Product Details

• Actors: Parliament Funkadelic
• Directors: Brian Blum
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Shout Factory
• DVD Release Date: October 21, 2008
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001F9FHFI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,067 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

It was Halloween night and Parliament Funkadelic was about to tear the roof off the Houston Summit, ready to bless the crowd with their cosmic brew of interplanetary funk. George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins and the rest of the P-Funk collective were riding the success of their first Top 5 R&B hit, "Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)," a track that had earned them the kind of radio play that would bring the masses out to see them live in a stadium-sized arena. The group was only five dates into the tour when they arrived in Houston, but they were definitely ready to take it to the stage for an out-of-this-world show like no other. Taped on October 31, 1976, these seldom-seen performances at the Houston Summit represent Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic in their '70s prime, in the era of their Mothership Connection and The Clones Of Dr. Funkenstein LPs--a rare opportunity for everyone to get their proper dose of The P-Funk.

Program Listing:
Cosmic Slop
Do That Stuff
Gamin' On Ya!
Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On
Undisco Kidd
Children Of Productions
Mothership Connection (Star Child)
Swing Down Sweet Chariot
Dr. Funkenstein
Comin' Round The Mountain
P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)
Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)
Night Of The Thumpasorus Peoples
Funkin' For Fun

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars by default (I'll explain) December 18, 2008

By Mel Bridgman

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Since this is the only professionally produced live visual concert document of "The P-Funk Mob" at it's absolute peak, I feel compelled to give it a full 5 stars even though the program is relatively brief (85 minutes) and the disc contains no additional features of any kind. The footage looks quite good for 1976, relatively clear and the sound quality (while monaural) is failry clear with only a mild complaint regarding the EQ of various instruments (notably, Gary Shider's virtually silent guitar on "Cosmic Slop")... However, this DVD is bigger than its flaws. It is about seeing a legendary and important musical happening at its prime moment of full realization. The DVD offers a wonderful chance to hear and see live the brilliant Glenn Goins in all of his captivating vocal brilliance (just pay attention to "Funkin' For Fun" and "Mothership Connection", where he calls in the Mothership) ... it is a crime how anonymous this master vocalist is today since his untimely death at 23 from cancer, he sounds amazing here. The band is tight and they play with marvelous precision. The boundless energy and enthusiasm of the ensemble is clear when watching this. The original Parliament singers (Calvin Thomas, Fuzzy Haskins, Ray Davis-- though I don't spot Grady anywhere), Gary Shider complete with signature diaper and pacifier, Mike Hampton in his gigantic green Sombrero, Bernie Worrell with a hat that I can't even describe, and the sexy duo of Debbie Wright and Jeanette Washington... Cordell "Boogie" Mosson (unseen) and Jerome "Big Foot" Brailey... they are all here along with Fred and Maceo and the best horn section around... for fans of Parliament/Funkadelic, this is essential stuff... and for casual observers, this is a time capsule to an important group at it's peak

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars IF YOU HEAR ANY NOISE!!! December 10, 2008

By Lester L. Carter

Format:DVD

This is it. The real thing. The band starts and folk come from everywhere out of teepees, and when Dr Funkenstein and his 'ladies' arrive in the Funkmobile, and the energy is high, the Funkmobile gets stripped. The Mothership arrives and things get even funkier. This is for the true Funkaholic. If you saw the Mothership about this time (1976 - 1979) then it behooves you to pick this up. If you never saw it, and you want to see what real entertainment is, pick this up. If you heare any noise........

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Re-issue of Houston Summit DVD November 24, 2008

By Michael Dennis

Format:DVD

This is Shout Factory's Reissue of the previously oop Parliament-Funkadelic Live at the Houston Summit 1976 DVD. There are no extra bonuses. So far, while there are lots of bootleg Funkadelic shows to be found, this is the only official release. If you own it already, you may wish to skip. If not, what are you waiting for at this price?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars How To View This Properly (Widescreen TV Needed)...... June 23, 2012

By John H. McCarthy

Format:DVD

There have been numerous complaints about the video of this DVD presentation (NOT the musical content). Most concern poor framing, close-ups, a dearth of wide shots, etc. If you have a Widescreen TV you can eliminate these issues and make the picture much more enticing. Many lower-budget films are filmed using a standard, 1.37:1 frame. Then a "matte" is used to create a widescreen effect. In this process, the top and bottom of a standard frame are masked or, matted out, with black bars. Then the frame within the full frame is enlarged to fill the screen when projected in a theater. Thus, in "masked widescreen," an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 is created by matting out the top and bottom of a standard 1.37:1 frame. If the image was matted during the filming process it is called a "hard matte". If the image was filmed full frame, a projectionist is relied upon to matte out the top and bottom in the theater. This procedure is known as a "soft matte." The director composes the film shots with a matte in place, so when the film is shown without a matte it does not represent the intent of the filmmaker. Many DVD's of films produced using this technique are wrongly released in standard frame. The producers either don't realize the matting is needed, or opt to save money by not paying extra to have the film matted during the telecine transfer process (film to video). If you have a Widescreen TV, there is a way to correct this. Use the lowest ZOOM function setting (usually ZOOM 1, NOT the 16x9 setting), and you will be able to view this concert film as it was obviously intended. Anyone who already viewed this will immediately notice a vast improvement in composition and framing. It magically makes what looked like an amateur production a more professional one.... Hope this helps (thanx to Wikipedia)......

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Rare Chance To See Vintage P-Funk December 23, 2008

By Bryan A. Pfleeger VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

In 1976 the full on rock and roll spectacle was new. The full on funk and roll spectacle was almost unheard of at least until the Mothership landed. George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic were only five dates into the P-Funk Earth Tour when the Mothership Connection rolled into the Houston Summit on Halloween night in 1976.

This DVD is a record of that show. Although the video quality is a little muddy one can imagine Funkadelic at its best. The music, the costumes, and the Mothership are all present. Clinton acts as a ringmaster for a group that sometines numbers in the dozens. Highlights include Glen Goins calling of the Mothership and Swing Down Sweet Chariot, George in an edited Dr. Funkenstein, Bring the Funk and a finale of the Funkin for Fun featuring Bootsy Collins and the Sly Stone Band.

If you are looking for a document of where the funk began check this one out.