One nation under a groove

[Thurisarz]

I just got this as my first Funkadelic album and i like it alot! There are several people playing bass on the album and i wonder if anyone knows who plays on which song? According to the info i got, Rodney "Skeet" Curtis, Cordell "Boogie" Mosson and William "Bootsy" Collins is handling the bass on the album.

I also want to know what gear was used by them perticulary on this record. Basses, amps, effects etc. Pick/fingers?

[lbanks]

Originally Posted by Thurisarz

I just got this as my first Funkadelic album and i like it alot! There are several people playing bass on the album and i wonder if anyone knows who plays on which song? According to the info i got, Rodney "Skeet" Curtis, Cordell "Boogie" Mosson and William "Bootsy" Collins is handling the bass on the album.

I also want to know what gear was used by them perticulary on this record. Basses, amps, effects etc. Pick/fingers?

No picks. Probably Jazzes and P-basses, probably Direct Injection or Ampeg B-115 in studio; Acoustic 360's on live cuts. Mutrons for everybody and maybe a random Dr. Q for effects. Just a guess, but its the stuff I saw when I ran into them. Bootsy had a white fur covered Jazz at that time.

[905]

I'm willing to bet $0.2 on Bootsy using his special star-shaped bass with grievous amounts of bling on it.
Other than that, I'm at a loss.

[Prahainspring]

Rodney Curtis can be heard on "Groove Allegiance" funkifying the track with that distinct Alembic tone. In his later years he started playing a red Fender Jazz bass but on that CD, that's the Alembic.

Here's a Youtube Link of Skeet:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=z_1lxw2AcB4

He's my favorite Funkadelic bassist, he had chops but he never betrayed the Funk during his solos.

[Enden]

Congrats on getting the record.


It's my second favorite Funkadelic album.

[markjazzbassist]

great album. love the bass. my favorite songs on there are, Into You and, Who Says A Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!

[Woodchuck]

I think Bootsy does some drum work on this disc.

[Bruce Lindfield]

A quick google gets you this - see under "song specific personnel" for who played bass on what :

"One Nation Under A Groove (1978)


Track Listing:

One Nation Under a Groove
{G Clinton, G Shider, Walter Morrison} 7:28 lyrics
Grooveallegiance
{G Clinton, W Morrison, B Worrell} 6:59 lyrics
Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?
{G Clinton, W Morrison, Michael Hampton} 6:17 lyrics
Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers)
{G Clinton, Garry Shider, Linda Brown} 10:44 lyrics
Into You
{G Clinton, W Collins, W Morrison} 5:41 lyrics
Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll)
{W Collins, W Morrison, G Clinton} 4:25 lyrics
Lunchmeatophobia (Think!...It Ain't Illegal Yet!)
{G Clinton, B Worrell} 4:11
P.E. Squad/DooDoo Chasers ("Going All-The-Way Off" Instrumental)
{G Clinton, G Shider, L Brown} 4:17
Maggot Brain (Live)
{G Clinton, Eddie Hazel} 8:28


Personnel ("Funkadelic Main Invasion Force"):

Throbasonic Funkgeetarists: Gary Shider, Mike 'Kidd Funkadelic' Hampton
Banjo'd Muthaplucker: Bobby Lewis
Avatarian: Mike Hampton
Keybo'Dans & Synthezoidees: Bernie 'DaVinci' Worrell & Walter 'Junie' Morrison
Rotofunkic Drum & Percussion-atin' Thumdans: Tyrone Lampkin,
W. Bootsy Collins, Jerome Brailey & Larry Fratangelo
Bass Thumpasaurians: Cordell 'Boogie' Mosson, Rodney 'Skeet' Curtis,
William 'Bootsy' Collins
Funkadelic Blamgusta Vocaloids (Voices For Da Nation!):
Raymond (Stingray) Davis, Lynn Mabry, Ron Ford, Dawn Silva, Debbie Wright,
Gary 'Dowop' Shider, Jeanette Washington, Mallia Franklin,
W. 'Junie' Morrison, Cordell Mosson, George Clinton & Greg Thomas

