The Funkadelic Album List

The ratings given for each album are 'within P-Funk,' and on the 1 to 5 star scale.

*****   Essential, not allowed on the Mothership without it
****    Mostly excellent cuts
***     A few weak tracks, or a concept which doesn't hold up
**      One or two good tracks
*       Relatively weak

RC : A note on writing credits. For each particular album, I will list the first and last name of the writer only when it is their first appearance on that album. Thus, Garry Shider's first appearance on an album will earn him that full listing, but he will be listed as G Shider if he has any other songs on that particular album. There are three notable exceptions: George Clinton, William "Bootsy" Collins, and Bernie Worrell, who will be listed as G Clinton, W (or B) Collins, and B Worrell, respectively, for every album's track listing. The reason is because those three wrote the bulk of the P.Funk catalog. If a writer's full name is not listed, it's probably because I don't know it, in which case I would appreciate being given that information.

The Early Westbound Years

Funkadelic (1970) Detailed Info Lyrics

Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow (1971) Detailed Info Lyrics

Maggot Brain (1971) Detailed Info Lyrics

GZ: These early Funkadelic albums are guitar dominated funky psychedelia, influenced in sound more by Hendrix than by Sly or James Brown. There are also connections to the Detroit rock scene of that time, Iggy and the Stooges, and the MC5. The vision is much darker than most '60s psychedelia, in that sense these albums owe much to Sly's Riot, and the Velvet Underground. These all make strong musical statements as entire albums. Singles highlights (that I recall this morning) "Mommy, What's A Funkadelic" from Funkadelic, the title tracks from Free Your Mind and Maggot Brain, and "Wars of Armageddon" from Maggot Brain.

MM: These albums are pretty solid from beginning to end. Some of my favorites are "Good Ole Music", "I'll Bet You", and "You And Your Folks, Me And My Folks". Maggot Brain has something for everybody, including the classic title track and the frantic "Wars Of Armageddon".

The First Transitional Westbound Period

America Eats Its Young (1972) Detailed Info Lyrics

The Middle Westbound Period

Cosmic Slop (1973) Detailed Info Lyrics

Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On (1974) Detailed Info Lyrics

Let's Take It To The Stage (1975) Detailed Info Lyrics

GZ: These are the greatest of the middle period Funkadelic, as danceability takes its rightful place as an element of the sound, and Pedro Bell takes on the album covers. "Cosmic Slop" is a look back at the guitar rock of the earlier albums. Let's Take it to the Stage is my personal favourite, with the title track, "Good To Your Earhole", "No Head, No Backstage Pass", and the immortal "Be My Beach", which introduced the Bootsy Persona. Cosmic Slop, and Verge are close seconds, tho. Note that around 1975, Parliament re-emerged as Clinton's vehicle for serious themes, thus Funkadelic became more fun.

The Second Transitional Period

Tales of Kidd Funkadelic (1976) Detailed Info Lyrics

The Warner Brothers Transition Year

Hardcore Jollies (1976) Detailed Info Lyrics

The High Warner Brothers Years

One Nation Under A Groove (1978) Detailed Info Lyrics

Uncle Jam Wants You (1979) Detailed Info Lyrics

The Warner Brothers Finale

The Electric Spanking of War Babies (1981) Detailed Info Lyrics

The Anti-George Funkadelic

Connections and Disconections (1981) Who's A Funkadelic? (1992) Detailed Info Lyrics

Compilations and Afterthoughts

Funkadelic's Greatest Hits (1976) Detailed Info

The Best of the Early Years Volume One (1977) Detailed Info

Music For Your Mother: Funkadelic 45's (1992) Detailed Info Lyrics

Picture Disc Box Set Volume I (1992) Detailed Info

Picture Disc Box Set Volume II (1992) Detailed Info

The Best of Funkadelic: 1976-1981 (1994) Detailed Info

Hardcore Funk Jam (1994) Detailed Info

Live -- Meadowbrook, Rochester, Michigan 12th September 1971 (1996) Detailed Info