Funkadelic – One Nation Under A Groove

Parliament Funkadelic live

One nation under a groove
Gettin’ down just for the funk of it
One nation and we’re on the move
Nothin’ can stop us now

© 1978 Funkadelic

Introduction

On September 22nd, 1978, Funkadelic released its tenth album. Nowadays One Nation Under A Groove is regarded as one of the best funk albums of all time and as one of the (many) P-Funk classics.

Funkadelic – Walter ‘Junie’ Morrison & Bernie Worrell – Jaap Eden Hal Amsterdam 12/08/1978

On January 10th, 1978, the Parliament single Flash Light was released. A highly influential song that showed the significance of Parliament. George Clinton’s and his P-Funk circus’ creativity knew no boundaries.

Parliament was a funk group that had signed a deal with Casablanca Records, and Funkadelic was a more experimental group that had a deal with Westbound/Warner Bros. Records. Both groups released albums independently, oftentimes several per year (!). The group of people that made those records were largely the same. Keyboard players Bernie Worrell and Walter ‘Junie’ Morrison had become important players within both groups and also play a huge role on One Nation Under A Groove.

One Nation Under A Groove

Funkadelic – One Nation Under A Groove

Largely performed at the United Sound Studio in Detroit, Michigan, One Nation Under A Groove is not only Funkadelic’s most successful album, it is also valued the highest, internationally as well. The album is about the strength of the funk and the way it brings together two important things: becoming an open, happy and conscious human being and being a good dancer.

Opening song One Nation Under A Groove was released as a single and, to this day, is Funkadelic’s greatest hit, selling over 1 million copies. To dance is the way to finding freedom. Free your mind and your ass will follow, in reverse.

Groovallegiance is about the fact that mankind should pledge groovallegiance to the funk in the United Funk Of Funkadelica. Great song.

The third song is about Funkadelic the band. It embodies Clinton’s philosophy behind the band: Who Says A Funk Band Can’t Play Rock?!. Musically, the song is a mix between funk and rock. The song addresses the prejudicial thought that a funk band should be confined to playing funk. In the United States this principle was everyday life, as opposed to Europe, where radio wasn’t segregated, as it was (and still is) in the United States. Once categorized, crossing over to other categories (and audiences) was nearly impossible.

Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers) is a laidback swinging song with spoken lyrics:

The world is a toll-free toilet
Our mouths neurological assholes
And psychologically speaking
We’re in a state of mental diarrhea

© 1978 Funkadelic

Into You is a ballad sung by Ray Davis, a rare feat within Funkadelic’s body of work.

The closing Cholly (Funk Getting Ready To Roll!) is about a man, named Cholly, who likes music (I dug jazz, I dug rock, anything with a swing) and, thanks to his friends, realizes there is more, so much more: funk!

I would dance, I would sing, I would get lost in my dreams
I would fly, but never too high, cause my funk deserted me
Now that the door is open wide, and all my funk just can’t hide
With the syndrome left behind, no, my funk just can’t hide

© 1978 Funkadelic

Glorious funk with great heavy guitar work.

The EP enclosed with the album contains a rock song with rough guitar playing in the song Lunchmeataphobia. The instrumental version of Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers) doesn’t add much. The Maggot Brain live version is fantastic. Even if Eddie Hazel doesn’t play, the song is impressive.

George Clinton – Amsterdam 78

Review

Often regarded as Funkadelic’s greatest album, it is also their most popular and best sold album. The album is also credited as being extremely important and influential to the later “black rock” movement. The song Who Says A Funk Band Can’t Play Rock?! in particular, was liberating to a lot of musicians. And with One Nation Under A Groove, Groovallegiance and Cholly, another three funk classics were added to the already rich P-Funk discography.

Songs album

The album contains the following songs:

Songs EP

The American album contained a 7″ EP. In Europe it was a 12″ EP with one extra song: an extended version of the song One Nation Under A Groove.

Funkadelic – One Nation Under A Groove (single)

Funkadelic Main Invasion Force

• Throbbasonic Funkgeetarists: Mike ‘Kidd Funkadelic’ Hampton, Gary Shider
• Banjo’d Muthaplucker: Bobby Lewis
• Avatarian: Mike Hampton
• Keybo’ Dans & Synthezoidees: Bernie ‘DaVinci’ Worrell, Walter ‘Junie’ Morrison
• Rotofunkie Drum & Percussionatin’ Thumpdans: Jerome Brailey, W. Bootsy Collins, Larry Fratangelo, Tyrone Lampkin
• Bass Thumpasaurians: William ‘Bootsy’ Collins, Rodney “Skeet” Curtis, Cordell ‘Boogie’ Mosson
• Funkadelic Blamgusta Vocaloids (Voices For Da Nation!): George Clinton, Raymond (Stingray) Davis, Ron Ford, Mallia Franklin, Lynn Mabry, Walter ‘Junie’ Morrison, Cordell Mosson, Dawn Silva, Gary “Dowop” Shider, Greg Thomas, Jeanette Washington, Debbie Wright

In closing

What do you think of One Nation Under A Groove? Let me know!