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1990 studio album by Bernie Worrell
Funk of Ages is a solo album by former
Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist
Bernie Worrell .
[1]
[2] The album was released in 1990 by
Gramavision Records .
[3] It includes contributions by numerous guest musicians, including
Sly and Robbie ,
David Byrne ,
Herbie Hancock ,
Keith Richards ,
Vernon Reid , and
Phoebe Snow .
[4]
[5]
P-Funk bandmates
Bootsy Collins ,
Maceo Parker , Gary Cooper,
Doug Duffey , and
Michael Hampton also contributed.
"Outer Spaceways" was written by
Sun Ra .
[6] "Volunteered Slavery" was written by
Rahsaan Roland Kirk .
[7]
Critical reception
Patricia Smith, of
The Boston Globe , listed Funk of Ages as the best album of 1990.
[10] The
Chicago Tribune wrote that "Worrell's surprisingly supple voice shines on a couple of melodic reggae numbers, 'Real Life Dreams' and 'Sing'."
[9] The
Toronto Star determined that "the musicianship is adventurous enough to make for a funky, wide-ranging diversion."
[11]
Track listing
"Sing" (Worrell,
Michael Hampton ,
David Byrne ) 4:34
"B.W. Jam" (Worrell, Gary Cooper, Joe Polanco) 3:30
"Funk-A-Hall-Licks" (Worrell,
Bootsy Collins , Cooper, Doug Duffey) 5:20
"
Ain't She Sweet " (
Jack Yellen ,
Milton Ager ) 5:02
"Y-Spy" (Worrell,
Steve Jordan ,
Charley Drayton ) 4:27
"Real Life Dreams" (Worrell, David Nyce) 4:43
"Beware of Dog" (Worrell, Dougie Bowne) 2:37
"Straight Ahead" (Worrell, Sheila Washington, John Denicola, Patty Maloney, Gil Small) 3:59
"Don't Piss Me Off" (Worrell,
Jerry Harrison , Charlie Midnight) 4:26
"Volunteered Slavery/Bern's Blues/Outer Spaceways" (
Rahsaan Roland Kirk /Worrell/
Sun Ra ) 4:45
"At Mos' Spheres" (Worrell) 3:55
"Real Life Dreams On" (Worrell, David Nyce) 1:39
Personnel
Sing
Synthesizer, Organ, Synth Bass, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
Drums:
Steve Ferrone
Guitar:
Michael Hampton ,
Jimmy Ripp
Electric Sitar: Jimmy Ripp
Percussion: Larry Fratangelo
Background Vocals:
David Byrne , Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington
B.W. Jam
Clavinet, Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Percussion: Bernie Worrell
Drum Programming, Synth Horns, Samples, Sequencing: Joe Polanco, Gary Cooper
Horns: Uptown Horns
Background Vocals: Bernie Worrell, Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington, Steve Washington, Jenny Douglas-Foote
Funk-A-Hall-Licks
Clavinet, Synthesizer, Organ, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
Bass:
Bootsy Collins
Drums:
Steve Jordan
Keyboard:
Herbie Hancock
Guitar:
Keith Richards , Jimmy Ripp, Bootsy Collins
Saxophone:
Maceo Parker
Background Vocals: Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington, Jody Bell, Doug Duffey
Ain't She Sweet
Arrangement: Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins
Piano, Synth Bass: Bernie Worrell
Bass, Drum Programming: Bootsy Collins
Synthesizer: Bernie Worrell, Herbie Hancock
Percussion: Larry Fratangelo
Banjo: Jimmy Ripp
Vocals: Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Gary Cooper
Y-Spy
Clavinet, Synthesizer, Organ, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
Drums: Steve Jordan
Bass, Snare, Lap Steel Guitar:
Charley Drayton
Guitar: Keith Richards, Steve Jordan
Percussion: Steve Jordan, Charley Drayton
Vocals: Steve Jordan, Gary Cooper, Loren Qualls
Real Life Dreams
Organ, Clavinet, Synthesizer, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
Drums:
Sly Dunbar
Bass:
Robbie Shakespeare
Guitar: Jimmy Ripp, Steve Jordan
Percussion: Larry Fratangelo, Gary Cooper
Background Vocals: Sheila Washington, Jody Bell
Beware of Dog
Clavinet, Organ, Synthesizer: Bernie Worrell
Guitar:
Vernon Reid
Drums: Doug Bowne
Bass: Jimmy Hawkes
Saxophone: Maceo Parker
Straight Ahead
Clavinet, Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
Drums:
Steve Ferrone
Guitar: Jimmy Ripp
Bass: Warren McRae
Background Vocals: Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington, Patty Maloney,
John Denicola, Michael Camacho, Doug Duffey
Don't Piss Me Off
Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Samples: Bernie Worrell
Lead Vocals: Phoebe Snow, Gary Cooper
Organ:
Jerry Harrison
Drums: Dennis Chambers
Volunteered Slavery
Producer:
Bill Laswell
Organ, Electric Piano: Bernie Worrell
Vocals: Bernie Worrell, Gary Cooper
Chatan, Conga, Tambourine, Bells:
Aïyb Dieng
At Mos' Spheres
Producer: Bill Laswell
Organ: Bernie Worrell
Real Life Dreams On
Organ, Clavinet, Synthesizer: Bernie Worrell
Drums: Sly Dunbar
Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
Guitar: Jimmy Ripp, Steve Jordan
Percussion: Larry Fratangelo, Gary Cooper
References
^ Hiltbrand, David (Dec 3, 1990). "Funk of Ages". People . 34 (22): 30.
^ Ouellette, Dan (Feb 1991). "Funk of Ages by Bernie Worrell". DownBeat . 58 (2): 32.
^ Mills, David (28 Nov 1990). "In 1990, Firing Up the Funk". The Washington Post . p. B7.
^ Mitchell, Rick (December 16, 1990). "Recordings". Zest. Houston Chronicle . p. 11.
^ Wetherbee, Peter (Nov 3, 1990). "Bernie Worrell Takes Funk to the Future". Billboard . 102 (44): 32.
^
a
b Gettelman, Parry (15 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell, Funk of Ages". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel . p. 22.
^ Green, Tony (22 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell Funk of Ages". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times . p. 18.
^
Funk of Ages at
AllMusic
^
a
b Kot, Greg (3 Jan 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune . p. 7.
^ "Top Ten Records of 1990". Calendar. The Boston Globe . 20 Dec 1990. p. 17.
^ Dafoe, Chris (23 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell Funk of Ages". Toronto Star . p. H10.