Funkcronomicon
Encyclopedia
Funkcronomicon is a 1995 various artists collection of tracks produced by Bill Laswell
under the name Axiom Funk
, after Laswell's associated record label. It is a 2-CD set that was released by Island Records
. Funkcronomicon features heavy participation from various members of Parliament-Funkadelic
, to the degree that Funkcronomicon is widely considered to be a full fledged P-Funk
album. The album features what may be Pedro Bell
's last authentic artistic renderings, as well as P-Funk guitarist Eddie Hazel
's last recordings before his death in 1992. The album comprises newly recorded tracks, as well as tracks that have been featured on other Bill Laswell productions. Produced and compiled at Greenpoint Studio in the Greenpoint
neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, Funkcronomicon contains songs that were recorded as early as Maceo Parker
's For All the Kings Men (1989) period. The album title is a play on Necronomicon
, a fictional book
.
Disc two
"Order Within The Universe"
"Under The Influence"'
"If 6 Was 9"
"Orbitron Attack"
"Cosmic Slop"
"Free-Bass"
"Tell The World"
"Pray My Soul"
"Hideous Mutant Freekz"
"Sax Machine"
"Animal Behavior"
"Trumpets and Violins"
"Telling Time"
"Jungle Free-Bass"
"Blackout"
"Sacred To The Pain"
Bill Laswell
Bill Laswell is an American bassist, producer and record label owner....
under the name Axiom Funk
Axiom (record label)
Axiom was a record label founded by musician Bill Laswell in 1989, with the support of Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records. Axiom was an independent subdivision of Blackwell's Island Records, with Laswell being afforded a budget for a certain number of albums each year, basically of his own...
, after Laswell's associated record label. It is a 2-CD set that was released by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. Funkcronomicon features heavy participation from various members of Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
, to the degree that Funkcronomicon is widely considered to be a full fledged P-Funk
P-Funk
P-Funk is a shorthand term for the repertoire and performers associated with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective and the distinctive style of funk music they performed...
album. The album features what may be Pedro Bell
Pedro Bell
Pedro Bell is an American artist and illustrator. He is best known for his elaborate cover designs and other artwork for numerous Funkadelic and George Clinton solo albums....
's last authentic artistic renderings, as well as P-Funk guitarist Eddie Hazel
Eddie Hazel
Edward Earl "Eddie" Hazel was a guitarist in early funk music in the United States who played lead guitar with Parliament-Funkadelic...
's last recordings before his death in 1992. The album comprises newly recorded tracks, as well as tracks that have been featured on other Bill Laswell productions. Produced and compiled at Greenpoint Studio in the Greenpoint
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Greenpoint is the northernmost neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bordered on the southwest by Williamsburg at the Bushwick inlet, on the southeast by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and East Williamsburg, on the north by Newtown Creek and Long Island City, Queens at the...
neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, Funkcronomicon contains songs that were recorded as early as Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker is an American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones...
's For All the Kings Men (1989) period. The album title is a play on Necronomicon
Necronomicon
The Necronomicon is a fictional grimoire appearing in the stories by horror writer H. P. Lovecraft and his followers. It was first mentioned in Lovecraft's 1924 short story "The Hound", written in 1922, though its purported author, the "Mad Arab" Abdul Alhazred, had been quoted a year earlier in...
, a fictional book
Fictional book
A fictional book is a book that sometimes provides the basis of the plot of a story, a common thread in a series of books, or the works of a particular writer or canon of work. A fictional book may also be used as a mode of conceit to illustrate a story within a story.-Prominent fictional...
.
Track listing
Disc one- Order Within The Universe (written by Bernie WorrellBernie WorrellGeorge Bernard "Bernie" Worrell, Jr. is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic...
, Bill Laswell) 3:17 - Under The Influence (Jes Grew) (written by George ClintonGeorge Clinton (funk musician)George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
, B Laswell, B Collins, Sly DunbarSly DunbarLowell "Sly" Fillmore Dunbar is a drummer.-Biography:Dunbar, whose nickname was reportedly given for his passion for Sly & the Family Stone, launched his musical career while still in his adolescence, playing with a local group, The Yardbrooms, at the age of fifteen...
, Robbie Shakespeare) 5:45 - If 6 Was 9 (written by Jimi HendrixJimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
) 6:00 - Orbitron Attack (written by Grace Cook [a pseudonym for Eddie HazelEddie HazelEdward Earl "Eddie" Hazel was a guitarist in early funk music in the United States who played lead guitar with Parliament-Funkadelic...
]) 12:29 - Cosmic Slop (written by G Clinton, B Worrell) 5:15
- Free-Bass (Godzillatron Cush) (written by B Laswell, B Collins, Dennis Weeden) 5:43
- Tell The World (written by B Collins, Maceo ParkerMaceo ParkerMaceo Parker is an American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones...
, Sylvester Stewart) 3:53 - Pray My Soul (written by G Cook) 5:08
Disc two
- Hideous Mutant Freekz (written by G Clinton, B Collins, B Worrell, B Laswell) 7:25
- Sax Machine (written by B Collins, M Parker, Bobby ByrdBobby ByrdBobby Byrd born Robert Howard Byrd was an American funk/soul/R&B/gospel musician, songwriter and record producer. He was born in Toccoa, Georgia, and is a 1998 winner of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's prestigious Pioneer Award...
) 7:47 - Animal Behavior (written by B Laswell, B Collins, BucketheadBucketheadBrian Carroll , better known by his stage name Buckethead, is a guitarist and multi instrumentalist who has worked within several genres of music. He has released 34 studio albums, four special releases and one EP. He has performed on over 50 more albums by other artists...
) 7:09 - Trumpets And Violins, Violins (written by J Hendrix) 3:38
- Telling Time (written by Nicky Skopelitis) 4:57
- Jungle Free-Bass (written by B Laswell, B Collins) 5:38
- Blackout (written by DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight) 3:44
- Sacred To The Pain (written by G Cook, Umar Bin HassanUmar Bin HassanUmar Bin Hassan is an African-American poet associated with The Last Poets. He sold his younger sister's record player to purchase a bus ticket to New York City, where he joined the Last Poets...
) 4:54
Personnel
Producer: Bill Laswell"Order Within The Universe"
- Organ: Bernie WorrellBernie WorrellGeorge Bernard "Bernie" Worrell, Jr. is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic...
- Turntable: DXT
- Bass, Beats, Sound EFX: Bill Laswell
"Under The Influence"'
- Vocals: George ClintonGeorge Clinton (musician)George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
, Gary Cooper, Bootsy Collins, Michael PayneMichael "Clip" PayneMichael "Clip" Payne is an American musician. He has been a member of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective since 1977. First credited on Parliament's 1979 release "Gloryhallastoopid" with "Choir Chours", he has appeared on over 20 Parliament-Funkadelic collective recordings primarily as a vocalist...
, Debra Barsha, Zhana Saunders - Guitar: Bootsy CollinsBootsy CollinsWilliam Earl "Bootsy" Collins is an American funk bassist, singer, and songwriter.Rising to prominence with James Brown in the late 1960s, and with Parliament-Funkadelic in the '70s, Collins's driving bass guitar and humorous vocals established him as one of the leading names in funk...
- Piano: Herbie HancockHerbie HancockHerbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
- Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
- Drums: Anton FierAnton FierAnton Fier, , is an American drummer, composer and bandleader. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio.Fier was an early member of The Lounge Lizards and The Feelies. He was in The Lodge , worked with Pere Ubu, was briefly in the Voidoids and founded The Golden Palominos...
- Drum Programming: Sly DunbarSly DunbarLowell "Sly" Fillmore Dunbar is a drummer.-Biography:Dunbar, whose nickname was reportedly given for his passion for Sly & the Family Stone, launched his musical career while still in his adolescence, playing with a local group, The Yardbrooms, at the age of fifteen...
- Congas: Daniel Ponce
- Cowbell, Percussion: Aïyb DiengAïyb DiengAïyb Dieng is a Senegalese drummer and percussionist specializing in hand drums. He has recorded one solo album , and has worked with a wide range of musicians but is perhaps best known for his long-term association with prolific bassist/producer Bill Laswell.-Biography:He was born and raised in...
- Tuba: Edwin Rodriguez
- Baritone Horn, Euphonium: Joe Daly
- Trumpet, Flugelhorn: Ted Daniel
- Bassoon: Janet Grice
- Tenor Saxophone, Flute: J.D. Parron
- Horns arranged: Henry Threadgill
"If 6 Was 9"
- Lead Vocals, Space Bass: Bootsy Collins
- Guitar: DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight, Nicky SkopelitisNicky SkopelitisNicky Skopelitis is an American guitarist and composer from Greek heritage. He is best known as a guitarist, but also performs on banjo, oud, lute, keyboards and other instruments....
