Funk of Ages is a solo album by former Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell.[1][2] The album was released in 1990 by Gramavision Records.[3] It includes contributions by numerous guest musicians, including Sly and Robbie, David Byrne, Herbie Hancock, Keith Richards, Vernon Reid, and Phoebe Snow.[4][5] P-Funk bandmates Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, Gary Cooper, Doug Duffey, and Michael Hampton also contributed.
| Funk of Ages | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Recorded | 1990; Mission Control Studios, Westford, Massachusetts; Greenpoint Studios, Brooklyn | |||
| Genre | Funk | |||
| Label | Gramavision | |||
| Producer | Bernie Worrell, Joe Blaney, Bill Laswell | |||
| Bernie Worrell chronology | ||||
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"Outer Spaceways" was written by Sun Ra.[6] "Volunteered Slavery" was written by Rahsaan Roland Kirk.[7]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| Chicago Tribune |  [9] |
| Orlando Sentinel | [6] |
Patricia Smith, of The Boston Globe, listed Funk of Ages as the best album of 1990.[10] The Chicago Tribune wrote that "Worrell's surprisingly supple voice shines on a couple of melodic reggae numbers, 'Real Life Dreams' and 'Sing'."[9] The Toronto Star determined that "the musicianship is adventurous enough to make for a funky, wide-ranging diversion."[11]
Track listing
edit- "Sing" (Worrell, Michael Hampton, David Byrne) 4:34
- "B.W. Jam" (Worrell, Gary Cooper, Joe Polanco) 3:30
- "Funk-A-Hall-Licks" (Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Cooper, Doug Duffey) 5:20
- "Ain't She Sweet" (Jack Yellen, Milton Ager) 5:02
- "Y-Spy" (Worrell, Steve Jordan, Charley Drayton) 4:27
- "Real Life Dreams" (Worrell, David Nyce) 4:43
- "Beware of Dog" (Worrell, Dougie Bowne) 2:37
- "Straight Ahead" (Worrell, Sheila Washington, John Denicola, Patty Maloney, Gil Small) 3:59
- "Don't Piss Me Off" (Worrell, Jerry Harrison, Charlie Midnight) 4:26
- "Volunteered Slavery/Bern's Blues/Outer Spaceways" (Rahsaan Roland Kirk/Worrell/Sun Ra) 4:45
- "At Mos' Spheres" (Worrell) 3:55
- "Real Life Dreams On" (Worrell, David Nyce) 1:39
Personnel
edit- Sing
- Synthesizer, Organ, Synth Bass, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
- Drums: Steve Ferrone
- Guitar: Michael Hampton, Jimmy Ripp
- Electric Sitar: Jimmy Ripp
- Percussion: Larry Fratangelo
- Background Vocals: David Byrne, Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington
- B.W. Jam
- Clavinet, Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Percussion: Bernie Worrell
- Drum Programming, Synth Horns, Samples, Sequencing: Joe Polanco, Gary Cooper
- Horns: Uptown Horns
- Background Vocals: Bernie Worrell, Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington, Steve Washington, Jenny Douglas-Foote
- Funk-A-Hall-Licks
- Clavinet, Synthesizer, Organ, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
- Bass: Bootsy Collins
- Drums: Steve Jordan
- Keyboard: Herbie Hancock
- Guitar: Keith Richards, Jimmy Ripp, Bootsy Collins
- Saxophone: Maceo Parker
- Background Vocals: Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington, Jody Bell, Doug Duffey
- Ain't She Sweet
- Arrangement: Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins
- Piano, Synth Bass: Bernie Worrell
- Bass, Drum Programming: Bootsy Collins
- Synthesizer: Bernie Worrell, Herbie Hancock
- Percussion: Larry Fratangelo
- Banjo: Jimmy Ripp
- Vocals: Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Gary Cooper
- Y-Spy
- Clavinet, Synthesizer, Organ, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
- Drums: Steve Jordan
- Bass, Snare, Lap Steel Guitar: Charley Drayton
- Guitar: Keith Richards, Steve Jordan
- Percussion: Steve Jordan, Charley Drayton
- Vocals: Steve Jordan, Gary Cooper, Loren Qualls
- Real Life Dreams
- Organ, Clavinet, Synthesizer, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
- Drums: Sly Dunbar
- Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
- Guitar: Jimmy Ripp, Steve Jordan
- Percussion: Larry Fratangelo, Gary Cooper
- Background Vocals: Sheila Washington, Jody Bell
- Beware of Dog
- Clavinet, Organ, Synthesizer: Bernie Worrell
- Guitar: Vernon Reid
- Drums: Doug Bowne
- Bass: Jimmy Hawkes
- Saxophone: Maceo Parker
- Straight Ahead
- Clavinet, Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
- Drums: Steve Ferrone
- Guitar: Jimmy Ripp
- Bass: Warren McRae
- Background Vocals: Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington, Patty Maloney,
John Denicola, Michael Camacho, Doug Duffey
- Don't Piss Me Off
- Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Samples: Bernie Worrell
- Lead Vocals: Phoebe Snow, Gary Cooper
- Organ: Jerry Harrison
- Drums: Dennis Chambers
- Volunteered Slavery
- Producer: Bill Laswell
- Organ, Electric Piano: Bernie Worrell
- Vocals: Bernie Worrell, Gary Cooper
- Chatan, Conga, Tambourine, Bells: Aïyb Dieng
- At Mos' Spheres
- Producer: Bill Laswell
- Organ: Bernie Worrell
- Real Life Dreams On
- Organ, Clavinet, Synthesizer: Bernie Worrell
- Drums: Sly Dunbar
- Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
- Guitar: Jimmy Ripp, Steve Jordan
- Percussion: Larry Fratangelo, Gary Cooper
References
edit- ^ Hiltbrand, David (Dec 3, 1990). "Funk of Ages". People. 34 (22): 30.
- ^ Ouellette, Dan (Feb 1991). "Funk of Ages by Bernie Worrell". DownBeat. 58 (2): 32.
- ^ Mills, David (28 Nov 1990). "In 1990, Firing Up the Funk". The Washington Post. p. B7.
- ^ Mitchell, Rick (December 16, 1990). "Recordings". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 11.
- ^ Wetherbee, Peter (Nov 3, 1990). "Bernie Worrell Takes Funk to the Future". Billboard. 102 (44): 32.
- ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (15 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell, Funk of Ages". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 22.
- ^ Green, Tony (22 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell Funk of Ages". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 18.
- ^ Funk of Ages at AllMusic
- ^ a b Kot, Greg (3 Jan 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ "Top Ten Records of 1990". Calendar. The Boston Globe. 20 Dec 1990. p. 17.
- ^ Dafoe, Chris (23 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell Funk of Ages". Toronto Star. p. H10.