The Parliaments
Encyclopedia
The Parliaments were a doo-wop
quintet
from Plainfield, New Jersey
, formed in the back room of a barbershop in the late 1950s and named after the cigarette brand
. After some early personnel changes their lineup solidified with George Clinton
, Ray Davis
, Fuzzy Haskins
, Calvin Simon
, and Grady Thomas
. Clinton was group leader and manager, and part owner of the barbershop where the group convened to entertain customers.
and funk
music, with a notable penchant for bizarre lyrics. The group struggled for hits during most of the 1960s, recording singles on a variety of small record label
s. They switched labels many times, and released several double-sided singles without success, including "Poor Willie
" (on Apt Records
), "Lonely Island
" (on Flipp) and "Heart Trouble" (on Golden World Records
). Eventually, Clinton gained employment at Motown Records
as a songwriter and producer, making weekly trips to Detroit
to produce for The Pets, Roy Handy, and other acts. In 1967
the Parliaments released "(I Wanna) Testify
" on Revilot and finally achieved a hit single, with the song reaching #3 R&B and #20 Pop on the Billboard charts
. In reality, Clinton was the only member of the Parliaments to appear in the song, as the other members were unable to travel to Detroit for the recording session (session singers and musicians rounded out the recording). To capitalize on the single's success, Clinton put together a backing band for a tour, expanding the Parliaments to the five singers plus five backing musicians.
After the success of "(I Wanna) Testify
", Clinton became embroiled in a contractual dispute surrounding the bankruptcy
of Revilot Records and temporarily lost the rights to the name "The Parliaments." In order to continue recording for other labels, Clinton renamed the entire ensemble Funkadelic
(a name coined by bassist Billy Bass Nelson
), which Clinton positioned as a funk-rock band featuring the five backing musicians with the five Parliaments singers as uncredited guests. When Revilot declared bankruptcy the Parliaments were sold to Atlantic Records
, and Clinton abandoned doo-wop to avoid working for Atlantic. Even with Funkadelic operating as a recording and touring entity, in 1970 Clinton relaunched the Parliaments as a new R&B-based funk band, now known as Parliament
. The lineup still consisted of the five original singers plus the five backing musicians, with the two acts signed to different labels and marketed as performing different types of funk
.
Several songs from the early repertoire of the Parliaments would be re-recorded on future Parliament
and Funkadelic
albums, including "Testify
", "The Goose
", "All Your Goodies Are Gone", "Fantasy Is Reality
", "Good Ole Music", "I Can Feel The Ice Melting", "What You Been Growing", "I'll Wait", and "That Was My Girl". In 1995, many of the original Parliaments tracks were reissue
d on the Goldmine/Soul label on the album Testifyin.
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
quintet
Quintet
A quintet is a group containing five members.It is commonly associated with musical groups, such as a string quintet, or a group of five singers, but can be applied to any situation where five similar or related objects are considered a single unit....
from Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population increased to a record high of 49,808....
, formed in the back room of a barbershop in the late 1950s and named after the cigarette brand
Parliament (cigarette)
Parliament is a brand of cigarettes marketed by the company Philip Morris. The brand was introduced in 1931 and is distinctive for its recessed paper filters. In the 1940s and '50s, the brand was marketed for its unique filters, with advertisements reading, "Only the flavor touches your lips", and...
. After some early personnel changes their lineup solidified with 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...
, Ray Davis
Ray Davis (musician)
Raymond "Ray" Davis was the original bass singer and one of the founding members of The Parliaments, Parliament, and Funkadelic. His regular nickname while he was with those groups was "Sting Ray Davis". Aside from George Clinton, he was the only original member of the Parliaments not to leave the...
, Fuzzy Haskins
Fuzzy Haskins
Clarence Eugene "Fuzzy" Haskins is a former singer with 1950s and 1960s doo-wop group, The Parliaments. He is a founding member of the groundbreaking and influential 1970s funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic, also known as Parliament-Funkadelic. He left Parliament-Funkadelic in 1977 to pursue a...
