Customer Reviews

Tales of Kidd Funkadelic

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This was one of the first albums that I ever bought

with my allowance, at age 12, for a whopping $5.99,

in the spring of 1976! ( It was the best of times!)

Actually, it was this album, Parliament's

"The Clones Of Dr. Funkenstein", and

Earth, Wind & Fire's "Gratitude"...all now classics!

I was already aware of Parliament / Funkadelic's previous works

from both my mother and older cousins who were all in their

20's then, and grooving to all this good funky music big time!

The main thing about Funkadelic was the "I-Don't-Give-A-Funk!!"

attitude of their music, the outlandish and cartoonish artwork

of their album covers from 1973's "Cosmic Slop" forward,

which were like little cryptic & naughty comic books to my

12 yr old mind. I remember putting it on the record player,

sitting in my favorite spot, which was on the big floor

pillows between the 4 large "quadraphonic" speakers,

and the opening track "Butt-To-Buttrescucitation" blew out

of them like a sonic tsunami!

I was offically a disciple of the P-Funk from that moment on! (-:

Now I know that alot of people don't get what the whole P-Funk

thing was about today, but you can't look & listen through

2009 eyes and ears. You have to understand the times---

Glam rock, elaborate stage extravaganzas, drugs, a free

spirited & open-minded young society that had tired of the

flower power of the late 60's, but was still rife with

rebellion, and game to breakdown social morays!

Though the concepts and the lyrics seem really out there

and silly, there was definitely a message within the madness!

P-Funk was full of symbolism, had it's own slangs and

catch phrases, and a real parallel ethos!

(See P-Funk Mythology) (Also Google "The Motherpage")

It was all based on the concept of black aliens of a higher

funky consciousness, who had returned to the earth ions later

to find it grooveless, uninspired, unoriginal, and most

heinously, unfunky!! Their mission was to raise the mindstate

of mankind and give them true freedom of mind, spirit,

and body through the booty-shakin' hum-drum breakin' force

of the HOLY P----Funk that is! (-:

You can't think in a linear stagnated way and understand

what the P-Funk was about!--You had to free your mind,

and let your azz follow suit!

Anywayz, back to the music...the highlights of this album were:

"Butt-To-Butt"--for it's sheer weirdness and that sick guitar

solo towards the end. which I don't know if it's the late

Eddie Hazel, Michael Hampton, or Ron Brykowski

(an unsung white member of the early funk mob!)

who was playing it, but whomever it was, they were killing it!

"Let's Take It To The People"--Just a groovy little clavinet & guitar

driven ditty that's short and sweet. I like the vocal arrangement and

overall attitude of the song, though it's quite nonsensical.

"Undisco Kidd" was just BAAADDD!!--Like the song says!

So dang funky with Bootsy bubblin' and thumpin' on his

mutron spacebass, Bernie "Da Vinci" Worrell creating whole

new soundscapes on synthesizers and piano that were then unheard of!

(Dr. Dre would capitalize off of them big time 20 yrs later!),

and ol' George signifying and recanting his tale of

"The Kidd V.S. The Freaky Little Groovy From The Funky Side Of Town"

in his cool laid back pre-hip hop era style!

"Take Your Dead Ass Home" gets a mention not for it's music,

but for it's rawkus chorus, which was a regular chant at P-Funk

shows, and it's naughty nursery rhyme style limericks

"There once was a man from Peru!"...etc.

Sounds harmless and silly by today's profane & in-your-face

standards, but it was taboo wicked stuff to my

12 yr old ears back then! (-:

"I'm Never Gonna Tell It" was an unusual approach,

chordally and vocally for a love song with a soulful & funky edge.

P-Funk wasn't so much into the schmaltzy syrupy romantic ballads

of the time, so they had to funk them up to make it fit

within their concept.

"Tales Of Kidd Funkadelic" was a 12 minute and 56 minute

experimental synthesizer opus by one of the unsung innovators

and geniuses of modern popular music!

Bernie "Da Vinci" "The Insurance Man For The Funk" Worrell

was well versed in the classical, jazz, R&B and rock idioms

on keyboards since the age of 5, when he composed his own

first concerto! Though the keyboard sounds sound outdated

by today's standards, remember this was all analogue stuff!--

So Bernie was literally creating his own sounds that nobody

else was using at that time, and pushing the envelope for

what the synthesizer could do!--Creating a language for pop,

rock, alternative, techno, and everything that came after it!

Just smoke you a good joint or take you a few sips of a

good drink, turn this up in your headphones or your speakers

and take the journey! (Go on!--Don't be scuuurrrd!)

Sparse, ominous, weird vocals, congas...POST MODERN TRIBALISM!!

Last but not least, is still a favorite of mine...

"How Do You View Yeaw?" is bascially metaphysical theory

in a slow sinewy funky grooved out 3 minute & 39 second sermon!

(Hear "LIBERATION" by Outkast, and you'll see where they got

the vibe of that song from!)

"Have You Ever Known Someone Who Takes Personal The Rain?"

"Sees His Glass Half-Empty, Rather Than Half-Full?"

Basically, how you see yourself inside manifests itself

in the result of your life's experiences!--FUNK IS ZEN!!

Bootsy thumpin', Bernie whizzin', the KF girls sounding like

space sirens, George and the boys musin' together in key!

