Clones of Dr. Funkenstein [LP]

Parliament: Garry Shider, Glen Goins (vocals, guitar); William "Bootsy" Collins (vocals, bass, drums); George Clinton, Calvin Simon, Fuzzy Haskins, Raymond Davis, Grady Thomas (vocals); Michael Hampton (guitar); Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Rick Gardner, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker (horns); Bernie Worrell (keyboards, synthesizers); Cordell Mosson (bass); Jerome Brailey, Gary "Mudbone" Cooper (drums, percussion); Debbie Edwards, Taka Kahn (background vocals).
Recorded at United Sound, Detroit, Michigan & Hollywood Sound, Hollywood, California.
Following closely on the heels of MOTHERSHIP CONNECTION, the group's undisputed high-water mark, THE CLONES OF DR. FUNKENSTEIN furthers George Clinton's conceptual and musical master plan to funkify the world. THE CLONES unravels the Funk Mob's cosmology and populates it with a cast of mythological characters that includes Starchild (introduced on MOTHERSHIP) and the Funk overlord himself, Dr. Funkenstein. By this album, Parliament have almost completely moved away from the guitar-dominated psychedelic soul of their early '70s output and entrenched themselves in the realm of lighter, horn and keyboard-driven experimental dance music.
While weakened by over-conceptualization and Parliament's sometimes too-goofy sense of humor--qualities that would seriously mar the group's later output--this disc is nonetheless full of freaky, utterly original jam-formula compositions bolstered by outstanding musicianship. "Do That Stuff" and "I've Been Watching You" are highlights. Though old school P-Funk fans may see this record as Parliament's bid for the commercial mainstream, it is still impossible to deny the unique, exuberant music within.