Customer Reviews

One Nation Under a Groove

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Another solid cd from Funkadelic. Definitely for the Funkateer young or old!!! Of course the title cut "One Nation Under A Groove" is great, eventhough it is the 7:28 version, but there are other definitive jams on here. "Groovallegiance" is real low down and funky!! "Cholly" is a solid groove and gets you ready to roll. "Who Says A Funk Band Can't Play Rock" is a serious cut that demands immediate attention from the listener, because Funkadelic throws down on this one. "Lunchmeataphobia" is a real funk/rock groove that will tickle your senses. "Maggot Brain" is simply marvelous, like always, plus it is the live, "...ain't illegal yet" version. This entire CD represents the masterful composition and artistry of George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, and Gary Shider. The lyrics are pure, the melodies are solid, and the beats are simply funky. All Funkateers must have this CD, otherwise their collection is incomplete until they possess it.

Wow. That is one word to describe this cd. It truly is unbelievable that they could make so many good records and help to spawn modern genres, and get virtually no credit. And if you think that nothing from today is influenced by Parliament/Funkadelic, then listen to this entire LP and write a nasty review about me. These guys were, and still are, the bomb. I swear, modern artists have all this technology and are overproduced and still can't come close to touching George and the boys. Whew!! Sorry, had to get that off my chest. This LP starts off with one the best dance songs in history (the title track). This song will have you dancing in no time, even if you can't dance. "Groovalegence" is a reggae inspired song, with some funk sprinkled in. It's pretty good. "Who Says a Funk Band" is definitely a cool track, that could put any modern "rock" band today to shame. And these guys weren't even a rock band. Another highlight is "Cholly." The bass sounds very similar to MOTHERSHIP CONNECTIONS's "Night of the Thumpasaurus Peoples". (That LP is the best funk album, by the way.) Of course, "Maggot Brain," while not originally appearing on this album, contains the best guitar solo of all time. (Mike Hampton plays it on this album, but it was Eddie Hazel who should get the credit for the great lick.) Not to mention, go ahead and get MAGGOT BRAIN cd, which is an early classic by Funkadelic. Getting off track again. So, to sum it up, this is a great LP, and it showcases a variety of sounds Funkadelic could give off. 100% P-Funk... THE BOMB!!

If you thought 60/70's Psychedelic Funk/Soul stopped and started with "Sly & The Family Stone", you are I'm afraid sadly mistaken. Two men (George Clinton & Bootsy Collins), were on a crusade to explore the boundaries of Psychedelic Funk. The unbridled brilliance of `One Nation Under A Groove' sent shockwaves through the Rhythm & Blues, and Soul community, and was to be the bands most critically & commercially successful release, covering everything from Funk-Rock ("Who Say a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?"), to the Social & Political consciousness ("Into You"), & off the wall tongue in cheek lyrical content ("Doo Doo Chasers"). This is a band pushing themselves to their limits musically and acknowledging that bands can be non-conformist and leftfield and still appeal to a mass-market audience (admittedly this was probably due to the perfectly encapsulated ideas and astonishing amount of musical talent within the band), regardless of it's standing then, it's impact now is undiminished, and still remains of truly startling album or ferocious creative power, and a absolute Must Buy for anyone with even a passing interest in Funk Music.

Every Funkateer should own this album. This is perhaps Funkadelic's most commercial album. Much of their earlier material appeared almost experimental in nature, but Clinton and Company hit their stride with this one.

Particularly notable is the live version of "Maggot Brain." Well, maybe I'm a little biased because I was in the Monroe (Louisiana) Civic Center on April 15, 1978. The vibe in the arena was awesome that night, and it comes through on the track.

Quite simply, if you love R&B, this is a MUST HAVE for your collection.

This was too hot to handle if you were not into funk but the ever danceable "One Nation" made you get up. It was a National anthem for "us folks" and gave us some pride in knowing that we are "One Nation Under A Groove" and we had a voice. We had "Lift Every Voice " and now we got "One Nation" what more can you ask for. You have a wonderfully written dance song with the team of george Clinton, Gary Shider and the multi-talented Walter "Junie" Morrisson. "Grooveallegience" is another well done song withe the bass of Rodney "Skeet" Curtis..Another revamp of the funk mob but not noticeable only great music. The are puffing out their chests and saying "Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?"--The "Promental............enemasquad" was a hilarious treat and I am glad that they put the instumental on the album as it is a good music track--They just lacked the backing vocal tracks that was on "Promental". "Maggot Brain' the live version was very good Eddie or Mike I don't remember but excellent all of the same. This was the year for the Parliament/Funkadelic as they put a flag on the earth and then went underwater---I said it before, and I'll say it again, what a funk mob!!!

