One Nation Under a Groove

This article is about the album. For the song, see One Nation Under a Groove (song).

One Nation Under a Groove
Studio album by Funkadelic
Released	September 1978
Recorded	1977-1978 United Sound (Detroit, Michigan) Monroe Civic Center (Monroe, Louisiana)
Genre	Funk, soul, rock
Length	41:40 (original album) 16:58 (bonus EP) 58:38 (total)
Label	Warner Bros. WB 56-539
Producer	George Clinton
Funkadelic chronology
Hardcore Jollies (1976) One Nation Under a Groove (1978) Uncle Jam Wants You (1979)
Alternative cover
Original LP inner sleeve

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Billboard	(favorable)[2]
Blender	[3]
Robert Christgau	(A)[4]
Entertainment Weekly	(A)[5]
Rolling Stone	[6]
Rolling Stone	[7]
Spin	(10/10)[8]
Sputnikmusic	[9]
Vibe	(favorable)[10]

One Nation Under a Groove is the tenth studio album by American funk and rock band Funkadelic, released in September 1978 on Warner Bros. Records. Recording sessions took place at United Sound Studio in Detroit, Michigan, with one song recorded live on April 15, 1978 at the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, Louisiana.^[11] The album was the first album to include keyboardist and frequent songwriter Walter "Junie" Morrison. One Nation Under a Groove also marked the pinnacle of Michael Hampton's development as a guitarist.

One Nation Under a Groove was Funkadelic's most commercially successful album, and one of its most critically lauded. It is also regarded by many as the greatest funk album of all time and ranks at or near the top of many "best album" lists in disparate genres.^[12] The album was later featured on Vibe magazine's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century list. In 2003, the album was ranked number 177 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.^[13]

Songs and music

One Nation Under a Groove is a very loose concept album (as are most of Funkadelic's works), essentially declaring the power of Funk (see P Funk mythology) to do two interconnected things: become an open-minded, happy, and goal-oriented person, and dance well. This is the power of Funk stated in less clear terms on previous albums (Free Your Mind... And Your Ass Will Follow).

"One Nation Under a Groove"

see main article One Nation Under a Groove (song)

This song was a big hit for the group, and is today regarded as one of their signature songs, being a part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll and Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". It was also a top 40 hit. The song refers to dancing as a path to freedom: the "dancing" can be seen as metaphoric, though. The song's title most likely refers to the line in the Pledge of Allegiance "One nation, under God". Furthering the religious imagery, the song references the groove being a god.

"Groovallegiance"

A song with a slow funky beat, Groovallegiance continues the album's loose concept about forming "One Nation Under a Groove". It references the "United Funk of Funkadelica", supposedly the one nation referred to in the title and presents the taking of an oath pledging groovallegiance to the funk. Groovallegiance is an excellent example of the vocal finesse of the group and also features a rare bass solo.

"Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!"

In keeping the album's theme of breaking political, social, and musical barriers, this song is a cross between funk and rock, mixing a funky bassline with heavy, more rock oriented guitar and drums. The lyrics are simple, referring to why a funk band can, contrary to popular belief, play rock: regardless, it is one of their most popular songs.^{[citation needed]}

"P.E. Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers)"

"Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers)" is a long, scatological song with references to the world being, among other things, a toll-free toilet.

"Into You"

A Funk ballad.

"Cholly (Funk Getting Ready To Roll!)"

This song deals with a man once interested in classical music who is introduced to funk and phone cords by some friends of his: at first, he is doubtful of it, but he eventually grows to love it.

Track listing

Main album
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"One Nation Under a Groove"	George Clinton, Walter Morrison, Garry Shider	7:29
2.	"Groovallegiance"	Clinton, Morrison, Bernard Worrell	7:00
3.	"Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!"	Clinton, Morrison, Michael Hampton	6:18
4.	"Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers)"	Clinton, Shider, Linda Brown	10:45
5.	"Into You"	Clinton, Morrison, William Collins	5:41
6.	"Cholly (Funk Getting Ready To Roll!)"	Clinton, Morrison, Collins	4:27
Total length:			41:40

Bonus EP
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Lunchmeataphobia (Think!...It Ain't Illegal Yet!)"	Clinton, Worrell	4:12
2.	"P.E. Squad/DooDoo Chasers ('Going All-The-Way Off' Instrumental)"	Clinton, Shider, Brown	4:18
3.	"Maggot Brain" (Live)	Clinton, Edward Hazel	8:28
Total length:			16:58

In Europe, the Bonus-EP was replaced by a bonus 12" 45rpm mini-album containing the 3 EP tracks on one side and an extended version of "One Nation Under a Groove" on the other.

Personnel

Funkadelic Main Invasion Force (as given in the liner notes):

• Throbasonic Funkgeetarists:
  • Mike 'Kidd Funkadelic' Hampton, Gary Shider
• Banjo'd Muthaplucker:
  • Bobby Lewis
• Avatarian
  • Mike Hampton
• Keybo' Dans & Synthezoidees:
  • Bernie 'DaVinci' Worrell, Walter 'Junie' Morrison
• Rotofunkie Drum & Percussionatin' Thumpdans:
  • Jerome Brailey, W. Bootsy Collins, Larry Fratangelo, Tyrone Lampkin
• Bass Thumpasaurians:
  • William 'Bootsy' Collins, Rodney "Skeet" Curtis, Cordell 'Boogie' Mosson
• Funkadelic Blamgusta Vocaloids (Voices For Da Nation!):
  • George Clinton, Raymond (Stingray) Davis, Ron Ford, Mallia Franklin, Lynn Mabry, W. 'Junie' Morrison, Cordell Mosson, Dawn Silva, Gary "Dowop" Shider, Greg Thomas, Jeanette Washington, Debbie Wright

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1978 (U.S.)

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ Billboard review
3. ^ Blender review
4. ^ Robert Christgau review
5. ^ Entertainment Weekly review
6. ^ Rolling Stone review
7. ^ Rolling Stone review
8. ^ Spin review
9. ^ Sputnikmusic review
10. ^ Vibe review
11. ^ Tower.com: One Nation Under a Groove. Tower.com. Retrieved on 2008-08-11.
12. ^ Acclaimed Music - One Nation Under a Groove (rankings, ratings, etc.). www.acclaimedmusic.net. Retrieved on 2008-08-11.
13. ^ 177) One Nation Under a Groove : Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2008-08-11.

External links

• One Nation Under a Groove at Discogs
• The Motherpage