The album cover is very important, yet often overlooked. A powerful album cover can attract the attention of consumers, as well as support the concept of an album. These are two of my favorite covers, interesting to see how Redman was influenced by a Funkadelic record…
ORIGINAL:
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain album cover, circa 1971.
INFLUENCED:
Redman – Dare Iz A Darkside album cover, circa 1994.
Another Soul Train video for you all to check out! The dancing is incredible, the afros are incredible, the sense of style is incredible! Enjoy these talented individuals dancing to the O’Jays “Love Train”…and be sure to note that Re-Run from What’s Happening gets it in on this one…
Artist: Parliament
Title: Mothership Connection
Year: 1975
Label: Casablanca
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0
Review
I grew up on Parliament, my father just-so-happened to be a major collector of their music, so I inherited the complete stash of Parliament, and Funkadelic records. That’s a lot of great music! But here I chose to highlight one of my favorites, Mothership Connection. This is pure funk at its finest, interpreted and delivered THOROUGHLY by George Clinton and his band, Parliament. I would have to say that this is one of their most consistent and conceptual LP’s. Creative lyrics (as always), but also a very crisp and considered sound, bottom line this record is funky. PERIOD.
Check out the sound!
Mothership Connection
Give Up The Funk
P Funk
Night Of The Thumpasorus Peoples
Design
Absolutely love this cover, two thumbs up! This is a concept album, and the cover works well with the whole idea. The Parliament logo owns the top of the space, and it’s a nice logo, so the designer used that to their advantage to ground the composition. Then the addition of George Clinton himself, riding on the Mothership in space is just the icing on the cake, as corny as it may look to some, most have to appreciate this dope iconic graphic centering the cover. Classic, another favorite…
Video
This is a video of one of the most landmark Parliament concerts of ALL-TIME, their live concert in Houston back in 1976. They later used this concert to release the classic Parliament Live LP. George Clinton actually landed the mothership at this show, that had to be INCREDIBLE to witness! I respect these muscians, their showmanship was as great as their music. I repeat, this dude LANDED THE MOTHERSHIP, watch the whole vid.
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Additional info on Parliament
First off I want to say R.I.P. to Baatin of Slum Village, who passed away two weeks ago. My prayers go out to his family and friends. Here is a video of a new Slum Village cut in which Baatin has reunited with the group for the first time since 2002! This hits any Slum Village fan in the heart (including myself). He shines bright in this joint! The video is unique in itself as well, music produced by Karriem Riggins. Enjoy…
Cover Art + Mixed by Darien Victor Birks of Flwrpt
The Message
I never did a pure funk mix…but all summer I have been digging hard for funk records, funk breaks, etc. I came up on some pretty dope music (in addition to some stuff I already had) and naturally I took that inspiration to put together the latest mix…Funk For The Folks. I hope you all enjoy…
Check out the sound!
OR
Listen Now:
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Tracklisting:
The Bar-Kays – Son of Shaft
The Meters – The Same Old Thing
The Mohawks – The Champ
Syd Dale – Base Line
Rufus Thomas – The Breakdown Pt.2
The Dynamic Corvettes – Funky Music Is The Thing
The Jackson 5 – It’s Great To be Here
The Soul Searchers – Ashley’s Roach Clip
Bad Bascombe – Black Grass
The Bar-Kays – Sang and Dance
Kool and the Gang – NT
James Brown – Talkin’ Loud & Sayin’ Nothin’
Kool and the Gang – Open Sesame
Earth, Wind & Fire – Monet of Truth
B.T. Express – Once You Get It
The Fatback Band – Street Dance
Lyn Collins – Think (About It)
Herman Kelly & Life – Dance to the Drummer’s Beat
The Soul Searchers – Funk for the Folks
Kool and the Gang – Let the Music Take Your Mind
James Brown – I’m A Greedy Man
Parliament – Mothership Connection (Star Child)
Joe Quartermain – Get Down Baby
The Soul Searchers – 1993
Curtis Mayfield – Check Out Your Mind (Live)
James Brown – Funky Drummer
James Brown – Soul Power
Rufus Thomas – Itch and Scratch Pt.2
Matata – Talkin’ Talkin’
Manu Dibango – African Battle
Rob – Make It Fast, Make It Slow
James Brown – Hot Pants
Bobby Byrd – Hot Pants (I’m Coming)
Lightnin’ Rod – Sport
Kool and the Gang – Message in the Music
Wood, Brass & Steel – Fankanova
Tyrone Thomas & The Whole Darn Family – Fly Away Love Bird
Also, be sure to check out my other mixes here.
Peace.
Artist: Donald Byrd
Title: Places And Spaces
Year: 1975
Label: Blue Note
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 4.0/5.0
Review
Places And Spaces is one of Donald Byrd’s best albums. Although during the time of its release (1975), some of his followers were not happy with this commercial attempt. They were used to traditional jazz from Byrd. However, the Mizell Brothers produced this album to a T…it’s waaaay ahead of its time! This record has a really dreamy sound to it, probably because of the spacey vocals, but it helps add to the perfected laying technique that the Mizell brothers are known for. Beautiful arrangements on this one, check it out…
Check out the sound!
Wind Parade
(Fallin’ Like) Dominoes
You And Music
Design
This is a really nice photographic album cover. Very strong in it’s use of the grid, along with the repeated imagery paced with random shots of the sky. The black backdrop helps to ground this piece as a whole, visually keeps it all together. I’m on the fence about the vertical type treatment, as well as it being repeated…but I do like the use of a very thin typeface, helps keep the pictures as the focal point. (Not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing)…
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Additional info on Donald Byrd
The Message
A hip-hop classic, possibly one of the top 10 singles in hip-hop history, and easily one of the hottest beats ever produced…PERIOD. But in Flipped, I like to focus on the original track that gave the producer the inspiration to make a banger! Enjoy this gem…
Check it out…
Original:
Flipped:
Peace.
Flipped v12.0
The Message
This track was sampled by one of my favorite producers of all time, for one of my favorite emcees! He took the tension-release on this one, looped it up, added drums and created one of those totally 1997 hip-hop classics. Enjoy this one…
Check it out…
Original:
Flipped:
Peace.