You and Your POLL, Me and My POLL: The P-Funk Results Poll

yeah plus later funkadelic in a kinda way suffered from trying to sound more like a guitar version of parliament. still great records though.
But the early line up was the best.

Great work Shakey. Thanks for all the effort.

I voted for 100 songs but didn't find room for Maggot Brain.

Great rollout, Shakey! Probably the least-predictable poll I've seen so far.

I assumed from the outset that Maggot Brain would be number one, with Flash Light and One Nation and Cosmic Slop also in the top 5. I had assumed Atomic Dog would be top 10 too but oh well

yeah i expected that to be top 5. thought because atomic dog was a big hit and sampled that it would do very well.

Great poll, Shakey! Thanks for doing this.

I feel like I need to (further) clarify some of my comments from yesterday regarding the early Funkadelic records. I actually think the Westbound Funkadelic records, taken as a whole, are stronger than the Warners Funkadelics. I just think the Westbounds hit their stride with Cosmic Slop. After Funkadelic moved to Warners, it was Parliament that made the more cohesive records, but I don't think that's necessarily down to the vocalists - it's more that Funkadelic started to lose its own distinct identity. The only one that's nearly as dark and scabrous as the Westbounds is Electric Spanking, which you can dance to besides.

Excellent poll! Thanks for running it. Forever it will live in the Chocolate City of my heart.

Yeah, great job, Shakes. "Can You Get To That" getting to no. 4, wow, did not see that one coming! I can't even remember where I placed it. My no. 1 was "Chocolate City", lyrically (and vocally, George was never better) just the perfect combination of funniness, profundity and absurdity, and musically just not like anything else, lots of great funk bands around at the time but none of them could have come up with anything like "Chocolate City" - they didn't have Bernie + Bootsy for a start.

this may perhaps be an unpopular opinion but when it comes to the Warner Bros Funkadelic albums I think they suffer (moreso than the Parliament records) from the lack of the original Parliament vocalists. Those guys had a grit and old-school gospel/doo-wop flavor that complemented the darker, grimier and just outright weirder lyrical concerns that typically got reserved for Funkadelic records, and I don't think any of the new guys that came forward really got that.

Know where you're coming from but listening to "Getten to Know You" from Clones today and, Jesus, that is a great vocal from Garry Shider - and I don't even think I voted for that track - Garry and Glenn Goins were both such great singers.

My no. 1 was "Chocolate City"

For years, I had 3 note piano riff as my cell alert on my old motorola phone. It was perfect.

My biggest regret now is that I didnt put Free Alterations from Computer Games higher. That is one of my 3 or 4 favorites now, but I wasn't fully aware of its greatness when composing my ballot.

My top 40 for what's it worth...but full of holes...wish I had time to do a more definitive list

1. Sir Nose D'voidofunk -Parliament
2. Good To Your Earholes - Funkadelic
3. Maggot Brain - Funkadelic
4. Knee Deep - Funkadelic
5. P Funk (wants to get funked up)- Parliament
6. Flashlight - Parliament
7. I'd Rather Be With You - Bootsy's Rubber Band
8. What About It - Eddie Hazel
9. Vanish In Our Sleep - Bootsy's Rubber Band
10. I Got Thing You Got A Thing ( Everybody Got a A Thing)- Funkadelic
11. California Dreaming- Eddie Hazel
12. Can You Get To That - Funkadelic
13. Chocolate City- Parliament
14. Aqua Boogie- Parliament
15. Stretching Out - Bootsy's Rubber Band
16. Stuff And Things- Funkadelic
17. You Scared The Lovin Out Of Me - Funkadelic
18. Rumpstiltskin - Parliament
19. Dr Funkinstein - Parliament
20. Physical Love - Eddie Hazel
21. Mothership Connection - Parliament
22. Birdie - Brides Of Funkinstein
23. I've Been Watching You - Parliament
24. Aah The Name Is Bootsy- Bootsy's Rubber Band
25. Munchies For Your Love - Bootsy's Rubber Band
26. Deep - Parliament
27. Wars Of Armageddon (Karaoke Version) - Funkadelic
28. Fat Cat - Bootsy Collins
29. What Is Soul - Funkadelic
30. Airbound - George Clinton
31. Just Like You - Brides Of Funkinstein
32. The Silent Boatman - Parliament
33. Shine O Myte - Bootsy Collins
34. Agony Of Defeet - Parliament
35. Da Fuzz And Da Boog - Fuzzy Haskins
36. Cookie Jar - Fuzzy Haskins
37. Cosmic Slop - Funkadelic
38. Up For The Downstroke - Parliament
39. Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy - Parlet
40. Hydraulic Pump - P Funk All Stars