, Calvin Simon
Calvin Simon
Calvin Eugene Simon is a former member of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic....
, and Grady Thomas
Grady Thomas
Grady Thomas is a former member of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic...
. Clinton was group leader and manager, and part owner of the barbershop where the group convened to entertain customers.
History
The group was originally based on Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, but by the 1960s had developed a unique sound based on emerging styles of soulSoul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and 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...
music, with a notable penchant for bizarre lyrics. The group struggled for hits during most of the 1960s, recording singles on a variety of small record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s. They switched labels many times, and released several double-sided singles without success, including "Poor Willie
Poor Willie
"Poor Willie" is the first single recorded commercially by The Parliaments. The single was released in 1959 by APT Records , a subsidiary of Hull Records. Both songs were written by all of the Parliaments, which by this time consisted of George Clinton, Robert Lambert, Charles Davis, and Grady Thomas...
" (on Apt Records
Apt Records
Apt Records was a sub-label from ABC-Paramount Records. The label released only singles. The name was derived from ABC-Paramount's parent company, American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres....
), "Lonely Island
Lonely Island (song)
"Lonely Island" is the second single released by The Parliaments. It was released in 1960 on the Flipp Record label . At this stage of their careers, the Parliaments consisted of George Clinton, Calvin Simon, Johnny Murray, Charles Davis, and Grady Thomas. There are no writers credits on the single...
" (on Flipp) and "Heart Trouble" (on Golden World Records
Golden World Records
Golden World Records was a record label owned by Ed Wingate and Joanne Bratton . The recording studio was located in Detroit, MI., first on 11801 12th Street , and then on 3246 West Davison, within the area of the present-day Davison Freeway...
). Eventually, Clinton gained employment at Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
as a songwriter and producer, making weekly trips to Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
to produce for The Pets, Roy Handy, and other acts. In 1967
1967 in music
The summer of 1967 is "The Summer of Love" in San Francisco. It also became an important year for psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles The summer of 1967 is "The Summer of Love" in San Francisco. It also became an important year for psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles The...
the Parliaments released "(I Wanna) Testify
(I Wanna) Testify
" Testify" is the first hit single by the Detroit soul singing group The Parliaments. The single was released at the beginning of the summer of 1967 by Revilot Records. The single went to #3 on Billboard R&B chart and #20 on the Pop chart. It would be the only major hit for the group for the entire...
" on Revilot and finally achieved a hit single, with the song reaching #3 R&B and #20 Pop on the Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
. In reality, Clinton was the only member of the Parliaments to appear in the song, as the other members were unable to travel to Detroit for the recording session (session singers and musicians rounded out the recording). To capitalize on the single's success, Clinton put together a backing band for a tour, expanding the Parliaments to the five singers plus five backing musicians.
After the success of "(I Wanna) Testify
(I Wanna) Testify
" Testify" is the first hit single by the Detroit soul singing group The Parliaments. The single was released at the beginning of the summer of 1967 by Revilot Records. The single went to #3 on Billboard R&B chart and #20 on the Pop chart. It would be the only major hit for the group for the entire...
", Clinton became embroiled in a contractual dispute surrounding the bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
of Revilot Records and temporarily lost the rights to the name "The Parliaments." In order to continue recording for other labels, Clinton renamed the entire ensemble Funkadelic
Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
(a name coined by bassist Billy Bass Nelson
Billy Bass Nelson
William "Billy Bass" Nelson is a U.S. musician, who was the original bassist for Funkadelic. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic....
), which Clinton positioned as a funk-rock band featuring the five backing musicians with the five Parliaments singers as uncredited guests. When Revilot declared bankruptcy the Parliaments were sold to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, and Clinton abandoned doo-wop to avoid working for Atlantic. Even with Funkadelic operating as a recording and touring entity, in 1970 Clinton relaunched the Parliaments as a new R&B-based funk band, now known as Parliament
Parliament (band)
Parliament was a funk band most prominent during the 1970s. It and its sister act Funkadelic, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
. The lineup still consisted of the five original singers plus the five backing musicians, with the two acts signed to different labels and marketed as performing different types of 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...
