177. Parliament/Funkadelic

January 20, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(August 2018) I have completed episode 177 of my “opus project.” This edition: PARLIAMENT and FUNKADELIC. Of course I did the P-Funk together as two halves of George Clinton’s cosmic brain. Ironically, Parliament is funkier, but aptly, Funkadelic is more psychedelic. The copious output is rather eclectic – rock, soul, psychedelic, R&B, rap, and even a country song and a heavy metal song – but at its core, it’s classic funk. With his versatility, irreverence, raunchiness, prolific-ness, orchestration of rotations of talented musicians, and insistence on doing it his way, George Clinton reminds me of Frank Zappa.

Favorite Parliament album: Standing on the Verge of Getting It On

Favorite Funkadelic album: Mothership Connection

Favorite Parliament song: Red Hot Momma

Favorite Funkadelic song: Up for the Down Stroke

Best album title (perhaps of all-time): Free Your Mind … And Your Ass Will Follow

Best album cover (among the greats): Maggot Brain

Secret Sauce: Eddie Hazel (just listen to his work on the song Maggot Brain)

Compared to expectations: same

107. Earth Wind & Fire

January 13, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ 2 Comments

(January 2017) I have completed episode 107 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography. This edition: EARTH WIND & FIRE. Classic funk, soul, rock and much else, always in a sunny and uplifting spirit. This was my go-to music whenever I felt depressed in high school (I listened to a lot of EW&F in high school). 70s is peak EW&F, 80s and 90s are pretty awful, but in the 00s and 10s they get their groove back.

Favorite album: All ‘n All

Favorite song: That’s the Way Of the World

Sentimental favorite song: In the Stone

Least favorite song: Boogie Wonderland

Compared to expectations: same

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102. Prince

January 13, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper

(November 2016) I have completed episode 102 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: PRINCE. I now have greater appreciation of the depth and breadth (39 studio albums!) of his work (beyond the 80s albums). To me, the artist he most resembles is Frank Zappa: prolific, diversity of musical styles, idiosyncratic, social commentary, guitar virtuoso, but most of all, both successfully insisted on control of their music and business, and on doing things their own way. He was a genius. Best when funky. Best when falsetto.