- Backwards Guitar: Robert Musso
- Intro Guitar: BucketheadBucketheadBrian Carroll , better known by his stage name Buckethead, is a guitarist and multi instrumentalist who has worked within several genres of music. He has released 34 studio albums, four special releases and one EP. He has performed on over 50 more albums by other artists...
- Violin: Lili HaydnLili HaydnLili Haydn is a violinist, vocalist, composer, guitarist, and actress. As a child, she pursued a career as an actress; at age eight she discovered the violin and began to focus on classical music. By the time Haydn was fifteen, she had played with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.After graduating from...
"Orbitron Attack"
- Guitar: Eddie HazelEddie HazelEdward Earl "Eddie" Hazel was a guitarist in early funk music in the United States who played lead guitar with Parliament-Funkadelic...
- Space Bass: Bootsy Collins
- Organ: Bernie Worrell
- Drums: Jerome "Bigfoot" Brailey
"Cosmic Slop"
- Vocals: Garry Shider, Gary "Mudbone" Cooper
- Guitar: Garry Shider, Bootsy Collins, Michael HamptonMichael HamptonMichael Hampton is a funk/rock guitarist. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic....
- Organ: Bernie Worrell
- Fairlight: Nicky Skopelitis
- Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
- Drums: Sly Dunbar
- Congas: Aïyb Dieng
- Material Strings Arranger & Conductor: Karl Berger
"Free-Bass"
- Free-Bass: Zillatron (Bootsy Collins)
- Stun Guitar: Menace (the Dawg of the C)
"Tell The World"
- Vocals: Maceo ParkerMaceo ParkerMaceo Parker is an American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones...
, Bobby ByrdBobby ByrdBobby Byrd born Robert Howard Byrd was an American funk/soul/R&B/gospel musician, songwriter and record producer. He was born in Toccoa, Georgia, and is a 1998 winner of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's prestigious Pioneer Award...
, GodmomaGodmomaGodmoma was a trio of female vocalists. The trio consisted of Cynthia Girty, Carolyn Myles, and Tony Walker.Godmoma released an album, Godmoma Here, in 1981, on Elektra Records... - Keyboards, Voice: Sly StoneSly StoneSly Stone is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, most famous for his role as frontman for Sly & the Family Stone, a band which played a critical role in the development of soul, funk and psychedelia in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of...
- Other Music: Bootsy Collins
"Pray My Soul"
- Guitar: Eddie Hazel
- Organ: Bernie Worrell
"Hideous Mutant Freekz"
- Vocals: George Clinton, Garry Shider, Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, Bootsy Collins
- Guitar, Space Bass: Bootsy Collins
- Guitar Solo: Buckethead
- Synth: Bernie Worrell
- Drum Loops: Anton Fier
"Sax Machine"
- Vocals: Maceo Parker, Bobby Byrd, Bootsy Collins
- Alto Saxophone: Maceo Parker
- Trombone: Fred WesleyFred WesleyFred Wesley is an American jazz and funk trombonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
- Guitar, Bass: Bootsy Collins
- Low Bass: Bill Laswell
- Synth: Bernie Worrell
- Percussion: Timothy "T-Bone" David
"Animal Behavior"
- Lead Vocals, Space Bass: Bootsy Collins
- Organ: Bernie Worrell
- Guitar: Buckethead
- Turntables: Af Next Man Flip
- Drums: Brain
- Samples: Bill Laswell
"Trumpets and Violins"
- Voice: Abiodun Oyewole
- Guitar: Blackbyrd McKnight, Nicky Skopelitis, Robert Musso
- Processing: Robert Musso
- Intro Guitar: Buckethead
- Violin: Lili Haydn
"Telling Time"
- 6 & 12 String Guitars: Nicky Skopelitis
- Organ: Amina Claudine Myers
- Bass: Bill Laswell
- Drums: Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste
- Congas: Guilherme Franco
"Jungle Free-Bass"
- Jungle Bass: Bootsy Collins
- Dub Bass: Bill Laswell
- Vocal Sounds: Torture
"Blackout"
- Guitar, Bass, Drums: Blackbyrd McKnight
"Sacred To The Pain"
- Guitar: Eddie Hazel
- Organ: Bernie Worrell
- Voice: Umar Bin HassanUmar Bin HassanUmar Bin Hassan is an African-American poet associated with The Last Poets. He sold his younger sister's record player to purchase a bus ticket to New York City, where he joined the Last Poets...
External links
- Funkcronomicon at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Funkcronomicon at The Motherpage
- Sly, Miles and Jimi: The Album at The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...