Funkadelic - Maggot Brain
Funkadelic - I Got A Thing, you got a thing, everybody's got a thing.
Funkadelic - Free your mind and your ass will follow
Mutiny - Lump
Parliament - Flashlight
Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop
Parliaments - Testify
Funkadelic - Get Off Your Ass And Jam
funkadelic - Friday night august 14th
Funkadelic - Funky dollar bill
Funkadelic - Super Stupid
Funkadelic - Wars of Armageddon
Funkadelic - Can you get to that
Parliament - Oh Lord, Why Lord/Prayer
Parliament - The Silent Boatman
Parliament - Up for the down stroke
Parliament - P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)
Parliament - Mothership Connection (Star Child)
Parliament - Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)
Funkadelic - Red Hot Mama
Funkadelic - Alice In My Fantasies
Funkadelic - I'll Stay
Funkadelic - Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On
Parliament - Chocolate City
Parliament - Ride On
Parliament - Gamin' on Ya!
Parliament - Do That Stuff
Parliament - Dr. Funkenstein
Parliament - Funkentelechy
Funkadelic - No Head No Backstage Pass
Funkadelic - Baby i owe you something good
Funkadelic - Lets Make It Last
Funkadelic - take your dead ass home
Funkadelic - Comin Round The Mountain
Funkadelic - one nation under a groove
Funkadelic - who says a funk band cant play rock
Funkadelic - Uncle Jam
Funkadelic - Freak of the week
Funkadelic - (Not Just) Knee Deep
Funkadelic - electric spanking of war babies
Funkadelic - funk gets stronger
Funkadelic - shockwaves
Funkadelic - icka prick
Funkadelic - Fish, Chips and Sweat
Funkadelic - Music For My Mother
Parliament - Bop Gun (Endangered Species)
Parliament - Mr Wiggles
Parliament - Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)
Parliament - Motor Booty Affair
Funkadelic - hit it and quit it
Funkadelic - I'll Bet You
Funkadelic - Loose Booty
Eddie Hazel - California Dreamin'
Eddie Hazel - So Goes The Story
Eddie Hazel - I Want You (She's So Heavy)
Sweat Band - Hyperspace
Sweat Band - Freak to Freak
Quazar - Funk With a Big Foot
Quazar - Funk with a capital "G"
Quazar - Funk 'n Roll
Bootsy Collins - Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby
Bootsy Collins- The Pinocchio Theory
Bootsy Collins - Stretchin' Out (In a Rubber Band)
Bootsy Collins - Psychoticbumpschool
Bootsy Collins - I'd rather be with you
Bootsy's Rubber Band ‎– Bootzilla
Bootsy's Rubber Band ‎– Hollywood Squarea
Bootsy's Rubber Band ‎– roto rooter
Bootsy's Rubber Band - Under the Influence of a Groove
Bootsy Collins - Fat Cat
Bootsy Collins - Shine-O-Myte (Rag Popping)
George Clinton - Atomic Dog
Bernie Worrell - I'll Be With You
Bernie Worrell - Insurance Man for the Funk
Fuzzy Haskins - Cookie Jar
Brides of Funkenstein - Disco to Go
Brides of Funkenstein - When you're gone
Brides of Funkenstein - Never buy texas from a cowboy
Parlet - Cookie Jar
Ruth Copeland - Gimme Shelter
Parlet - No Rump To Bump
Mutiny - Funk - N - Bop
Mutiny - Go Away from Here
Mutiny - What More Can I Say
Mutiny - Will It Be Tomorrow?
Mutiny - Anti-Disco
George Clinton - Man's Best Friend/Loopzilla
George Clinton - Computer Games
P-Funk All Stars - Hydraulic Pump
Junie Morrison- Suzie Thundertussy
Junie Morrison - Seaman First Class (Jock Rock)
Funkadelic - By Way Of The Drum
Zillatron - Fuzzface
Axiom Funk - Pray My Soul (Eddie Hazel)
Madhouse - Serve Em
Garry Shider - Ghetto Invaders
Zapp - More Bounce To The Ounce
Roger - So Ruff, So Tuff
Roger - Do It Roger
Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns - A Blow for Me, a Toot to You

Thanks very much for hosting this huge poll, Shakes.

my ballot - for the sheer joy of wasting time I added where my 20 picks placed:

1 I can move you (if you let me) #62
2 Mommy what's a funkadelic #48
3 I wanna know if it's good to you? #18
4 placebo syndrome #58
5 funkentelechy #21
6 hit it and quit it #14
7 presence of a brain #71
8 unfunky ufo #44
9 back in our minds #96
10 free your mind and your ass will follow #16
11 friday night august the 14th #47
12 maggot brain #1
13 stuffs and things #61
14 the goose #35
15 all your goodies are gone #66
16 give up the funk #15
17 one nation under a groove #3
18 mothership connection (star child) #8
19 eulogy and light #93
20 you and your folks, me and my folks #26

for your pleasure in irritatingly subjective nerd analysis I added the following essential info ("essential" in the meaning implied by the album title The Essential Billy Joel):

average placement of my top five: 41
average placement of my 6-10: 48
average placement of my 11-15: 42
average placement of my 16-20: 29

conclusion: 16-20, with three songs I stuck on to keep it real (i.e. acknowledge the giant faves that continue to reach me....for example, NOT flash light or atomic dog or can you get to that) placed the best, by quite a margin.

HOWEVER! my most verily 5avorite 5ive did 2econd best amongst the 4our groups! This is reassuring. I only want so much mild specialness, not flat out isolation 'n starvation.

