Parliament - Mothership Connection | Album Review

By: The Ballad - 2/5/2023

Released in December, 1975, Mothership Connection is the fourth album from American funk band, Parliament. It was their first album to be certified gold, and then platinum, and then in 2011, was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. Deemed the definitive Parliament-Funkadelic album, it received high praise from essentially all music publications after it’s release. Revolving around a general outer-space theme, producer and bandleader George Clinton said about it that they “had put black people in situations nobody ever thought they would be in, like the White House. I figured another place you wouldn’t think black people would be was in outer space…” Mothership Connection and many other Parliament-Funkadelic works were retroactively recognized as pioneering the concept of afrofuturism.

1. P. Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)

Arguably one of Parliament’s most recognizable and funkalicious songs; P-Funk acts as somewhat of an introduction to the rest of the album. It isn’t really a traditional song in terms of its structure or songwriting, but that’s what makes it a great intro. It sets the incredibly groovy and fun vibe that carries throughout the rest of the record. We’re greeted by this funky world with a verse inspired from the intro of the TV show “The Outer Limits”: “Good evening, do not attempt to adjust your radio, there is nothing wrong. We have taken control as to bring you this special show. We will return it to you as soon as you are grooving.” The verses are mainly spoken word with a soft groove keeping the beat as they build into the very iconic hook of this song. This structure repeats a few more times until the song fades out on the hook; we then enter the Mothership…

2. Mothership Connection (Star Child)

This song only has two different grooves, but it’s a perfect example of how keeping it simple can be so effective. The bass, drums, and guitar hold down the same bass line for almost the entire six minutes, as the horns and vocals add the ear candy to the mainly spoken word verses. The only time it changes is during the bridges, in which they bring everything down a little bit so that they can build it back up into the verse. The background vocals sing a line in this section referencing the spiritual, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, which was used on the Underground Railroad, implying that the Mothership is also a liberating vessel. This bridge comes back at the very end and is actually how the song ends; fading out into our next track…

3. Unfunky UFO

I didn’t realize it was possible to get robbed in space, but I guess the funk is just too tempting even for aliens! The verses are written from the point of view of the Mothership, while the background vocals are from the perspective of the UFO. This song actually uses sung verses instead of the spoken-word style of the previous two, with gang vocals employed for the hook and bridges. Definitely a more traditional approach to the structure and writing, but still just really fun and catchy all-round; nothing too complicated, just a great song to groove to.

4. Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication (The Bumps Bump)

Say that ^ five times fast. Not exactly sure what it’s supposed to mean, but I doubt George Clinton himself even knows. Lyrics in this song don’t really matter too much, they’re very repetitive, but not in a bad way, they serve more of a purpose as part of the groove rather than to be listened to for their meaning. I really like the way the synth in used in this song. It actually takes the melody line the majority of the time and solos throughout the song. Super creative arrangement, and while it isn’t my favorite song on the album, it definitely isn’t a skip.

5. Handcuffs

Probably the most “traditional” funk song on the album in terms of it’s arrangement. It highlights the vocals with call and response lines in the verses between the lead and chant. Lots of brass accents as well, as the drums and bass hold it down the entire time. Lyrics may nowadays be seen as somewhat questionable, but personally I think they’re so hyperbolic and obviously not serious that they’re pretty funny. A very fun track to groove and sing along to.

6. Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)

The classic! If you don’t recognize any other song on this album at first glance that’s understandable, but you definitely know this one. This song can be seen as sung from the point of view of the aliens that we learned about in “Unfunky UFO”. There aren’t any leads, only gang chants/vocals, as they talk about how the Mothership still needs to give up the funk! There isn’t really any variation in the groove the entire time, but it’s so catchy and infections it doesn’t matter. Arguably the quintessential funk song of all time? I’d say it’s at least worthy of a top 5 spot. Listen to the song, let the funk flow within you…

7. Night Of The Thumpasorus Peoples

Gaga googa, gaga googa, gaga goo ga ga; now repeat that thirty-three times and you have the lyrics to the song, and no that isn’t an exaggeration. We’ve now time traveled back to the caveman era… I guess… or George Clinton was just gone at this point, one of the two. The song mainly focuses on the brass and synth to take the leads, with the chants acting as part of the groove once more. It seems like a ridiculous, yet fitting way to end such a fun album.

Conclusion:

Arguably one of the most important album in the development of funk as a genre; it’s pretty much a must listen at some point in your life. It’s not very long, but every single song is super fun, and will definitely help you improve your interplanetaryfunksmanship. Do yourself a favor and groove out a little bit today!

Rating: 9/10

Favorite Song: Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)