This albums stand alone above all of the Funkadelic classic lps. One Nation has this antidote to make the "can't dancers" dance. The slick groove accompanied with a banjo, bass keyboards and the percussion. The vocals are so smooth, enough to make you slide across the dance floor. Groovaliegence is also funky with Junie Morrison singing lead. The harmony sounds a lot like the Temptations. The entire albums is kick butt album. It's one of the best all time albums of any artists. If you can get pass the first two songs, (they are so hot you have to keep playing them over and over and over), then you will sure enough dig "Cholly". Promental****backwashpsychosisenemasquad is a song which George tells us our minds need an enema. You Dig? Into you is a slow groove with bass singer Ray Davis taking the lead. Who says a funk band is also a killer groove with a killer lead guitar (Mike Hampton). My favorite is "Lunchmeatphobia" is a danceable tune. "Maggot Brain" live is also a great classic. So get this cd because "It Ain't Illegal Yet".

Some of my favorite moments from the P-Funk library are contained in this classic. One nation, a huge R&B hit is a great song, with great vocals by George. He was at the top of his form. Groovallegiance is a psychedelic attack that will melt your eardrums, the lead guitar by Michael Hampton is reminiscent of Hendrix, but in another dimension, and if that isn't enough to blow your mind, the funk mob hits us full steam ahead with Who says a funk band can't play rock. If that isn't one hell of a song, I don't know what is. Blows me away every time. Promentalsh*tbackwashpsychosis enema squad is a rainy day groove to "clean your sh*t by" The perfect accompaniment to gettin' your buzz on, whatever that may be. George's silky vocals in the background, and a hilarious speech filled with absurdities that will have you laughing until you realize the joke's on you. (instrumental version also included, killer guitars) "Into you" doesn't really fit in, this reminds me of their early seventies stuff, however I love this song, it really showcases the R&B vocal talent of P-Funk. Cholly is another funny song, with the basic groove stolen from The mothership Connection's "Thumpasaurus Rex" It worked out perfectly, adding vocals to this addictive bass line. Lunchmeataphobia is the only song I usually skip, but the live Maggot Brain is good only for the first minute/ninety seconds, it gets old quick. I think P-Funk is kind of the opposite of the Dead, strong in the studio, but sloppy onstage. I guess a lot of bands back in the seventies couldn't save the drugs/alcohol until AFTER the concert. If you like this one, get 1976's "Hardcore Jollies" as well, more great guitar and super vocals.

P-funk is sometimes referred to as Clinton's funk collective, and One Nation Under A Groove is where this concept first becomes undisbutable. He had been running Parlament and Funkadelic for years as two units, but the more they shared musicians and ideas, the less the demarcation made sense. So why not gather the whole caravan together for a masterpeice: Here it is, the whole gang's gift to you.

If you think of it, the process that lead up to One Nation Under A Groove is not unlike what lead up to the Temptations Cloud Nine in 1969. Listen to all of the albums since Maggot Brain, and you'll notice that the music becomes more and more spacious. First to go were the wha whas and acid declorations, then the heavy eccho. A lot of this had to do with the 1960s ending.

But if taking out, also put in. All this new room allowed for more percussion, more back up vocals--sans the eccho--and fatter bass. The music became lean structurally, but a lot more smaller sounds like cowbells, synths. a random vocal overlap here and there, moved within these big song frames. You hear this on the first track, and on "Enima Squad." The music becomes more layered and textured than ever, once the outmoded was removed.

All this does not explain why this is a classic album. The band is extreamly tight, but extremely loose, very controled, but very spontainious. There is a lot of improvasation going on, and listening to the guitar crash into the vocals which bump against the bass and keybords give all this music a sense of jazzy, funky, over-the top celebration. Yet the rythms section is tight, stays to its pattern, and is extremely disciplined The concepts here are great, but it is the way everything jells once the tape is rolling that make One Nation the king of funk albums.

Music was getting more dancible by the day in 1978, when this arrived, and I am sure it would have been effortless for Clinton to get strings sections and pander. Instead, he gave Disco a big plastic finger, and created a music that was MORE driving, MORE foot stomping,
and MORE rump shaking. Yet it rocks with its heavy guitars and political attitude.

There is a reason disco is being sold, song by song, on TimeLife comps to aging yuppie moms, while young people are still listening to this ALBUM. They ask about 70s funk, and we hand them One Nation Under A Groove.

That, my friends, is called a Classic

The first time I heard this was on a D90 cassette with Maggot Brain on the flip. Two contrasting styles from the same band. Maggot Brain is dirty, but this one see's em comin' down after having reached the stars with the Mothership Connection and Parliament. A perfect fusion of both bands (But with no horns), the funk is strong and the themes as whacked out as ever! 'Into You' has that scary baritone, and swings, as does 'The Doo Doo Chasers.' 'Cholly' is pure Bootsy, and 'Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock' is typical cross over style. My favourite is 'Groovealligence.' From the start the bass just rides and the vocals swoop down and raise you up. By the time the solos arrive the bass is playing like lead guitar and smokes!

The last great Parliafunkadelicment thang of the 70's.

This is one of the most important albums for this group. Though many are aware of the title track,( One Nation Under a Groove" THE Funk Anthem) much of the rest of the album has been over looked. The strong blues background, mixed with bits of reggage and soul make this not only a funky dance album, but also a great album to relax to. It is not to be missed.