.
Several songs from the early repertoire of the Parliaments would be re-recorded on future Parliament
Parliament (band)
Parliament was a funk band most prominent during the 1970s. It and its sister act Funkadelic, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
and Funkadelic
Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
albums, including "Testify
Testify (Parliament song)
"Testify" is a song by the band Parliament. It is a funk reworking of the song " Testify", which was originally recorded in 1967 by The Parliaments and reached #3 on the Billboard R&B chart...
", "The Goose
The Goose
"The Goose" is a song by the funk band Parliament. It was released as a two-part single, the group's first on their new label Casablanca Records. It was also a track on their 1974 album Up for the Down Stroke. The song failed to chart....
", "All Your Goodies Are Gone", "Fantasy Is Reality
Fantasy Is Reality
"Fantasy Is Reality" is a song recorded by the funk band Parliament. It was the only single released from the band's 1977 album Live: P-Funk Earth Tour...
", "Good Ole Music", "I Can Feel The Ice Melting", "What You Been Growing", "I'll Wait", and "That Was My Girl". In 1995, many of the original Parliaments tracks were reissue
Reissue
A reissue is the repeated issue of a published work. In common usage, it refers to an album which has been released at least once before and is released again, sometimes with alterations or additions....
d on the Goldmine/Soul label on the album Testifyin.
Singles Discography
- Poor WilliePoor Willie"Poor Willie" is the first single recorded commercially by The Parliaments. The single was released in 1959 by APT Records , a subsidiary of Hull Records. Both songs were written by all of the Parliaments, which by this time consisted of George Clinton, Robert Lambert, Charles Davis, and Grady Thomas...
/Party Boys-APT 45-25036 - Lonely IslandLonely Island (song)"Lonely Island" is the second single released by The Parliaments. It was released in 1960 on the Flipp Record label . At this stage of their careers, the Parliaments consisted of George Clinton, Calvin Simon, Johnny Murray, Charles Davis, and Grady Thomas. There are no writers credits on the single...
/You Make Me Wanna Cry-FL-45-100 - Heart Trouble/That Was My Girl-GW-46
- (I Wanna) Testify(I Wanna) Testify" Testify" is the first hit single by the Detroit soul singing group The Parliaments. The single was released at the beginning of the summer of 1967 by Revilot Records. The single went to #3 on Billboard R&B chart and #20 on the Pop chart. It would be the only major hit for the group for the entire...
/I Can Feel The Ice Melting-RV-207 - All Your Goodies Are Gone/Don't Be Sore At Me-RV-211
- Little Man/The Goose (That Laid The Golden Egg)-RV-214
- Look At What I Almost Missed/What You Been Growing-RV-217
- Good Ole Music/Time-RV-223
- A New Day Begins/I'll Wait-RV-228 (later reissued on the Atco label-ATCO 45-6675)
Album discography
- Backtrack 6-Track 2407 006-various artists compilation featuring four singles by the Parliaments originally released on Revilot records, as well as one track by the Debonaires that was co-written and produced by George Clinton.
- The Parliaments-I Wanna Testify-Goldmine/Soul Supply GSCD 52-contains all of the Parliaments Revilot singles, as well as instrumental versions of "I'll Wait", "Baby I Owe You Something Good", and "All Your Goodies Are Gone", as well as the Clinton-penned track "Let's Make It Last" recorded by The Fellows.
- The Parliaments-Testifyin':The Mid 60's Detroit Sessions-Goldmine/Soul Supply GSCD 119-contains the same tracks as "I Wanna Testify", and also includes the Golden World single "Heart Trouble/That Was My Girl.
- The Parliaments-Testify: The Best Of The Early Years-Connoisseur VSOP CD 286-contains all of the tracks featured on "Testify" and also includes "She's Always There", which is the flip side to the Fellows single "Let's Make It Last".
See also
- ParliamentParliament (band)Parliament was a funk band most prominent during the 1970s. It and its sister act Funkadelic, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
- Parliament-FunkadelicParliament-FunkadelicParliament-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...
- List of P-Funk members