Maggot Brain [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Funkadelic | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 18, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Westbound Records
• ASIN: B000AXWV40
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,362 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #43 in Music > Rock > Funk Rock

Editorial Reviews

Funkadelic's ultimate early classic (from 1971) remastered from the original masters for the first time in 15 years. Maggot Brain is rated by, amongst others, Mojo Magazine as an all-time classic. Their critics voted it the fourth greatest guitar album ever, beaten only by Jimi Hendrix and the Who. Guitarist Eddie Hazel's playing on the title track is nothing short of stunning. This 2005 reissue includes the original seven track album plus a bonus alternate mix from 1971 of Maggot Brain, the album's title track. It also includes Whole Lot Of BS, the non album B-side of the album's third single, Hit It And Quit It, and the 45 I Miss My Baby recorded by US Music with Funkadelic, a copy of which recently sold among collectors for $150. The booklet includes in-depth sleeve notes by funk expert Dean Rudland, with details of the history of the band and this recording. The package also includes a full color reproduction of the original artwork, contemporary memorabilia and copies of advertisements.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Is this where Hendrix may have gone? March 1, 2008

By Scott Hedegard

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Musicologists love to debate where Jimi Hendrix may have ventured had he not tragically died in 1970. It is true the master was going to work with Miles Davis, and that would have been monumental. It is worth exploring the possibilities of a foray into the newly developing funk scene as well, and nobody came closer to carrying on the Hendrix legacy than Funkadelic's guitar wizard Eddie Hazel, a true contemporary of Hendrix and Jeff Beck. Unfortunately, he has not enjoyed the mass appreciation of other guitar gods, and that's a crime.
"Maggot Brain" opens with the title track, a simple rhythm guitar backing Hazel in a ten minute opus that belongs in the rock god pantheon. George Clinton wisely lets Hazel shine, knowing genius when he hears it. If "Maggot Brain" isn't enough, Hazel soars throughout, welding funk with metal and making it work. It makes you wanna boogie and play air guitar at the same time, which would look really stupid, but that just proves how well the two styles of hard rock and funk can work together.
As with great jazz musicians like Wes Montgomery, John Coltrane and Charlie Christian, to name a few, it's a shame more young black musicians aren't interested in making real music, preferring instead to rap over minimalist backgrounds and completely ignore their musical ancestry that invented blues, rock and roll, and jazz. "Maggot Brain" belongs in every collection.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Maximum trippiness July 22, 2008

By finulanu

Format:Audio CD

I don't know what drugs Clinton and co. were on when they recorded this classic. I probably don't want to. The first two were pretty weird as well, but this one makes 'em look tame. Here, you get a lot of the acid funk-rock stuff the group was doing in their early days, only what they did was took that formula and improved on it. The winding, stoned jams that took up most of the first record are better, so are the loud, crazy freakouts that took up much of the second one. And the short tracks rule as usual.
First up, there's "Maggot Brain," with Eddie Hazel playing a guitar solo worthy of Hendrix. It's amazing how much emotion he pulls out of it, and the huge variety of feelings he expresses just with is guitar. It's wonderful stuff, but part of me thinks I like the bonus full band mix more, just because you get a cool marimba part with that one. Either way, it's one of the top five (if not top three) tunes that ever came out of the P-Funk camp. "Can You Get to That?" rules, too. It's totally different from the emotional odyssey that was "Maggot Brain" - it's a down-home folk song with a great melody and awesome baritone vocals, and it actually manages to almost be as good as "Maggot Brain." Not quite, but close. Then you get a couple sweet acid-soul songs, with Bernie showing off his weird organ stuff: "Hit it and Quit it" and "You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks." Totally cool tunes, both of 'em. Then it's back to the rock, with the uber-heavy "Super Stupid," with another one of Eddie's Hendrixian solos. It's yet another highlight - everyone gets a chance to rock out, and they don't waste it. I'm a bit disappointed by "Back in Our Minds," though. It's okay, but isn't particularly interesting. It's made up for by "Wars of Armageddon," though. That's the best freakout ever to come from Funkadelic. A ten minute celebration of all things sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. Most people don't like it, but I think it's quite cool.
Bonus tracks! You've got the alternate mix of "Maggot Brain," "I Miss My Baby" (cool song!), and "Singing a New Song" (eh.) Worth a purchase! I don't know what to call this one. It rocks harder than most "funk" albums, and has more groove and bottom than most "rock" albums. Funkadelic was always cool, but the early stuff is insanely creative.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Moves my feet and moves me to tears January 7, 2008

By a reviewer

Format:Audio CD

This album is the best investment i ever made. I'm a 16 and i play guitar and the solo on maggot brain puts every guitarist i've ever heard to shame,i t moves me to tears every time and eddie hazel has got nowhere near the recognition it deserves. I can't believe more people haven't heard this. And its not just the title track, EVERY song on here gets 5 stars from me. This band puts the supposed heaviest band ever, black sabbath, to shame on super stupid. its super heavy and on top of that you can dance to it and eddie hazel plays another classic solo. enough from me you should get it now, it criminal to not recognize this album for the masterpiece it is.