Track Listing:
Introduction 1:09
War Ship Touchante {G Clinton, B Worrell, Archie Ivy} 7:41
Birdie {G Clinton, Ron Dunbar, G Shider, Rodney Curtis} 8:18
Ride On {G Clinton, W Collins, B Worrell} 4:26
Brides Maids {G Clinton} 1:38
Vanish In Our Sleep {W Collins} 5:18
Together {G Clinton, W Collins, B Worrell} 7:44
Disco To Go {G Clinton, W Collins} 7:34
The James Wesley Jackson {James Wesley Jackson} 9:45
Personnel:
Producer: George Clinton
The Brides of Funkenstein: Lynn Mabry, Dawn Silva (vocals)
Drums: Frank Waddy
Keyboards: Joel "Razor Sharp" Johnson
Sax, Flute: Maceo Parker
Trumpet, Band Leader: Richard "Kush" Griffith
Trombone: Fred Wesley
Bass: Jeff "Cherokee" Bunn
Guitar: DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight
Rating: RC: ***1/2
Comments: TK: The Japanese version of this CD contains pictures from the time they toured Japan as a new wave act in 1981.
RC: The album was recorded at the Howard Theatre in Washington, DC, Nov 1 & 2, 1978. The Brides were one of the opening acts for the big P.Funk show. The James Wesley Jackson track is actually a comedy routine done by the "Environmedian", and it's pretty good. Jackson had a few bit roles on some early Funkadelic albums.
The Brides were still Lynn Mabry and Dawn Silva at this time, although they added some backup singers known as the 'Bridesmaids' to help recreate the layered vocal effect found on their albums. The band had several members of the Rubber Band and Horny Horns in it, as well as bass player Jeff 'Cherokee' Bunn and DeWayne 'Blackbyrd' McKnight. The band leader is Richard 'Kush' Griffith. The show oddly begins with "War Ship Touchante", starting off with the tune to the Wedding March. Otherwise, it's a fairly straightforward performance of a truly strange song, with the Brides asking 'May we board you?' "Birdie" is truly hot, with Blackbyrd absolutely sizzling on guitar and the Brides getting down and dirty vocally. The Brides also banter with the audience, fully utilizing their amazing charisma. Then there's a cover of "Ride On", with Cherokee doing an excellent job of keeping it funking on with his performance. "Brides Maids" is a brief interlude that has the ladies singing the chorus to "Good To Your Earhole" and "Mothership Connection". A delicately-sung version of "Vanish In Our Sleep" is next, a version worthy of the original that swells musically at the end. Another song from Chocolate City, "Together", is next, and it's wild and loose, with assorted horn solos and more great harmonies with audience participation towards the end. The finisher is "Disco To Go", the best known song from their first album. It's a great version, featuring more varied horn arrangements than on the original.
The 'Brides Maids' were three female backup singers, added to the live set to help recreate the original vocal textures of the album. They were Sheila Horne, Babs Stewart and Jeanette McGruder. Horne and McGruder became full-fledged Brides on their second album, after Lynn Mabry left.
The CD is still in print but is hard to find. You might be better off ordering it rather than trying to track it down in a store. The Japanese version has amazing packaging, featuring lots of photos of Lynn & Dawn, along with Bernie, Blackbyrd, the Horny Horns, etc. Plus, there are lyrics.