Track Listing:
We Came To Funk Ya {W Collins} 6:55
Half A Man {Billy Nelson, G Clinton} 9:32
Say Blow By Blow Backwards {Fred Wesley} 5:10
Mr. Melody Man {Ron Dunbar, Gary Cooper} 7:04
Just Like You {G Clinton, Garry Shider} 6:47
Circular Motion {F Wesley} 5:43
Half A Man (remix) 5:26
Say Blow By Blow Backwards (remix) 5:26
Interview 3:04
Personnel:
Horns: Fred Wesley, Rick Gardner, Maceo Parker, Richard Griffith
Guitar: Bootsy Collins, Catfish Collins, Garry Shider, Rodney Crutcher,
Michael Hampton
Bass: Bootsy Collins, Donnie Sterling, Billy "Bass" Nelson,
Cordell Mosson, Rodney Curtis
Keyboard: Bernie Worrell, Joel Johnson, Jerome Rogers, Maceo Parker,
Fred Wesley
Drums: Bootsy Collins, Gary Cooper, Frankie Waddy, Ty Lampkin, Jesse Williams
Background Vocals: Gary Cooper, Jessica Cleaves, Dawn Silva,
Jeanette McGruder, Sheila Horne, Robert Johnson, Dr. Funk
Producer: George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Fred Wesley
Horn Arrangements: Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley
Interview: Bootsy Collins
Rating: RC: ***1/2
Comments: RC: This was a worthy though not quite as coherent followup album for the Horny Horns. The influences are a bit more diffuse, with Bootsy's presence not as pronounced. The artist is (as on the first album) billed as 'Fred Wesley And The Horny Horns Featuring Maceo Parker', a way of making sure everyone gets proper credit.
The first track is a good-natured funker, "We Came To Funk Ya". It's a Parliament-type track, filled with chants (including the old 'Maceo, you got to blow!') and solos from Fred & Maceo. Bootsy handles bass here, and the song dips into "Bootzilla" and "Let's Take It To The Stage" here and there. "Half A Man" is a true classic, a great Billy Bass funk-soul song with super horn hooks and his own meaty basslines. There's also great singing; this track easily could have made it to Mothership Connection. "Say Blow By Blow Backwards" spotlights Maceo & Fred more than anyone, with a driving bass part and some nice percussion keeping the song going. Fred's solo is INCREDIBLY funky. "Mr. Melody Man" is a Parlet track with the vocal part removed and replaced with horns. It's slow and a bit overproduced, sounding much too mellow. Maceo still makes it pretty good, though. I prefer jazzier slow songs to pop slow songs, which is what this is. "Just Like You" is a Brides Of Funkenstein track, once again with the vocals removed. I didn't care for the song in its original version, but this is a little better. The strings are replaced by some more nice percussion and a long solo from Maceo. "Circular Motion" is an interesting funk-jazz exploration that jumps back and forth in its focus; while an interesting bassline is playing in the back, Maceo goes on one of his hiccupping solos. The song circles around to the adjoining horns answering his sax, and then goes back to the theme, accented by heavy percussion. Then it goes to Fred's solo, later joined by the other horns. A delicious and clever instrumental track. The remixes are similar to the first album; added beats here and there, isolating instruments and vocals. The interview with Bootsy at the end is amusing and interesting, talking about meeting Fred and Maceo. The album is readily available on CD, so any Fred or Maceo fan should snap it right up.