Disco de Parliament: “Motor Booty Affair”

When I first got into *the funk*, I started out by listening to James Brown, then somehow found The Ohio Players, The JBs, Gil Scott Heron, Tower of Power... stuff like that. - - At that time, not many P-Funk albums were in re-issue, but you could still get Mothership Connection and the Greatest Hits one. - - Hearing them for the first time was like a brick to the rump. Their strange mix of funk, disco, sci fi and music that sounded like you were tuning into a funky black radio station, circa 1976... on some distant planet (or in this case underwater) - - well, I didnt know how to take it... I mean, it wasnt your typical anything. It was like the Firesign Theatre on more drugs, with Bootsy and a few other outcasts from the JBs at the helm, and a madman at the lead (actually it was ! ! ! )

As for this album... to me, its one of Parliaments tightest - - conceptually and rhythmically. It is very funky, and I love the timbales and congas on this. The songs have a drive to them and Bootsy and The Horny Horns are hitting hard. In fact, while in early albums its pretty much Bernie Worell at the healm, in this album, the band overall shines. - - Theres even a great and spacy love song that is a close contender to Bootsys Whats a Telephone Bill... however for the most part this album is basically wacked out and intensive dancefloor music. Its the one Parliament album I ALWAYS find myself coming back to. (IF you like this album youll probably love CLONES OF DR. FUNKENSTEIN as well, an album in which THE HORNY HORNS are amply showcased.)

The audio samples should do the selling ! - - Incidently check out VERY early CAMEO (circa FUNK FUNK)... speaking of CLONES of Dr. Funkenstein.

When this album came out. I was so much in awe of the whole concept. The album cover, the pop up comic's. The artwork, but most of all the way you can see "Walter Junie Morrison"'s signature all over the place. This album like the other peron's review said, it is the "underwater" version of "Mothership Connection". The Mothership is "out there" while "Motor Booty" is benath there...sorta speak. I like the entire album, but the one slow song is actually about "going down" (if you know what I mean)....In the song "Im a fish" ("can we go down, when we get down?") And of course a reference to "tootin" in the song "DEEP", "You can take a horse to water, but you can't make him snort coke"..or somn silly like "You can tune a piano, but you can't TUNE A FISH!". It would have been a great soundtrack for that Little Mermaid from Disney!.....anyway, I think it's a great CD. it is bright, it's brilliant. The arrangements are soo funky. The vocals, horns, and everything. If U a PFUNK fan, you gotta have this album. The Son "Rumpofsteelskin" was originally for a Bootsy album, but the Boot was cool wit it being on this joint!

Junie Morrison was the leader of the Ohio Players back in their Westbound Records phase and wrote, produced and played a ton of instruments on their early albums.

What people do NOT know is that he for all intents and purposes drove the P-funk studio bus from the mid 70's through the mid 80's. He is listed as JS Theracon on the album credits on this, what I consider their (and his) high water mark.

In addition to providing most of the basic instrumentation and weird vocals along with George on this one he also wrote One Nation and Not Just Knee Deep. Yes. Him. Check him out. His website will explain all.

His genius in P-funk land is only outdone by Bootsy, another multi-instrumentalist, and Bernie Worrell, who should be playing at the Met, but I am glad to have the Wizard of Woo for the funkateers.

Now let's be fair: Funkentelechy was a tough act to follow. So how'd they manage to put this out? I don't know. Regardless, this is a group at the height of their powers performing quite well. This produced another #1 hit, which is even more of a dark horse than "Flash Light"; most of it is sung by what the general public probably considered a didactic, hydrophobic, ill-tempered robot - this "robot" was, of course, Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk, returning with his henchman Rumplesteelskin to defeat Star Child - this time they go underwater. But Star Child is aided by the citizens of Atlantis (where you can dance underwater and not get wet). Of course, they make the Nose funky! Concept doesn't really matter here. It's all about the songs, which are almost by default top-shelf. I've already discussed the riotous "Aqua Boogie"; it also contains my favorite of Parliament's slow jams ("(You're a Fish and I'm a) Water Sign", highlighted by sexy, Al Green-like vocals), some of the usual funny booty-shakers ("Mr. Wiggles"; title track; "Liquid Sunshine"; "Rumpofsteelskin"). Plus the climactic ten-minute "Deep", which takes a couple minutes to get going. But when it does, it's worth the long wait. The only real "bad" song is "One of Those Funky Things", which is more middling than anything else.

'Motor Booty Affair' is one of the greatest albums by Parliament. That is not only because it features incredible funky musicians (for example: Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Junie Morrison, George Clinton etc. etc.), extremely funky tracks (there's no weak one: it's all good!) and beautiful and hilarious cover art (done by Overton Loyd), but that's also because it has an brilliant imaginative concept: you can dance under water without getting wet! Beware Sir Nose! Star Child has brought his allies, Mr. Wiggles and Rumpofsteelskin! The Mothership goes underwater, where Atlantis waits to be raised for the ultimate get-down. Underwater boogie. Buy this album and you will go psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadooloop!