Search - Parliament :: Osmium

Parliaments First Debut Album!!

Brent C. Knowles | Edmonds, WA USA | 11/27/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"hile most Educated P-Funk fans will tell you that "Up For the Down Stroke" is Parliament's First album without batting an eyelash, this record begs to differ. Released in 1970, George Clinton and the Parlia-Funkadelic crew team up with songwriter Ruth Copeland and Invictus Records to release the fantastic debut "Osmium". Not only is this a great album, but it bests "Up For the Down Stroke" and maybe even "Chocolate City." The album is creative mix of folk, funk, motown and doo-wop that flows together effortlessly.



"I Call My Baby Pussycat" an early concert favorite, starts off the album. This track features great vocals by the group, most notably Ray Davis. One of the best numbers on the album. It would later the redone on "America Eats It's Young" but this version, with its raw playing and soulful singing, is superior. The intro was later pieced into the song "Hardcore Jollies" off the album by the same name. "Put Love In Your Life" is another great number that changes form many times, almost inheriting a progressive rock feel to it. Again featuring great vocals by Ray Davis and Fuzzy Haskins.



Next is my personal favorite on the album: "Little Old Country Boy." This is a hilarious song about a young man who is sent to jail for spying on his cheating girlfriend. The song has a great groove that is brightened by Fuzzy's over the top vocalizing. Invictus records loved this song so much that it put it as the b-side for all of Parliament's single releases during the time. "Moonshine Heather" is an okey jam song. Not one of the more notable on the album, but nevertheless good. "Oh Lord Why Lord/Prayer" is a heartfelt tribute to god. This song is amazingly beautiful but very unlike Parliaments style. "My Automobile" is a great doo- wopish number that celebrates the casual fun of George Clinton while still making you groove. "Nothing Before Me But Thang", "Funky Woman" and "Living the Life" are your basic rockish tracks. While they are good, they aren't as notable as other songs on this album. "The Silent Boatman," while very out of place, is beautiful on its own right.



The real treat of this album are the bonus tracks. "Red Hot Mama" is an interesting example of this song before it transformed into the version we know on "Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On." Both versions of "Breakdown" are groovetastic and it is very obvious why these songs were successful singles. "Come In Out Of The Rain" is probably one of Parliament's most criminally underrated songs. The song is political cry for change in a troubled era. It contains some of the most soulful moments of George Clinton's career. "Fantasy Is Reality" is another great soulful song that has a very interesting keyboard line. "Unfinished Instrumental" is good and so is "Loose Booty" which later ended up on "America Eats It's Young."



If you would like to buy an early Parliament album but are unsure of which one to get, buy this album. While "Up For the Down Stroke" is a great record. This album has ten times more soul and musical spirit and expresses the great fun and carefree mentality that Parlia-Funkadelic still had in their early days. As a fellow funkateer I promise you will not be disappointed with this album."

DIGGIN' FOR BOOTY?...

wally gator | USA | 07/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a lost treasure from the band Parliament. Currently Amazon has this edition listed much cheaper than other editions of the album (which can also be found under the titles Rhemium and Lost Thangs)... some editions have bonus tracks, and it appears that this one doesn't. It lists only the ten tracks from the original 1970 pressing*. While I think some of the missing cuts are essentials (such as the original, way more rocking version of Red Hot Mamma, and the amazing soulful Come In Out Of The Rain... you tube 'em) This original album still has a lot to offer. Such as the original, and I'd say far superior version of CALL MY BABY PUSSY CAT; the doo wopish AUTOMOBILE; the country tinged LITTLE OLD COUNTRY BOY; NOTHING BEFORE ME BUT THANG...it all Demonstrates that George Clinton and the P-Funk mob had a great deal of creative fun when it came to making their music. Even in the old days... This is some spankin' lost booty for sure, Funkateers. Be sure to check it out at whatever cost necessary.



HUNTING INFO:

*From personal experience, when you buy an album used on Amazon, it's usually uncertain on which edition you will actually recieve. I'd say, you may end up with one of the editions with the bonus cuts by mistake... odds are good, since more of those actually were printed onto CD."