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Choosing between the many Parliament best-ofs isn't an easy task; in fact, the single-disc collections are all so similar that it's barely even worth belaboring the task. But if you do want to labor a bit in hopes of getting the absolute perfect single-disc best-of, this is one of your best options. First of all, above anything, skip Greatest Hits (The Bomb); there isn't anything wrong with its choices -- they're perfect -- but that album runs only 55 minutes, wasting invaluable CD space. That's where this collection becomes a better choice, making the most of its length by adding "Testify," "Agony of Defeet," and full-length versions of songs such as "Flashlight." You could argue, of course, that The Best of Parliament: Give Up the Funk is an even better collection than 20th Century Masters, which it is (not having "Testify," but instead offering "Let's Play House," "Ride On," "Theme From the Black Hole," and "Do That Stuff"), but that's a near-futile argument since they are practically facsimiles of one another. If you can find The Best of Parliament, get it over this album; it's a better choice. But don't go out of your way to find that album, because 20th Century Masters is a fine best-of, filled with nothing but Parliament anthems. There honestly aren't any weak moments here, with the possible exception of "Agony of Defeet," a latter-day song by the group that would have been better off replaced. Still, that's being highly critical. This is a perfect starting point; pick it up and chances are that either you'll struggle to stomach Parliament's funk or, more likely, find yourself searching out the group's full-lengths.
© Jason Birchmeier /TiVo
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William Earl Collins, Co-Arranger, Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Garry Shider, Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Glen Goins, Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Fuzzy Haskins, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Farrell, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Brecker, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Randy Brecker, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Fred Wesley, Co-Arranger, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - MACEO PARKER, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - George Clinton, Producer, Co-Arranger, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jerome Brailey, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Worrell, Co-Arranger, Keyboards, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Raymond Davis, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Cooper, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Parliament, MainArtist - Michael Hampton, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Calvin Simon, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Grady thomas, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Boom, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Cordell Mosson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tiki Fulwood, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1975 The Island Def Jam Music Group
William Earl Collins, Co-Arranger, Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Garry Shider, Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Glen Goins, Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Fuzzy Haskins, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Farrell, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Brecker, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Randy Brecker, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Fred Wesley, Co-Arranger, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - MACEO PARKER, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - George Clinton, Producer, Co-Arranger, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jerome Brailey, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bernie Worrell, Co-Arranger, Keyboards, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Raymond Davis, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Cooper, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Parliament, MainArtist - Michael Hampton, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Calvin Simon, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Grady thomas, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Boom, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Cordell Mosson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tiki Fulwood, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1975 UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Earl Collins, ComposerLyricist - George Clinton, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bernie Worrell, ComposerLyricist - Parliament, MainArtist
℗ 1977 UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Earl Collins, ComposerLyricist - George Clinton, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bernie Worrell, ComposerLyricist - Parliament, MainArtist
℗ 1976 The Island Def Jam Music Group
William Earl Collins, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Garry Shider, Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Hazel, Guitar, Recording Arranger, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Fuzzy Haskins, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - George Clinton, Producer, Recording Arranger, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bernie Worrell, Keyboards, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Clarence Haskins, ComposerLyricist - Raymond Davis, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Parliament, MainArtist - Calvin Simon, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Grady thomas, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Chase, Whistle, AssociatedPerformer - Cordell Mosson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tiki Fulwood, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Man In The Box, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Bykowski, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - William (Billie Bass) Nelson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Bronson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1974 UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Earl Collins, Co-Arranger, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Garry Shider, Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Hazel, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Fuzzy Haskins, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - George Clinton, Producer, Co-Arranger, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bernie Worrell, String Arranger, Keyboards, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Raymond Davis, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Parliament, MainArtist - Calvin Simon, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Grady thomas, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tyrone Lampkin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Cordell Mosson, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tiki Fulwood, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Perkash John, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Man In The Box, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1975 The Island Def Jam Music Group
William Earl Collins, ComposerLyricist - Garry Shider, ComposerLyricist - George Clinton, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Parliament, MainArtist
℗ 1977 UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Earl Collins, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Garry Shider, Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Hazel, Guitar, Recording Arranger, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Fuzzy Haskins, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - George Clinton, Producer, Recording Arranger, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bernie Worrell, Keyboards, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Raymond Davis, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Parliament, MainArtist - Daron E. Taylor, ComposerLyricist - Calvin Simon, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Grady thomas, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Chase, Whistle, AssociatedPerformer - Cordell Mosson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tiki Fulwood, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Man In The Box, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Bykowski, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - William (Billie Bass) Nelson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Bronson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1974 The Island Def Jam Music Group
William Earl Collins, ComposerLyricist - George Clinton, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bernie Worrell, ComposerLyricist - Parliament, MainArtist
℗ 1978 The Island Def Jam Music Group
William Earl Collins, Co-Arranger, Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Garry Shider, Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Glen Goins, Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Fuzzy Haskins, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Farrell, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Brecker, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Randy Brecker, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Fred Wesley, Co-Arranger, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - MACEO PARKER, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - George Clinton, Producer, Co-Arranger, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jerome Brailey, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Worrell, Co-Arranger, Keyboards, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Raymond Davis, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Cooper, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Parliament, MainArtist - Michael Hampton, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Calvin Simon, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Grady thomas, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Boom, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Cordell Mosson, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tiki Fulwood, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1975 The Island Def Jam Music Group
RONALD DUNBAR, ComposerLyricist - George Clinton, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Parliament, MainArtist - Donnie Sterling, ComposerLyricist - Don Sterling, ComposerLyricist - Donna Lynn Clinton, ComposerLyricist - Ron Dunbar, Producer
℗ 1980 The Island Def Jam Music Group A Universal Company
Album review
Choosing between the many Parliament best-ofs isn't an easy task; in fact, the single-disc collections are all so similar that it's barely even worth belaboring the task. But if you do want to labor a bit in hopes of getting the absolute perfect single-disc best-of, this is one of your best options. First of all, above anything, skip Greatest Hits (The Bomb); there isn't anything wrong with its choices -- they're perfect -- but that album runs only 55 minutes, wasting invaluable CD space. That's where this collection becomes a better choice, making the most of its length by adding "Testify," "Agony of Defeet," and full-length versions of songs such as "Flashlight." You could argue, of course, that The Best of Parliament: Give Up the Funk is an even better collection than 20th Century Masters, which it is (not having "Testify," but instead offering "Let's Play House," "Ride On," "Theme From the Black Hole," and "Do That Stuff"), but that's a near-futile argument since they are practically facsimiles of one another. If you can find The Best of Parliament, get it over this album; it's a better choice. But don't go out of your way to find that album, because 20th Century Masters is a fine best-of, filled with nothing but Parliament anthems. There honestly aren't any weak moments here, with the possible exception of "Agony of Defeet," a latter-day song by the group that would have been better off replaced. Still, that's being highly critical. This is a perfect starting point; pick it up and chances are that either you'll struggle to stomach Parliament's funk or, more likely, find yourself searching out the group's full-lengths.
© Jason Birchmeier /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 01:07:20
- Main artists: Parliament
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Island Mercury
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2000 Mercury Records a Division of PolyGram Records Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2000 Mercury Records a Division of PolyGram Records Inc.
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