Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow

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Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow
Studio album by Funkadelic
Released July 1970
Recorded 1970
Genre Funk, psychedelic soul, rock
Length 30:52
Label Westbound
Producer George Clinton
Funkadelic chronology
Funkadelic
(1970)		 Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow
(1970)		 Maggot Brain
(1971)

Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow is the second studio album by American funk band Funkadelic, released in July 1970 on Westbound Records.[1] The inspiration for this album was, according to George Clinton, an attempt to "see if we can cut a whole album while we're all tripping on acid."[1]

The album and its title track, a feedback-drenched number taking a third of the album's length, introduces the subversion of Christian themes explored on later songs, describing a mystical approach to salvation in which "the Kingdom of Heaven is within" and achievable through freeing one's mind, after which one's ass will follow. Many of the songs (such as the title track and "Eulogy and Light") subvert Christian themes, including the Lord's Prayer and the 23rd Psalm.[1]

The album's gatefold cover forms something of a visual pun, echoing the sentiments of the album title. The sight of a woman holding her arms towards heaven in an ecstatic pose is subverted upon opening the sleeve to find that she is nude.

On the Billboard Music Charts (North America), Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow peaked at #11 on the Black Albums Chart and #92 on the Pop Albums chart.[1] The album and eponymous song influenced the band En Vogue, leading to the title of their hit song "Free Your Mind (song)".

Contents

[edit] Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Record Collector 5/5 stars [2]
Julian Cope (favorable) [3]
Pitchfork Media (8.8/10) [4]
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars [5]
Spin (9/10) [6]
Billboard (favorable) [7]
Robert Christgau B− [8]
The Grand Inquisitor (9/10) [9]
Rolling Stone 3/5 stars [10]
Wiki letter w.svg This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

[edit] Track listing

This album was released in 1970 on vinyl record and was reissued in 2005 on CD with additional bonus tracks.

[edit] Original 1970 vinyl release

Side One:

  1. "Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow" (George Clinton (lead vocals), Ray Davis, Eddie Hazel) - 10:04
  2. "Friday Night, August 14th" (Clinton, Hazel, Billy Bass Nelson (lead vocals)) - 5:21

Side Two:

  1. ""Funky Dollar Bill" (Clinton, Davis, Hazel, Tawl Ross (lead vocals)) - 3:15 (released as a single-Westbound 175)
  2. "I Wanna Know If It's Good to You?" (Clinton, Clarence Haskins, Hazel (lead vocals), Nelson (also lead vocals)) 5:59 (released as a single-Westbound 167)
  3. "Some More" (Clinton, Ernie Harris, Hazel (lead vocals)) - 2:56
  4. "Eulogy and Light" (Clinton (lead vocals), Harris) - 3:31

Lead vocals are noted by superscripts: (a) George Clinton, (b) Billy Bass Nelson, (c) Eddie Hazel, (d) Tawl Ross

[edit] 2005 CD reissue

On the 2005 CD reissue, there were four tracks in addition to the six tracks above. These tracks are (in order):

  1. "Fish, Chips and Sweat" - 3:22 minutes
  2. "Free Your Mind Radio Advert" - 0:55 minutes
  3. "I Wanna Know If It's Good to You" - 2:50 minutes
  4. "I Wanna Know If It's Good to You (instrumental)" - 3:12 minutes

[edit] Personnel

Funkadelic shared many members in common with its sister band Parliament. As a result, the vocals for this Funkadelic album were voiced by members common to these bands. The members of Parliament voiced on this record include: George Clinton who was the lead singer in both Parliament and Funkadelic; Ray Davis; Fuzzy Haskins; Calvin Simon; and Grady Thomas.

In addition to the members of Parliament who performed vocals on this album, several of the musicians also sang on a number of the tracks. Eddie Hazel, the lead guitarist, also performed lead vocals on two songs, "I Wanna Know" and "Some More". Tawl Ross, the rhythm guitarist, sang lead vocals on the track "Funky Dollar Bill". Billy Bass Nelson, the bass guitarist, performed lead vocals on the tracks "Friday Night" and "I Wanna Know".

Two instrumentalists did not perform vocals: keyboardist Bernie Worrell and drummer Tiki Fulwood.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Rudland, Dean. "Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow reissue liner notes". Westbound Records: 3. 2005.
  2. ^ Record Collector Review
  3. ^ Julian Cope Review
  4. ^ Pitchfork Media Review
  5. ^ Allmusic Review
  6. ^ Spin Review
  7. ^ Billboard Review
  8. ^ Robert Christgau Review
  9. ^ The Grand Inquisitor Review
  10. ^ Rolling Stone Review

[edit] External links
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
inductees
Related articles
Parliament discography
Funkadelic discography
George Clinton and
Parliament-Funkadelic
Bootsy Collins
Eddie Hazel
The Horny Horns
Bernie Worrell
The Brides of Funkenstein
Parlet
Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins
Ruth Copeland
Self Portrait (1970)  • I Am What I Am (1971)
Mutiny
Mutiny on the Mamaship (1979)  • Funk Plus the One (1980)  • A Night Out With the Boys (1983)  • Aftershock 2005 (1996)
Other spinoffs
Filmography
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