Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome is the sixth studio album by the American funk band Parliament, released in 1977.[1][2]
| Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 28, 1977 | |||
| Recorded | 1976–1977 | |||
| Studio | United Sound Systems, Detroit, Michigan, and Hollywood Sound, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Funk, disco | |||
| Length | 44:22 | |||
| Label | Casablanca | |||
| Producer | George Clinton | |||
| Parliament chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome | ||||
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It is a loose concept album warning the listener of falling into the "Placebo Syndrome," which according to George Clinton is consumerism, and listening to disco music, which he saw as a simplification of funk music in attempt to gain commercial success. The album spawned the R&B number No. 1 single in "Flash Light", which features a funky synthesizer bass line played on a Minimoog by keyboardist Bernie Worrell. The album became Parliament's fourth consecutive gold album and second platinum album. The song "Sir Nose d'Voidoffunk (Pay Attention – B3M)" contains nursery rhymes "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" and "Three Blind Mice"; the lyrics were changed to refer to drug use.
The original vinyl release contained a 22″×33″ poster of the character Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk, as well as an 8-page comic book that explains the concept behind the LP. Both the poster and the comic book were illustrated by Overton Loyd.
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [3] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | A[4] |
| Rolling Stone |  [5] |
| (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [6] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 9/10[7] |
| The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul | [1] |
The Globe and Mail praised the "superb" backing vocals of the Brides of Funkenstein.[8] The New York Times wrote that "the music is typical P-Funk bouncing disco, lively and toe-tapping, with gabbling spoken and sung vocals on top."[9]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bop Gun (Endangered Species)" (released as a single, Casablanca NB 900) | George Clinton, Garry Shider, Bootsy Collins | 8:31 |
| 2. | "Sir Nose d'Voidoffunk (Pay Attention – B3M)" | Clinton, Collins, Bernie Worrell | 10:04 |
| 3. | "Wizard of Finance" | Clinton, Ronald Ford, Glenn Goins | 4:23 |
| 4. | "Funkentelechy" (released as a single-Casablanca NB 921) | Clinton, Collins | 10:56 |
| 5. | "Placebo Syndrome" | Clinton, Billy Nelson | 4:20 |
| 6. | "Flash Light" (released as a single, Casablanca NB 909, and as a promo-only 12″ single, Casablanca NB 20113 DJ) | Clinton, Collins, Worrell | 5:46 |
Personnel
edit- Vocals – George Clinton, Ray Davis, Glenn Goins, Garry Shider, Debbie Wright, Jeanette Washington, Lynn Mabry, Dawn Silva, Cordell Mosson, Mallia Franklin (not included on liner notes)
- Keyboards and synthesizers – Bernie Worrell (Keyboard bass on "Flash Light")
- Guitars – Michael Hampton, Glenn Goins, Garry Shider; Phelps Collins on "Flash Light"
- Bass guitar – Cordell Mosson, Bootsy Collins
- Drums and percussion – Jerome Brailey; Bootsy Collins on "Flash Light"
- Horns – Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Rick Gardner, Richard Griffith, Clay Lawrey, Darryl Dixon, Valerie Drayton, Danny Cortez
- Extra-extra terrestrial funk bearing alumni-Strokers, Chokers, Clappers and Chanters – Bootsy Collins, Phelps Collins, Frank Waddy, Rick Gilmore, Gary Cooper, Robert Johnson, Billy Nelson, Ron Ford, Lou Goldman, Joel Johnson, Bootsy's Rubber Band, the Brides of Funkenstein, Parlet, and The Horny Horns.
According to George Clinton, Mallia Franklin also sang on this album with other original Parlet members Debbie Wright and Jeanette Washington but she is not listed on the album's credits.[citation needed]
Horn arrangement by Bernie Worrell and Fred Wesley
- Production
- Produced by George Clinton
- Engineered by Jim Vitti
- Mixing assistance by Bernie Worrell
- Mastered by Allen Zentz
- Photography by Ron Slenzak
- Album graphics by Stephen Lumel/Gribbitt!
- Booklet story and illustrated by Overton Loyd
- Booklet coloring and collaboration by Shelby Mack
Charts
editWeekly charts
edit| Chart (1977–1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10] | 2 |
| US Billboard 200[11] | 13 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[12] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 255.
- ^ Reading Rock and Roll: Authenticity, Appropriation, Aesthetics. Columbia University Press. 1999. p. 150.
- ^ Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome at AllMusic
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: P". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 10, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Rollingstone
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. p. 619. ISBN 9780743201698.
- ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 296, 297.
- ^ McGrath, Paul (January 18, 1978). "Parliament". The Globe and Mail. p. F2.
- ^ Rockwell, John (February 26, 1978). "Records: The Disco Fever Is Spreading". The New York Times. p. D14.
- ^ "Parliament Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ "Parliament Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ "American album certifications – Parliament – Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome". Recording Industry Association of America.