Song-Specific Personnel:

"One Nation"
Lead Vocals: Garry Shider, Junie Morrison, George Clinton
Bass Synth: Bernie Worrell

"Grooveallegiance"
Lead Vocals: Junie Morrison
Bass: Rodney 'Skeet' Curtis

"Who Says A Funk Band"
Lead Vocals: Junie Morrison
Bass: Rodney 'Skeet' Curtis

"PE Squad"
Lead Vocals: George Clinton
Bass: Cordell 'Boogie' Mosson

"Into You"
Lead Vocals: Ray Davis, Junie Morrison, Ron Ford
Bass: Bootsy Collins

"Cholly"
Lead Vocals: Garry Shider
Bass: Bootsy Collins

"Lunchmeatophobia"
Bass: Cordell 'Boogie' Mosson

Rating: GZ ***** RC ***** MM *****


Comments:
RC: One Nation may be the best album of the last twenty years. The addition of keyboardist and songwriting mad genius Junie Morrison reinvigorated Funkadelic, as he cowrote almost every cut. His presence is indelibly stamped on this album, regarded by many as Funkadelic's greatest. Michael Hampton also shows his full maturity as Funkadelic's chief guitarist, shining on all-out guitar assaults ("Who Says A Funk Band...") to more delicate, almost jazzy work ("Grooveallegiance"). The album is a smorgasborg of different styles, with dance floor workouts, peerless funky rock, bizarre freakouts, grinding instrumentals, and much more. It starts off with #1 hit "One Nation", a somewhat commercial but still superb dance classic. It combines great singing with clever polyrhythms. The jazzy, subtle "Grooveallegiance" follows, with a brilliant, understated Hampton solo intermeshing with new bassist Rodney "Skeet" Curtis' smooth grooves and Junie's funky keyboards. "Who Says A Funk Band..." acts as a kick-in-the- ass rocker, with clever lyrics hidden in the guitar-propelled stew. The utterly inexplicable Funkadelic take on all things scatological, "Promentalshit..." follows, with Clinton punning on and on, removing 'constipated notions.' Don't forget, 'Fried ice cream is a reality.' Ray Davis takes a rare turn at lead vocals, making "Into You" a brilliant declaration of separation from the sickness of society. "Cholly" is one of those amazing self-referential funk anthems that is again brought up to a higher level by great lyrics and solid bass playing. Returning to more traditional Funkadelic roots, the band gets into a sharp guitar-driven chant, "Think! It Ain't Illegal Yet." This is the first tune that appears on the extended play 45" that came with the record but now comes on the CD. The next is a redundant but harmless instrumental version of "Promentalshit...". The album is capped by a frantic version of "Maggot Brain", performed by Michael Hampton. It fits well into the album's context.

This is an unusual brand of theme album, in that the theme is fairly loose, yet helps all of the songs mesh into a coherent whole. Essentially, it's a declaration of Funk interdependence. The call is out to be freed from old notions, old stereotypes (musical and otherwise), and the decay of society. Funk is declaring its own power and seceding from the rest of society, forming One Nation Under A Groove, where everyone can do their own thang. Only by keeping an open mind can this be accomplished. The concept, to one degree or another, is present on all of the tracks, but you're not beat over the head with it the way many "concept" albums might. Instead, each song can be appreciated just as much by itself than with the rest of the album.

One Nation was P.Funk at the height of its empire. Most of the side- groups had released material, and the musicians in question were pumping out hours and hours of music in the studio. This would eventually water down the music, but not here. The clarity and coherence of the album's vision owes a lot to Junie Morrison, ex-member of the Ohio Players, whose eclectically bizarre yet funky solo albums showed that he was a perfect fit for P.Funk. Michael Hampton's talent also brought the album to a new level, with a number of clever pieces that were well-placed in the guitar tradition of Funkadelic.

