Search - Funkadelic :: Let's Take It to the Stage

One of the original diss records

Sherance Brothers | Jasper Ala | 03/11/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"george clinton was on top of his game in 75 decided to do a diss record calling out the godfather, earth, wind, and fire, rufus, sly stone, and kool and the gang tweasing all of them really george was hoping for some responses although he did piss off earth, hot air and no fire and fool and the gang nobody dissed the group back they was probaly scared of getting wooped by a bunch of psychotic dudes in alien costumes."

They promise to be good to your earhole

McSpunkle | USA | 11/10/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Just about everything Funkadelic did on Westbound is choice and Stage is one of the best. It's not a live album as the title might suggest, but a perfectly sequenced collection of classic Funkadlic.



"Good to Your Earhole" starts the album with some hypnotic heavy-ass funk. "Better By the Pound" is a slice of groovy cosmic disco and the title track is a series of clever jabs at P-Funks "competition" (James, Sly, Kool & The Gang) over a rhythm more apt to be found on a Parliament record of the time. Then there's "Get Off Your Ass and Jam" which should be the new national anthem. Bootsie brings us the laidback "Be My Beach" perfect for a late night cruise with the windows down.



The album heads into some darker territory in the second half with the introspective "The Song Is Familiar" and the hard rocking gospel of "Baby I Owe You Something Good", of which there are two versions on this reissue. The original album closes with the incredible "Atmosphere", a seven minute instrumental (besides some subliminal sex babble towards the beginning) that truly transcends. As another reviewer pointed out, this version annoyingly has the first few seconds mysteriously missing and starts abruptly. The song is mostly just an organ laying down some classically influenced beauty, a little guitar in the background and some wicked synthesizer work (probably a moog?) by Bernie Worrell, who just smokes on the keys. This is kind of like his "Maggot Brain". Right at about 5 and a half minutes he comes in with this high pitched synth pattern and you can see the light bulb turning on over Dr. Dre's head. In fact, some amazing moog work is spread throughout the entire album.



I've always found the cover art to be strange but intriguing. I don't know what The Excorsist has to do with Funkadelic, but it looks like a demon looking down on a possesed Linda Blair, and instead of "Help Me" rising out of her skin it's "Let's Take It To The Stage". You might have to consult your preacher after this party."