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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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Chicago Tribune[9]
Orlando Sentinel[6]

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

  1. "Sing" (Worrell, Michael Hampton, David Byrne) 4:34
  2. "B.W. Jam" (Worrell, Gary Cooper, Joe Polanco) 3:30
  3. "Funk-A-Hall-Licks" (Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Cooper, Doug Duffey) 5:20
  4. "Ain't She Sweet" (Jack Yellen, Milton Ager) 5:02
  5. "Y-Spy" (Worrell, Steve Jordan, Charley Drayton) 4:27
  6. "Real Life Dreams" (Worrell, David Nyce) 4:43
  7. "Beware of Dog" (Worrell, Dougie Bowne) 2:37
  8. "Straight Ahead" (Worrell, Sheila Washington, John Denicola, Patty Maloney, Gil Small) 3:59
  9. "Don't Piss Me Off" (Worrell, Jerry Harrison, Charlie Midnight) 4:26
  10. "Volunteered Slavery/Bern's Blues/Outer Spaceways" (Rahsaan Roland Kirk/Worrell/Sun Ra) 4:45
  11. "At Mos' Spheres" (Worrell) 3:55
  12. "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

  1. ^ Hiltbrand, David (Dec 3, 1990). "Funk of Ages". People. 34 (22): 30.
  2. ^ Ouellette, Dan (Feb 1991). "Funk of Ages by Bernie Worrell". DownBeat. 58 (2): 32.
  3. ^ Mills, David (28 Nov 1990). "In 1990, Firing Up the Funk". The Washington Post. p. B7.
  4. ^ Mitchell, Rick (December 16, 1990). "Recordings". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 11.
  5. ^ Wetherbee, Peter (Nov 3, 1990). "Bernie Worrell Takes Funk to the Future". Billboard. 102 (44): 32.
  6. ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (15 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell, Funk of Ages". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 22.
  7. ^ Green, Tony (22 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell Funk of Ages". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 18.
  8. ^ Funk of Ages at AllMusic
  9. ^ a b Kot, Greg (3 Jan 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  10. ^ "Top Ten Records of 1990". Calendar. The Boston Globe. 20 Dec 1990. p. 17.
  11. ^ Dafoe, Chris (23 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell Funk of Ages". Toronto Star. p. H10.
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