363. Parliament, "The Mothership Connection"

 


Here's my two-word review of this album: Fuck and Yes.  Undoubtedly one of the foundational stones of funk, this concept album continues to reverberate today.  Plus, it's just fucking fun as hell.  If your head isn't bobbing halfway through the first song, "P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)," you might be a dead shell of a husk of what was once a person.

These songs are so deeply woven not just into African-American culture, but American culture writ large, that if you haven't listened to this in a while, or at all, you'll be surprised by how much you recognize.  I'll bet you've heard that first song, and the second, "Mothership Connection (Star Child)," is probably instantly recognizable, if for no other reason than Dr. Dre sampled it heavily for "Let It Ride" off The Chronic.  And then you get to "Give Up the Funk," Parliament's first gold single.  It will still remain in your head for the rest of the day, so if you have plans today, hope you're happy with that song going along with you.

In 2011, this record was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, joining such important documents as The Velvet Undergroud and Nico and Ronald Reagan Audio Broadcasts.  You can only throw one of these three on at a party and guarantee people will start dancing.

Does this album deserve to be in the Top 500? As I said, Fuck and Yes.

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