Search - Parliament :: Osmium

Parliament?s Real Debut Album

Brent C. Knowles | Edmonds, WA USA | 10/04/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While 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."

Worth the extra money for the import version

Mark | USA | 01/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Probably not many share my opinion on this, but I consider this one of the top Parliament-Funkadelic records, above even "One Nation Under A Groove" or even "Maggot Brain." Even though it's the first Parliament record, don't expect this to sound like "Mothership Connection" - it's reminiscent of the earlier Funkadelic records, but more stylistically eclectic. George Clinton was obviously experimenting with many different moods on "Osmium", so in addition to trademark P-Funk rock scorchers like "I Call My Baby Pussycat" (in a fast version that's so good that I can barely remember what the re-recording on "America Eats its Young" sounds like) and "Nothing Before Me But Thang", you have a country song ("Little Ole Country Boy"), some sort of mystical gospel-folk tune ("Silent Boatman"), and a R&B / chamber pop hybrid with a harpsicord ("Oh Lord, Why Lord"). And just so you know you're listening to a George Clinton record, there's a scatalogical tale concerning the smelly state of a woman's funky drawers (Yes, that's "Funky Woman") Every song on the original album is first-rate except for the melodically dull "Moonshine Heather." The import CD from England is the version of this to get - it has bonus tracks matching anything on the original record, including a rougher, early version of "Red Hot Mama", and "Fantasy is Reality" which Parliament resurrected in the later, dance-funk-oriented incarnation of the band."

DISCOVERERS OF LOST BOOTY!!!!

wally gator | USA | 07/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is straight up a treasure. Buried long ago when the vinyl LP's went out and the acrylic CD's came in. Imports were scattered across the map, but nowadays can only be obtained for a hefty price and a can of scurvy. The silent boatman quietly sheds a tear...

Just about no one is aware that this album ever even existed. It was released five years before Up For The Down Stroke, which is widely considered to be Parliaments first release, and though I enjoy the string of "P" releases from those years, this album is far and away a cooler bit. I-M-O.

One reason for it's discontinue I think, is the fact that many of the tracks became adopted by the Funkadelic side of P-Funk empire, before Parliament ever had a chance to resurface. Songs like RED HOT MAMMA and NUTHING BEFORE ME BUT THANG can be found on some of the underground Funkadelic albums, and are a little more worked out. The versions here are a little more soaked in electric guitar though, and have a very nice raw garage feel. While still maintaining that distiguishable P-Funk sound. Some tracks may summon the powers of Hendrix, some summon the vibes of Sly and The Stone, some even go into country, bluegrass, or doo-wop feel... everything is funkin good though. This stuff needs to be heard peeps... so heres a little bit of hunting info. Amazon has this bit listed high at about eighty dollar. Unless your name is J.P. Moneybags, you probably ain't gonna afford such an outrageous price. Right now the best deal comes in the form of an import called FIRST THANGS, which is around 25 bucks... the tracks are out of order, but the same stuff is on that one, sans some different bonus material (First Thangs has different bonus material... however, there is more of it) at least you get the stuff. And you want this stuff. Rare, yet some of Clinton and P-Funks best. CALL MY BABY PUSSYCAT, AUTOMOBILE, LITTLE OLD COUNTRY BOY and tons more.... and FUNKY WOMAN! Love that tune!

Check it:

She hung them in the sink, the sink began to stink

She hung them in the yard, the yard cried "oh Lord"

She hung them on the door, the door went through the floor

She hung them on the fence... the cats they went like this (and then que some really tripped out blazing funk riff, with some happening V-3 organ)

Can you DIG that?

Arright Funkateers. Start hunting. Osmium by Parliament.

"