The Electric Spanking of War Babies
The Electric Spanking of War Babies | ||||
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Studio album by Funkadelic | ||||
Released | April 14, 1981 | |||
Genre | Funk | |||
Length | 43:52 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Producer | George Clinton | |||
Funkadelic chronology | ||||
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P-Funk collective chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
![]() Original, uncensored cover | ||||
The Electric Spanking of War Babies is the twelfth studio album by the American funk rock band Funkadelic, released in April 1981 on Warner Bros. Records. The title is an allusion to the Vietnam War and baby boomers. Sly Stone contributed to the recording sessions, singing lead vocals on "Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer Version)".
Background
Clinton originally planned on a double album, but the idea was quashed by Warner Brothers. The original tracklist featured the instrumental version of the title track found on the 12" single's b-side, as well as the tracks "May Day (S.O.S.)" and "I Angle", later released on the George Clinton Family Series albums Plush Funk and Testing Positive 4 the Funk, respectively.[1] The title refers to the US government's use of media propaganda to promote imperialism and war.[2]
It includes many relative newcomers to P-Funk, many of whom remained employed by George Clinton on future releases under his own name or under the name George Clinton & the P-Funk All-Stars. Of all the original group members since Funkadelic's debut album, only George Clinton, Ray Davis, and Eddie Hazel appear on this album. Junie Morrison plays all the instruments on the title track except the guitar solo which was played by Michael Hampton. This was the last Album to feature Eddie Hazel, Ray Davis, Garry Shider, Junie Morrison, Mallia Franklin, and Jessica Cleaves. Also this is the only Funkadelic album the late Roger Troutman appears on as well. Sly Stone performs several instruments and contributed production work to the album.
Artwork controversy
The cover artwork was designed by long-time Funkadelic collaborator Pedro Bell. Deemed inappropriate due to the cover featuring an overtly phallic spaceship that transported a naked woman, the work was edited, despite the fact that Funkadelic "was following up two consecutive million-selling records," while signed to Warner Bros.[3] Bell revised The Electric Spanking of War Babies so the image was featured with a lime-green sketch of shape covering the majority of the cover art, which says, “Oh Look! The Cover that ‘They’ were TOO-SCARED to print!”[3]
Critical response
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Blender | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s | A−[5] |
The New York Times | (mixed)[6] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
- "Whether or not one cares to examine its hidden political messages, Electric Spanking is an above-average party album."
- AllMusic[2]
- "George Clinton reaches into the disgusting depths of his drug-addled mind and comes up with the solidest, weirdest chunk of P-Funk since one nation gathered under a groove."
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "The Electric Spanking of War Babies" | Bob Bishop, George Clinton, Junie Morrison | George Clinton, Junie Morrison | 8:37 |
2. | "Electro-Cuties" | Jimmy Ali, Clinton, Ron Ford | George Clinton, Ron Ford | 6:10 |
3. | "Funk Gets Stronger, Part 1" | Clinton, Michael Hampton | George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Sly Stone | 6:37 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Brettino's Bounce" | Larry Fratangelo | George Clinton | 3:38 |
2. | "Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer Version)" (interpolates "She Loves You" by the Beatles) | Clinton. Sylvester Stewart | George Clinton, Sly Stone | 4:42 |
3. | "Shockwaves" | Ron Dunbar, DeWayne McKnight | George Clinton, Ron Dunbar | 5:10 |
4. | "Oh, I" | Clinton, Rodney Curtis, Garry Shider | George Clinton, Garry Shider | 4:51 |
5. | "Icka Prick" | Clinton, Shider | George Clinton, Garry Shider | 4:07 |
Personnel
- George Clinton - lead vocals (on #1–3, 5, 8)
- Junie Morrison - bass, rhythm guitar, keyboards and drums (1)
- Roger Troutman - rhythm guitar, bass and Moog synthesizer (3)
- Michael Hampton (1–3, 7, 8), Jerome Ali (2, 7), Eddie Hazel (5) - lead guitar
- DeWayne McKnight - guitar (6)
- Gordon Carlton - rhythm guitar (2, 7)
- Jimmy Ali (2), Lige Curry (3, 6, 8), Rodney Curtis (7) - bass
- Kenny Colton (2, 6), Tyrone Lampkin (3, 7) - drums
- Larry Fratangelo - percussion (3, 4, 6), drums (4)
- Muruga Booker - electric talking drum (3)
- Marion Saulsby - keyboards (7)
- David Lee Chong - Moog synthesizer and keyboards (8)
- Pat Rizzo (3, 5), Michael Brecker (7) - saxophone
- Cynthia Robinson - trumpet (3, 5)
- Bootsy Collins - vocals (3)
- Tony Thomas - vocals
- Donnie Sterling - lead vocals (6)
- Garry Shider - lead vocals (7), rhythm guitar (7, 8)
- Sly Stone - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards and drums (5)
References
- ^ "Tracklist of the original planned Electric Spanking". 20 August 2020.
- ^ a b c AllMusic review
- ^ a b Edwards, Gavin (January 15, 2015). "Banned in the U.S.A.: 20 Wildest Censored Album Covers - Funkadelic, 'The Electric Spanking of War Babies' (1981)". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Blender review Archived 2009-08-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Robert Christgau review
- ^ Rockwell, John (6 December 1981). "BIG BLACK POP BANDS HAVE LOST EXCITEMENT AND ADVENTURE (Published 1981)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2018-01-26.
- ^ Rolling Stone review
External links
- The Electric Spanking of War Babies at Discogs
- The Motherpage
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- Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins
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- Billy Bass Nelson
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- Bootsy Collins
- Catfish Collins
- Cordell "Boogie" Mosson
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- Ron Bykowski
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- Gary Bronson
- Michael Hampton
- Glenn Goins
- Jerome Brailey
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- Rodney Curtis
- Mallia Franklin
- Larry Fratangelo
- DeWayne McKnight
- David Spradley
- Funkadelic
- Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow
- Maggot Brain
- America Eats Its Young
- Cosmic Slop
- Standing on the Verge of Getting It On
- Let's Take It to the Stage
- Hardcore Jollies
- One Nation Under a Groove
- Uncle Jam Wants You
- The Electric Spanking of War Babies
- By Way of the Drum
- First Ya Gotta Shake the Gate
- Live: Meadowbrook, Rochester, Michigan – 12th September 1971
- Tales of Kidd Funkadelic
- Music for Your Mother: Funkadelic 45s
- Motor City Madness: The Ultimate Funkadelic Westbound Compilation
- The Whole Funk & Nothing but the Funk: Definitive Funkadelic 1976–1981
- Toys
- "Get Off Your Ass and Jam"
- "One Nation Under a Groove"
- "(Not Just) Knee Deep"
- "The Electric Spanking of War Babies"
- Discography
- "Let's Take It to the Stage"
- Connections & Disconnections