Best P-Funk Spinoff Act (70s-80s edition)

RC: This was to be Glenn Goins' first major project away from the P.Funk Mob after he quit, but he passed on before he was able to complete it. But his brother Kevin went on to finish it, and many of Glenn's original vocal and musical parts were left on. Glenn also wrote and produced many of the songs, along with Jerome Brailey, who had also quit by this point. We'll never know how good it might have been had he lived, but what we have is a brilliant, unique funk album. Glenn's abilities as a vocalist, musician, producer and arranger were only hinted at in his brief-but-potent stay with the Funk Mob; but the classics he left behind with Parliament ("Bop Gun" and "Mothership Connection" being only two examples) and his role as lead singer in live performances show how important he really was.

His only real weakness was as a concept artist, which made him a perfect fit with Clinton but limit the ideas on this album. While everything is perfectly sung and played, the lyrics are very basic and the musical ideas not exactly being revolutionary. Given that, the album is excellent: there's a side of kick-ass, shake-booty funkers that would make Sir Nose dance. Then there's a side of skillfully produced ballads carefully designed for a romantic evening. It's a commercial album with perfect integrity, with a sound somewhere between Bootsy's Rubber Band and Mutiny. It's a cross between funk and rock influences that also acknowledges a heavy debt to 60's soul.

The quality of the music is excellent, led by Kevin on guitar, with Greg Fitz (now of Bootsy's New Rubber Band) also coming up with some creative keyboard melodies. The drumming and bass playing are also superb across the board.

"Funk With A Big Foot" is super heavy and funky, with excellent use of pauses and stops, making it very danceable. Jerome Brailey is excellent here, and the keyboards provide the proper flavor. The chant, "Stop! Get down! That's what it's all about" is infectious. "Funk With A Capital G" is another hot funk tune that commands you to wiggle, with doubled up bass and guitar. "Funk N Roll" has a hot guitar riff, deep rolling bass and effective, funky handclaps. It recalls other P.Funk, making "Cholly" references and having band members doing Bootsy impersonations. This song sounds a lot like Mutiny later would. "Working On The Building" is a brilliant fast funker with torrid bass playing and scorching sax (from Daryl Dixon, who did the sax solo on "Flash Light"). More doubled up guitar/bass arrangements, with hot wah-wah guitar and slap bass stylings make me agree: 'And Quazar make you dance'. "Your Lovin' Is Easy" is a Bootsy-ish ballad, also recalling Rick James a bit. The guitar and bass recall some Ike Hayes songs. "Love Me Baby" features the excellent voice of Lady Peachena; the music is pretty commercial, as though this was calculated to be a crossover hit. "Savin' My Love..." is a discoish/ Barry White fast ballad, and as such, it's very corny. Good bass playing, though. "Starlight Circus" is a dreamy, ethereal soul tune. "Shades Of Quaze" is a mellow instrumental, dominated by horns and then wah-wah guitar.

The album is out of print, and very rare. A CD version is available, though only as an import. You may expect to pay a lot of money for this one, but it's worth it. The album is a black and white design with the word 'Quazar' exploding like the Big Bang. Photos of all band members are included.

Has anyone heard Lucius ‘Tawl’ Ross’s ‘Giant Shirley’ album. Apparently had a tough time after leaving Funkadelic but out of nowhere released this album in the mid 90’s. Remember it coming out but missed it at the time. It’s kind of what you want a later Funkadelic album to be, a bit crazy but has a hypnotic lysergic hold over it which is kind of intoxicating. Bluesy with p-funky Bernie Worrell vibes. He’s not gonna win any prizes for the world’s greatest vocalist but it’s kind of great and pretty sui generis.

Anyone heard the Junie Morrison live album currently streaming. Always knew he was talented but this catches him in ‘75 with a band that’s on fire. Great recording too. Coming out on vinyl later in the year. Well worth a listen.

that's a good word, I would have missed this - thanks!