The stuff that did worst by a long shot was my almost equally beloved 6 - 10 (but 11-15 would have done the worst without the maggot brain).

I'm looking forward to exploring the picks of those who know enough to make 100 song ballots! Have already been much educated by this poll... And remember, the bigger the headache, the bigger the pill.

The discovery: One Nation Under a Groove isn't as strong as I thought.

Five of the first six tracks are classics but the other songs are overlong filler.

Here's my ballot:

Cosmic Slop
Mothership Connection (Star Child)
Groovallegiance
Maggot Brain
I Got A Thing, You Got A Thing, Everybody's Got A Thing
Can You Get to That
Bop Gun (Endangered Species)
I'll Bet You
Flash Light
Hit It and Quit It
No Compute
Standing on the Verge of Getting It On
Atomic Dog
P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)
Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)
I'll Stay
Funkentelechy
Into You
Super Stupid
You Can't Miss What You Can't Measure
California Dreamin' - Eddie Hazell
Jimmy's Got a Little Bit of Bitch in Him
Side Effects
Rumpofsteelskin
Who Says A Funk Band Can't Play RocK?!
Nappy Dugout
Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby
Handcuffs
Red Hot Mama
Let's Make It Last
Mr. Wiggle
Bigfootin
Sexy Ways
Let Me Be
Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow
One Nation Under A Groove
Ride On
Chocolate City
Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk (Pay Attention -- B3m)
Alice in My Fantasies
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
Mommy, Whats A Funkadelic?
Can't Stand the Strain
Placebo Syndrome
Cholly (Funk Get Ready To Roll!)
Friday Night, August 14th
I Wanna Know If It's Good to You...
Back in Our Minds
What Comes Funky
What is Soul
Funky Dollar Bill
Good Thoughts, Bad Thoughts

Looking forward to reading through this, I've been more than a little busy over the last month or so and I thought I was going to manage to get a ballot in for this (even got as far as drawing up a whole list), but for some reason struggled to get them in some kind of order (there was a lot of stuff to consider!) and ended up missing the deadline. Having a quick glance over the results though, I've no complaints! Maybe it would have been easier to have separate Parliament and Funkadelic polls, but I guess that would have missed the point!

And yes, Kerr, that Mutiny track would have made my ballot :D

Parliament - Chocolate City - 1
Funkadelic - Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On - 2
Funkadelic - Maggot Brain - 3
Parliament - P. Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up) - 4
Parliament - Funkentelechy - 5
Funkadelic - Super Stupid - 6
Parliament - Flash Light - 7
Funkadelic - Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow - 8
Parliament - Mothership Connection (Star Child) - 9
Brides of Funkenstein - Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy - 10
Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop - 11
Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove - 12
Funkadelic - I Wanna Know If It's Good to You - 13
Funkadelic - I'll Stay - 14
Parliament - Night Of The Thumpasorus Peoples - 15
Parliament - Unfunky UFO - 16
Bootsy’s Rubber Band - PsychoticBumpSchool - 17
Parliament - Up For The Down Stroke - 18
Parliament - The Big Bang Theory - 19
Funkadelic - Red Hot Mama/Vital Juices - 20
Funkadelic - Good Thoughts, Bad Thoughts - 21
Parliament - The Silent Boatman - 22
Parliament - Children of Production - 23
Funkadelic - Music For My Mother - 24
Funkadelic - Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock? - 25
Funkadelic - Sexy Ways - 26
Bootsy’s Rubber Band - Munchies For Your Love - 27
Funkadelic - Hit It And Quit It - 28
Funkadelic - Loose Booty - 29
Parliament - Gloryhallastoopid (Pin The Tail On The Funky) - 30
Funkadelic - Stuffs and Things - 31
Bootsy’s Rubber Band - Stretchin' Out (In a Rubber Band) - 32
Parliament - Dr. Funkenstein - 33
Parliament - Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk) - 34
Bootsy’s Rubber Band - Shejam (Almost Bootsy Show) - 35
Parliament - Ride On - 36
Funkadelic - Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers) - 37
Parliament - Liquid Sunshine - 38
Bootsy’s Rubber Band - Jam Fan (Hot) - 39
Funkadelic - Good to Your Earhole - 40
Parliament - Do That Stuff - 41
Funkadelic - The Electric Spanking of War Babies - 42
Parliament - Rumpofsteelskin - 43
Funkadelic - Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll) - 44
Funkadelic - Better By The Pound - 45
Bootsy’s Rubber Band - Take a Lickin’ and Keep on Kickin’ - 46
Funkadelic - Can You Get To That - 47
Funkadelic - Funky Dollar Bill - 48
Bootsy’s Rubber Band - I'd Rather Be With You - 49
Funkadelic - Electro-Cuties - 50

Just finished George's memoir. It was really good. He was much more sensitive & thoughtful than I expected him to be, while still delivering the goods when it comes to anecdotes featuring outrageous behavior.

yeah I was surprised at how perceptive he was; good memory too

I'd like to buy some P-Funk on vinyl but after reading that I'll be damned if I put any $ Armen Bouladian's way.

oh there's plenty of used copies out there