GZ: Here Funkadelic reaches its glorious peak; guitars, bass, rhythm, and horns come together with serious lyrics to make a killer dancefloor combination. One Nation is solid gold, from the anthemic title track, with it's accompanying latin-feel "Grooveallegiance", "PromentalShitBackWashPsychosisEnemaSquad", and statements of purpose "Who Says A Funk Band Can't Play Rock" and "Cholly". The album used to come with a bonus 7" that had killer live versions of "Maggot Brain" and "Think! It Ain't Illegal Yet".

[pyrohr]

Originally Posted by Thurisarz

I just got this as my first Funkadelic album and i like it alot! There are several people playing bass on the album and i wonder if anyone knows who plays on which song? According to the info i got, Rodney "Skeet" Curtis, Cordell "Boogie" Mosson and William "Bootsy" Collins is handling the bass on the album.

I also want to know what gear was used by them perticulary on this record. Basses, amps, effects etc. Pick/fingers?

Here is you answer to what they use (used).
http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?...featurecode=38

http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?...featurecode=38
http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?...featurecode=38

[Thurisarz]

I actually have that issue of Bassplayer

That's it, i'm getting a Rickenbacker and a Big muff, that bass tone on Lunchmeataphobia is killer i'll tell ya! "Boogie" Mosson is da man!

[pyrohr]

Originally Posted by Thurisarz

I actually have that issue of Bassplayer

That's it, i'm getting a Rickenbacker and a Big muff, that bass tone on Lunchmeataphobia is killer i'll tell ya! "Boogie" Mosson is da man!

Cordlell is about 5 feet tall, the rick looks begger than him! he looked like a small child playing that bass!. If you can find one nation under a groove live you will be in for a treat! He rips that one up nicely.

[msquared]

I'd like to give a special shout out to Bernie Worrell. That man's left hand is unstoppable.

I love this album. A DJ roommate of mine bought the vinyl of it when we were in college and played the hell out of it. Until then I'd only heard the mainstream P-Funk stuff and this quickly became one of my desert island albums.

[Jumbotron]

Originally Posted by Prahainspring

Rodney Curtis can be heard on "Groove Allegiance" funkifying the track with that distinct Alembic tone. In his later years he started playing a red Fender Jazz bass but on that CD, that's the Alembic.

Here's a Youtube Link of Skeet:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=z_1lxw2AcB4

He's my favorite Funkadelic bassist, he had chops but he never betrayed the Funk during his solos.

Man, that's some great bass playin'. I wish that all those now who slap and pop would listen to players like this--it's so groovy, not stupid or showy at all.

[hungrych]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

"Who Says A Funk Band"
Lead Vocals: Junie Morrison
Bass: Rodney 'Skeet' Curtis

Listening to this song and album for the first time in awhile I'm just in awe. I had no idea that Skeet was so good, I had always thought everything was Bootsy! Love the tone!

[Mark Perry]

I was lucky enough to see Skeet live with Maceo Parker. Very good bass player. Towards the end of the set, during the encores they gave him lots of space for a solo. Groovalegiance and Who says... both have some incredible bass playing. I'd reccomend "Nappy dugout" (from Cosmic slop) and America eats it's young (album) for more of Boogies playing.

[Thurisarz]

This post should really ber in recordings but i wonder, what funkadelic album to check out next?

[Prahainspring]

Originally Posted by Thurisarz

This post should really ber in recordings but i wonder, what funkadelic album to check out next?

For more acid/funk/rock:
Maggot Brain
Standing on the Verge of Getting it On

More funky/party:
Hardcore Jollies
Cosmic Slop

And for Parliament:
Mothership Connection


There are tons of CDs by Parliament & Funkadelic that are really great but these are the CDs that really got me into them.

[Thurisarz]

Originally Posted by Prahainspring

For more acid/funk/rock:
Maggot Brain
Standing on the Verge of Getting it On

Gonna check them out! Thanks for the tip!

[PhR]

Originally Posted by pyrohr

Here is you answer to what they use (used).
http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?...featurecode=38

http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?...featurecode=38
http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?...featurecode=38

Thanks for the links. There's a slight error in Boogie's bio: it says that he played a Rickenbacker 4002 but it was a 4001.