz" Fiddler
Lead & Rhythm Guitar: DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight
Trumpet: Bennie Cowan
Saxophone: Greg Thomas
Trombone: Greg Boyer
Background Vocals: Paul Hill, Sandra Fiddler
"Cutie On Duty"
Keyboard, Lead & Background Vocals: Joseph "Amp" Fiddler
Background Vocals: Thomas "Bubz" Fiddler, Andre "Foxxe" Williams
Keyboard, Drum Programming: Rodrick "Buck" Buckingham
Guitar: Chris Bruce
Trumpet: Bennie Cowan
Saxophone: Greg Thomas
Trombone: Greg Boyer
"Me And My Girlfriend"
Keyboard, Lead & Background Vocals, Drum Programming: Joseph "Amp" Fiddler
Background Vocals: Thomas "Bubz" Fiddler, Andre "Foxxe" Williams
Rhythm Guitar: DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight
Guitar Solo: Eddie Hazel
Additional Drum Programming: Michael "Clip" Payne
"I Wanna Hang Out With You"
Keyboard, Lead & Background Vocals: Joseph "Amp" Fiddler
Background Vocals, Guitar: Andre "Foxxe" Williams
Rhythm Guitar: DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight
Monologue: Lynette Safford
Drum Programming: Michael "Clip" Payne
Rating: RC: ***
Comments:RC: This is the one and only solo album from Joseph "Amp" Fiddler, the current keyboardist for the P.Funk All-Stars. As such, there are a ton of guest Funk Mob members on this album, and their presence is readily felt. The album is pretty much dominated by drum programming and synthesized rhythms, but the musicians are given plenty of room to stretch out. The big surprise is Amp's voice, which is actually excellent and well suited to funk. His range is decent, but more importantly, he understands how to arrange the music to suit it best. Despite the dominance of keyboards on the album, other featured instruments are balanced into the mix quite well, adding some good weight to the music.
"So You Wanna Be A Gangster" is a smooth cautionary tale, done years before the gangsta rap craze took hold. It's punctuated by the P.Funk Horns and Blackbyrd's guitar, particularly on rhythm. "Cool About It" is a mellow piano-oriented song that's a bit too smooth. "Blackout" is a fun funk romp about turning down the lights for your lady that recalls "Flash Light" rather amusingly. Good drum programming on this one. "Cat In The Hat" continues to give us Amp's funny lyrics, this time about a cat who 'likes his ladies big and fat.' The keyboards are extra funky here, and Ras Kente's rhythm guitar vamps are good. "Pay Party" is another lively tune that features some scatting and solid guitar playing. "Henpecked" is a funny song punched up by the horn section and acoutic drums. I love the chicken noises! "Starvin' Like Marvin" is a ballad that sounds a bit hollow because of the electronic percussion. "Cutie On Duty" is a weaker dance track, despite the presence of the P.Funk horns. "Me And My Girlfriend" is a funky mid-tempo number with more good guitar playing. "I Wanna Hang Out With You" is another typical dance track on the album, OK but it certainly doesn't stand out.
The album is still in print, and is definitely worth a listen if you don't mind the drum machines and slighly repetitive nature of the songs. There's solid musicianship at work here with a group that knows each other well.