---Fade Out---

This album sounds great digitally remastered, and is essential

if you are just discovering what the whole P-Funk Movement

was about and collecting crucial albums in it's

evolutionary development. Don't let the unfunky, stodgy,

Placebo Syndrome-effected hum-drums turn you from your path!

Discover the hidden fun, smokin' groove, and subliminal brilliance

that was THE PARLIAFUNKADELICMENT THANG!! Funk On Y'all!

"Tales of Kidd Funkadelic" may not be the best Funkadelic album, but it is certainly the nastiest. With songs like "Butt-To-Buttresuscitation" and "Take Your Dead Ass Home" you get the idea that the parental advisory label is appropriate here. But all the sexual innuendo fits the music to a T, and is hilarious at times as only George Clinton can be. "Undisco Kidd," for my money, is one of the best Funkadelic compositions of all time. "Tales" is not quite on par with its companion Parliament release from 1976, "Clones of Dr. Funkenstein," but all classic P-Funk is worth getting.

you want weird pasychedelic beats come here every song on here is a banger if you like funkadelic that is the first song has michael hampton going stupid on lead guitar one of his best underrated solos, undisco kidd is hilariuos bernie worrell makes the strangest keyboard noises ever the title is the strangest tune on the album and one of the weirdest p funk songs in history bernie does a 15 minute workout with george and the crew hollering strange souinds legend has it that jessica cleaves was so terrified of the music she ran away shouting this is the devil. lastly is my favorite cut on the album how do you view you another weird p funk track the vocals are strange but it's p funk and bernie does some strange stuff too funkadelic fans should buy this yesterday.

Tales of the kidd has become one of my favorite Funkadelic albums. Sure its got some absolutely bizarre moments, but come on now! George Clinton was always looking for new ways to split your brain in half, and if he doesn't get you on this production with the 14 minute Bernie Worrell piece (the title track- starts off sounding like a Nintendo game, but ends with some demonic alley catting and insanity) he will definately deliver with the lyrics for TAKE YOUR DEAD ACE HOME or UNDISCO KIDD. Hillarity! There once was a man from Peru... Bernies keys really get a chance to shine in all three of these grooves.

This album is compiled of a bunch of rejects from Warner Bros. that Clinton gave to Westbound to fill obligations to the contract. The Warner album came out slightly before this one, and is pretty good, but more on the pop scale of things. The westbound release is a lot more adventurous, dirty, and over all a good time, and in my opinion a much better dig for your earholes. NEVER GONNA TELL IT sounds like a cheesy reggae ripoff at first, but repeated listens will uncover tons of subtle details and brilliance behind this track. HOW DO YEAW VIEW YOU is a great one. The primitive seventies rap offs between Clinton and the chick in Undisco, mixed with the wails at the end of that bit make the tune quickly addictive, even if the production doesn't match up to par with other P-Funk of this era. The song was an R&B smash anyways. The opening pair of tracks are weird and experimental, but they jam out pretty quickly. SO... bottom line. Put your pee-pee back in your pants kid and grab this disc. It's evil. But it's only rock and roll. Put your foot on it!

This was one funky album by the Funkmaster Mr. Clinton and his funk croonies. I love the "Undisco Kidd and I'm Never Gonna Tell It". Those are my two favorite tracks on the whole album. I copped this album on cd some 14 years ago when it was first released on compact disc along with the other Funkadelic titles. Definitely a good cd to have in one's collection.

This stuff is intergalactic funk from planet Ziberon. Truly otherworldy. Bernie Worrel must have been possessed by Sun Ra on this album. The only other thing more psychotic about this album's music are the little poems and ramblings written all over the cover. Just plain crazy. Indispensable.

The reason why this LP isn't as "up-to-snuff" as the previous Funkadelic Westbound albums is because this LP is basically made up of leftover tracks from the 'Let's Take It To The Stage' recording sessions. By 1976 (when this LP came out), Funkadelic had moved to the Warner Brothers label, and recorded the 'Hardcore Jollies' LP. Westbound went into the vaults and created this album with leftover material that didn't make it onto the 'Let's Take It To The Stage' LP (Westbound also did this with leftover Ohio Players material, creating the 'Climax' and 'Rattlesnake' LP's). But, being that Funkadelic's music is so unique and ahead of it's time, the album was still good. In fact, 'Tales Of Kidd Funkadelic' did better on the charts than 'Hardcore Jollies'. "Undisco Kidd" and "Take Your Dead Ass Home" even went on to become standards at P-Funk concerts. All-in-all, I'd say that Westbound did a pretty good job in putting this LP together. Plus, since this was the last LP of the Westbound era, it definitely belongs in your collection.

"Tales of Kidd Funkadelic" is often written off an a
very unimportant album-NOT TRUE!,
"Let's Take It To The People" and the Parliament-like "Undisco
Kid' are Funkadelic CLASSICS not to be missed.And along with the
moody electronica of Bernie Worrels tital intrumental and the
deeply grooving closer "How Do You View You" this really can't be
missed by any son or daughter or hopeful of the P!

Can't add anything to that which has been already said about the album. For me, the 14-minute "Tales of Kidd Funkadelic" says it all. Now it's remastered? Even better. Five stars for George Clinton and crew...

Can someone please explain to me why the best songs on here are too short,while the most annoying songs-Take Your Dead Ass Home & the title track are too long?

I can listen to other Funkadelic albums like Maggot Brain or One Nation Under A Groove all the way through without a need to skip,but not this one.

And the fact that Let's Take It To The People is less than 2 minutes is a crime!