By JON SCHULTZ
Staff Writer
 

This collection of songs, 14 live tracks and 4 studio cuts, consists of material originally recorded by Parliament-Funkadelic, George Clinton solo 80s songs, and new material by Clinton in collaboration with the P-Funk All-Stars band.

The music overall is not the disappointment. In fact, it's greasy, stanky and dirty-everything that makes funky funky. Unfortunately, most of the live tracks have already been released on other compilations, primarily Funkadelic's four disc Greatest Hits set. Funkaholics are tired of Clinton recycling songs strictly for money. Remember last year's Greatest Funkin' Hits? Almost every song can be found on other albums. We want something new to bump and George can't seem to give it to us.

For those not yet knee deep in the funk, this two disc set is nearly perfect. It has the hits, the obscure classics, as well as unreleased jams. Clinton and the P-Funk AII-Stars take "Atomic Dog", "Flashlight" and "Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof Off)" and turned them inside out, even making it refreshing to listen to these played-out songs.

Highlights from the first disc include a souped-up "Cosmic Slop". Heavy guitars and a faster tempo make this song, originally a slow dark jam with beautiful Iyrics, one for the dance floor. Another is "Standing On The Verge". Woven throughout this slammin' Funkadelic track are many of the call-and-respond chants that Parliament was famous for, including "Take Your Dead Ass Home" and "Shit! Goddam! Get Off Your Ass and Jam!". Other songs on disc one are a 24 minute "Funkentelechy", "Let's Take It To The Stage", an amazing "Funk Gettin' Ready To Roll" and a disappointingly weak "Bop Gun".

The second disc is tight. "Maggot Brain" starts things off. One of Funkadelic `s early classics, this live version includes a raging guitar solo almost as good to the earhole as the original. Parliament's most famous song "Make My Funk The P-Funk" is next. This 12 minute version starts off with a tribute to Funkadelic `s original guitarist Eddie Hazel, who has been rightfully compared to Jimi Hendrix (check out Hazel's solo album "Jams From The Heart"). Spacy organ riffs and a gritty bass line keep this one from getting old.

Of the 4 studio tracks on disc two, "Pepe The Pill Popper" is the best, a comical story about a junkie hooked on "puppy uppers and doggy downers". Other notable songs on the disc are "Aquaboogie", "State of The Nation" and "Let's Get SatisfiedlDope Dogs".

I would recommend this for those who want to learn more about funk and to those who just want to shake their booty. If you've been down with the P for a while and know what they are about, save your money.