Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome

Parliament

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 21, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1977
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B000001FCK
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #43,575 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

On this follow-up to Mothership Connection, George Clinton uncharacteristically sticks to the same funk-disco formula. Unlike most sequels, however, this 1977 work is nearly as compelling as the original. Check your brain at the door while Clinton feeds you infectious dance rhythms and irreverent lyrics that fuse anthemic chants with bizarre fairy tales and stream-of-consciousness ramblings. On "Wizard of Finance," Parliament returns to melodic 1960s soul while Clinton's hysterical lyrics are backed by soulful doowop-style vocals. "Flash Light" became a huge dance-floor hit but actually pales in comparison to the rest of the grooves. With talents including Bernie Worrell, Maceo Parker, and Fred Wesley on board, it's no wonder the profunk forces defeat the antifunk contingent. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: PARLIAMENT
Title: FUNKENTELECHY VS. PLACEBO SYND
Street Release Date: 03/13/1990
Domestic
Genre: SOUL/R & B

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the one that got me, February 15, 2006

By	Patrick R. Walz "slyscape" (Wuerzburg, Germany) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In 1983, at 11 years old, music was already a major part of my life. In Jr. High School everyone was either listening to Culture Club, Huey Lewis, or Lionel Richie, while I was in the dusty stacks pulling stuff like U-Roy, Fatback Band and Trouble Funk from my childhood Mecca, the KLAATU record shop in Heidelberg, Germany.

Then one day at the Library (of all places), I uncovered the craziest album I'd ever seen or heard; whacked-out pimpadelic alien motherfletchers brandishing Bop Guns at Sir Nose (D'Void of Funk? What the Fu-?). Man, I had no idea I was about to be recruited to be a soldier in the Army for Uncle Jam.

But there it was, from the massive horns, to the heart puncturing bass, building up and breaking down all the preconcieved notions I had about music. Now, 23-years later, we all know that this is one of the definitive dance records, so I won't even bother to go into tracks like Bop-Gun and Flashlight, because if you're here looking this album up, you've probably already heard those tracks. "Wizard of Finance", my second favorite track, feels like it jumped over from a Funkadelic album, and no matter where you are, or what you're doing, you MUST sing along when it comes on.

But, through all the dance-able tracks, the one that really got me was that swampy groove of "Placebo Syndrome". This, to me, was the hamhock in my cornflakes. This was the template that I would later require of all my "lay-back, smoke-some-sheeba and ut-the-headphones-on-ten" jams like Bootsy's "Sacred Flower" & "I'd Rather Be With You", or Funkadelic's "I'll Stay" and "Maggot Brain". The sweet Parlet harmony crossed with the rasp of Gary and that Synth whine still strikes a chord with me.

So there you have it, when it comes to the party, there is none better, but when the party's over, and your girl's passed out next to you, put on the phones and groove to Placebo one last time before drifting off to visit the Mother Ship.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Funk Magic, March 20, 2006

By	littlewing "littlewing1430" (Mumbai India) - See all my reviews

Parliament's superlative follow up to The Mothership Connection.

The finest blend of funk, rock & dance music, at a time when James Brown was going through a dry period and Sly had pimped himself out.

Clinton, Collins, Worrell & Co. were truly unsung magicians, who deserved a lot more publicity then they received through their career. They are hardly known outside the US, UK and Australia. Yet they are probably the biggest influence on rap and hip-hop music.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Album Completely Blew Me Away, January 1, 2001

By	M. Scagnelli (Brandon, Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have owned Parliament's Mothership Connection for a long time. I have always said that it was the greatest funk album of all time. When I got Funkentelechy, I was truly blown away. This album is so good, that I think it actually passes Mothership Connecetion as the ultimate Funk album and Parliament's best album. Flashlight is really a great song, but my favorite on the album is the incredible Bob Gun. All the songs are great and pure funk. Get this album.