One Nation Under a Groove
One Nation Under a Groove is the most critically lauded Funkadelic album in their entire discography. It is widely considered one of the best funk albums of all time, and is one of the most influential albums of the 70s. It was the first album to include keyboardist (and frequent songwriter) Junie Morrison, one of the primary causes of the album's brilliance. The album also marks the pinnacle of Michael Hampton's development as a guitarist, which can be followed in the previous albums as he matured from a seventeen-year old prodigy to the disciplined and tightly controlled master of the instrument evident on this album.
It is a very loose concept album (as are most of Funkadelic's), essentially declaring the power of Funk (see P Funk mythology) to do two interconnected things: become an open-minded, happy and goal oriented person, and dance well. That this is the power of Funk had been stated in less than clear terms on previous albums (think of the title to Free Your Mind... And Your Ass Will Follow), but the idea of the connection between the physical and mental liberating power of music had never been so well-stated as on this album.
Track Listing:
- One Nation Under a Groove (George Clinton, Junie Morrison, Garry Shider)
- Grooveallegiance (Clinton, Morrison, Bernie Worrell)
- Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock (Clinton, Morrison, Michael Hampton)
- Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers) (Clinton, Shider, Linda Brown)
- Into You (Clinton, Collins, Morrison)
- Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll) (Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Morrison)
- Lunchmeatophobia (Think!...It Ain't Illegal Yet!) (Clinton, Worrell)
- P.E. Squad/DooDoo Chasers ('Going All-The-Way Off' Instrumental) (Clinton, Shider, Brown)
- Maggot Brain (Live) (Clinton, Eddie Hazel)
- Throbasonic Funkgeetarists: Mike 'Kidd Funkadelic' Hampton, Garry Shider
- Banjo'd Muthaplucker: Bobby Lewis
- Avatarian: Mike Hampton
- Keybo'Dans & Synthezoidees: Walter "Junie" Morrison, Bernie 'DaVinci' Worrell
- Rotofunkic Drum & Percussion-atin' Thumdans: 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, W. 'Junie' Morrison, Cordell Mosson, Dawn Silva, Gary 'Dowop' Shider, Greg Thomas, Jeanette Washington, Debbie Wright
- Rating: A
- Robert Christgau, then of Esquire Magazine
- Five stars out of five
- Rolling Stone magazine
- Rolling Stone magazine
Title of song: One Nation Under a Groove
Artist: Funkadelic
Title of album: One Nation Under a Groove (see above)
Year of first release: 1978
Trivia:
This is a fast-paced, percussion driven song that sets the mood for the rest of the album. The harmonies and infectious, hand-clapping beats have made this song a pop classic.
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Songwriters: George Clinton, Junie Morrison, Garry Shider
Memorable Lyrics:
- "Dance your way/Out of your constrictions"
- "With the groove our/Only guide/We shall all be moved"
- "Ready or not here we come"
- "Ready or Not" is a song by The Delphonics
- "Ready or Not" is a song by The Delphonics
Like the music, the lyrics of this song set the tone for the rest of the album. As the first two quotes above demonstrate, this loose concept album is about the power of Funk (i.e. dance, funk music) and its ability to set one's mind and body free from constrictions.
Personnel:
- Lead Vocals: Garry Shider, Junie Morrison, George Clinton
- Bass Synth: Bernie Worrell
