R&B Skeletons in the Closet
Encyclopedia
R&B Skeletons in the Closet is the fourth solo album by Parliament-Funkadelic
leader George Clinton
. It was released in May 1986 by Capitol Records
and was the last album that Clinton would record for the label. Recording sessions for the album utilized a small cadre of P-Funk
musicians including Bootsy Collins
, Garry Shider
, and DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight, as well as the debut recorded appearance of former Miss America
Vanessa L. Williams
on the opening track "Hey Good Lookin'". R&B Skeletons in the Closet was produced by Clinton, Steve Washington, Shider, and Andre Jackson.
The album's concept deals with black musical artists attempts to "cross over" to white audiences and losing their core black audience in the process. R&B Skeletons in the Closet expands on the dance
-funk
sound of Clinton's previous solo albums, and it also encorporates elements of electro and hip hop music
. The album was reissued on CD by Capitol Records in 1991, but went out of print shortly thereafter.
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...
leader George Clinton
George 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...
. It was released in May 1986 by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and was the last album that Clinton would record for the label. Recording sessions for the album utilized a small cadre of 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...
musicians including Bootsy Collins
Bootsy Collins
William 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...
, Garry Shider
Garry Shider
Garry Marshall Shider was an American musician and guitarist. He was musical director of the P-Funk All-Stars for much of their history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.-Early life:Shider was born in Plainfield, New...
, and DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight, as well as the debut recorded appearance of former Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
on the opening track "Hey Good Lookin'". R&B Skeletons in the Closet was produced by Clinton, Steve Washington, Shider, and Andre Jackson.
The album's concept deals with black musical artists attempts to "cross over" to white audiences and losing their core black audience in the process. R&B Skeletons in the Closet expands on the dance
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
-funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
sound of Clinton's previous solo albums, and it also encorporates elements of electro and hip hop music
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
. The album was reissued on CD by Capitol Records in 1991, but went out of print shortly thereafter.
Track listing
- "Hey Good Lookin'" (Steve Washington, George Clinton, Garry ShiderGarry ShiderGarry Marshall Shider was an American musician and guitarist. He was musical director of the P-Funk All-Stars for much of their history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.-Early life:Shider was born in Plainfield, New...
) (released as single Capitol 5602 and as a 12" single-Capitol 9729) - "Do Fries Go with That Shake?Do Fries Go with That Shake?"Do Fries Go with That Shake?" is a song by Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton. The song was released in 1986 by Capitol Records and was originally featured on the album R&B Skeletons in the Closet....
" (Steve Washington, Sheila Washington, George Clinton) (released as single Capitol 5558 and as a 12" single-Capitol SPRO 9628) - "Mix Master Suite: a) Startin' From Scratch, b) Counter Irritant, c) Nothin' Left To Burn" (George Clinton)
- "Electric Pygmies" (George Clinton)
- "Intense" (George Clinton) (originally featured on the soundtrack to the movie Iron EagleIron EagleIron Eagle is a 1986 action film directed by Sidney J. Furie and starring Jason Gedrick and Louis Gossett, Jr. While it received mixed reviews, the film earned US$24,159,872 at the U.S. box office. Iron Eagle was followed by three sequels: Iron Eagle II, Aces: Iron Eagle III and Iron Eagle on the...
) - "Cool Joe" (Kevin Burke, Andre Jackson, George Clinton)
- "R&B Skeletons (In the Closet)" (George Clinton, David Spradley) (released as single Capitol 5642 and as a 12" single-Capitol V-15263)
Personnel
- Guitars: DeWayne McKnight, 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...
, Andre Williams, Steve Salas, Jack Sherman - Bass: Steve Washington
- Keyboards: Joseph Fiddler, Andre Williams, Gambas, ZO, Kevin Burke, Steve Washington, David Spradley
- Saxophone and flute: 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...
- 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:...
- Piano: Ed Johnson, Gambas
- Timbales: Lelan Zales
- Drum Programming: Steve Washington, Fred Johnson, ZO
- Scratch mix: Anthony Bryant
- Mix-master orchestra: Ed Johnson, John Johnson, Paula Hachalter, Jim HayJim HayJames "Red-Eye" Alexander Hay is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played 74 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings. He was included on 1954, 1955 Stanley Cup pictures with the Red Wings. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1955.-External links:...
, Murray Adler, William Reichenbach, Donald Ashworth, Rick MarottaRick MarottaRick Marotta is a US-based drummer and percussionist who appears on many recordings by leading artists such as Aretha Franklin, Carly Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Paul Simon, John Lennon, Hall & Oates, Stevie Nicks, Wynonna, Roy Orbison, Todd Rundgren, Roberta Flack, Peter Frampton, Quincy... - Vocals: Kevin Burke, Shirley Jackson, Pat Lewis, Sandra Feva, Jessica Cleaves, Garry ShiderGarry ShiderGarry Marshall Shider was an American musician and guitarist. He was musical director of the P-Funk All-Stars for much of their history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.-Early life:Shider was born in Plainfield, New...
, Joe Harris, 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...
, Andre Williams, Vanessa L. WilliamsVanessa L. WilliamsVanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
, Debra Barsha, Bootsy Collins, Sheila Washington, Stefan Frank, Steven Boyd, Lige Curry, Robert Johnson
External links
- R&B Skeletons in the Closet 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...
- R&B Skeletons in the Closet at The Motherpage
- Album Review at Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....