I’ve only ever really listened to Funkadelic’s album Maggot Brain (1971), but recently I came across a podcast on Twitter called Deeper Listening, which went through Funkadelic’s discography and got me interested in taking a closer look at them. Tonight, I’ll be listening to Standing On the Verge of Getting It On (1974), which is the group’s sixth album. Funkadelic was a funk and psychedelic rock band from New Jersey that was formed in 1968. The group stayed together until 1982, and left a massive wake of music that would influence generations to come. I’m pretty excited to give this album a listen, so with that said, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Red Hot Momma” starts with some pitched up vocals chatting about something, almost as though it’s Alvin and the Chipmunks talking in the studio. Oh wow, the same vocals repeat, except pitched down and slowed down. Oh wow, some instrumentation drops right in with some super hot, funky flavors. I really dig the sounds of the clavinet and the groovy distorted electric guitar. It sort of reminds me of some sort of combination of Jeff Beck and Stevie Wonder, only with some high energy reminiscent of New Orleans during Mardi Gras infused. Holy smokes, this guitar playing is super groovy, and nearly melts into the soundscape as what sounds like a wah pedal modulates the sound in a far-out psychedelic rock style. Great track, and I’m excited to hear more.
“Alice In My Fantasies” has some super high energy with the quick, syncopated beat, and the different guitars that seem to continually build tension and momentum in the track while the vocals have a really interesting psychedelic reverberation and echo to them. Holy smokes, the guitar work dials the flavor up to 11 and breaks the knob off in the process. Wow, awesome track.
“I’ll Stay” slows things down in an almost sensual way as the guitar drips into the soundscape to that funky rhythm. I’m sort of reminded a bit of that Little Beaver album I listened to recently, Party Down (1974). I really dig the drums in this track, which have a really dynamic feel that keeps pulling me in further. Oh wow, the piano is super groovy in this track, and almost provides a sort of purity amidst the drippy, funky, and psychedelic flavors from the rest of the instrumentation. Oh wow, the outro has some really groovy flavors that seem to reach higher and higher as the track comes to a close. Super sweet track.
“Sexy Ways” starts out with a really interesting mixture of funk and rock flavors that has a laid back feel that’s putting me further and further onto the edge of my seat. I really dig the congas/bongos in the percussion of this track, which lay back really nicely with the tight bass line in this track. Super sweet tune.
“Standing On the Verge of Getting It On” begins again with those vocals reminiscent of Alvin the Chipmunk, which seem to gradually get higher in pitch up higher before a really groovy funk rock jam drops in with some really sweet guitar work and a steady rhythm section. The vocals seem to continually ramp up the energy in this electrifying track. Great track.
“Jimmy’s Got a Little Bit of Bitch In Him” starts with some really groovy drum beat and drops into a really interesting funky groove that seems nearly mellow compared to some of the previous tracks. Super sweet tune.
“Good Thoughts, Bad Thoughts” starts out with some really groovy, melting flavors as though it’s some sort of slowly grooving psychedelic rock track. I really dig the guitar work that seems to melt throughout the soundscape in this track. I’m really digging this track so far. At the moment it seems to be an instrumental, but there’s about 2/3rds of the song left. Oh wow, a really deep voice comes in as an almost shamanic guide in the mellow psychedelia within the track. Super groovy tune.
“Vital Juices (1975 Version)” gets grooving right away with some flavorful distortion in the lead electric guitar, some crunchy distortion in the rhythm guitar, some really funky playing from a clavinet, and a super sweet syncopated rhythm from a mix of a drum kit and congas/bongos. Super sweet instrumental jam track.
“Standing On the Verge of Getting It On (Single Edit)” revisits the grooviness from the longer version earlier in the album, except without the high pitched intro vocals. The energy of this track really continues to pull me further into the music. Great track, and a great way to finish the album.
Holy smokes, I’m glad I revisited Funkadelic’s discography tonight. This album is filled with a mix of sensual funk rock and psychedelic rock flavors that combine for an interesting and groovy listening experience. If you haven’t checked out this album by Funkadelic yet and you enjoy Maggot Brain (1971), or if you enjoy funk rock and psychedelic rock, you might want to consider checking out this album. If you do decide to give this album a listen, I sincerely hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A