PARLIAMENT DISCOGRAPHY 1974-1980

After delivering three fantastic albums on the bounce Gloryhallastoopid was a massive disappointment and the first evidence that the PFUNK community was starting to fragment as key players were absent. That's not to say the album is without its merits it still feels like a cohesive concept but the weaknesses are with the songs, too many of them are just uninteresting and meander. Party People in particular is the longest ten minute jam Parliament have ever delivered, instead of drawing you in and evolving or remaining addictive, meanders. The Freeze is a little better and benefits from an simple infectious groove laid over a typical pfunk chant and actually sounds like it was recorded in one take with its "live" feel. There are however two outstanding tracks in The Big Bang Theory and the groovalicious Theme From a Black Hole which ranks up there with the likes of Flashlight and Aqua Boogie in delivering a slamming piece of hard funk. In all though it remains such a scattershot piece of work its hard not feel disheartened at the albums laziness which is not to be substituted for merely groovin

TRACKLIST

1. Prologue
2. Gloryhallastoopid
3. Party People
4. New Doo Review
5. The Big Bang Theory
6. The Freeze
7. Theme From A Black Hole
8. Body Language

The PFunk mobs second album is packed full of short dirty funk and is slightly less R&B than its debut. The title track with its spoken delivery laid the foundations for future classics such as Wants To Get Funked Up and Ride On is just plain greasy and hits hard, with its incessent delivery just begs you to join in. When the music isn't so full throttle and the band dips into R&B the results are just as satisfying. Together is delightful with its sweet melodies and fluttering verses, yet fits in perfectly with the albums freewheelin nature. Some of the lesser tracks are just excuses for the band to loosen up and jam but they sit comfortably beside the more rounded tracks. In all Chocolate City is a step forward from Up From The Downstroke and is the most concise Parliament album

TRACKLIST

1. Chocolate City
2. Ride On
3. Together
4. Side Effects
5. What Comes Funky
6. Let Me Be
7. If It Dont Fit, Dont Force It
8. I Misjudged You
9. Big Footin'