Eddie Hazel Games Dames and Guitar Thangs Review
Eddie Hazel
Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs
Release Date: 1977 | Tracklist
Eddie Hazel was the guitarist behind the ballsy and heartbreaking "Maggot Encephalon" with Funkadelic. He has been named the greatest funk guitarist by more than than a few people. Unfortunately, due to drugs and other issues, Hazel left Funkadelic in 1974. When I saw this little 1977 anthology, Game, Dames, and Guitar Thangs, I drooled over the title of the first song. The thought of i of my favorite guitarists doing a funk version of "California Dreamin'" was besides much to turn down. I passed information technology up. Simply merely at present, looking upwards band members and stuff did I realize how rare this was. Months later on though, I bought it on iTunes. Let's see if Eddie Hazel put together thirty minutes of music without the Funkadelic proper name.
Naturally "California Dreamin'" was everything I dreamed. It has the same emotive, delicately distorted guitar work that I had loved in "Maggot Brain." The vocals are fine, information technology is a lot slower paced than the original, typical funk bass courtesy of Bootsy. The vocal doesn't really follow the original, allowing lots of room for Eddie to soar into the stratosphere. Eddie'due south guitar work is rather funky, simply what separates him from other funk guitarists is his perfect implementation of the blues. There are none of the sharp funk chords which are scattered throughout other funk songs. Instead we feel the guitar as it is felt in the all-time of blues-based stone. This song is, by far, the best one on the anthology.
I didn't realize the beginning time I saw the album that there was a second cover: the Beatles' "I Want Yous (She's So Heavy)." The Brides of Funkenstein take over for vocals, doing a rather adept chore of it besides. I must admit, I was never a real fan of the original song, simply luckily for me, Eddie again generally uses the original every bit a template to jam off of, making for a fantastic brandish of musicianship. The guitar solo is a mix of what I see every bit Eddie's two main styles: the "Maggot Brain" bluesy, emotional way and the "Super Stupid" funk rocker style. The guitar in this song mixes the two, leaning more than toward the "Maggot Brain" style, but with a much faster pace and with more kick. There is a strong bass line throughout the song, which comes through strongest while Eddie is soloing. Unfortunately, Haul'due south work just highlights the generic drumming every bit Bootsy has to make most of his ain magic. My lack of interest in the drumming may come up from going through a Stanton Moore binge, I judge the drumming (from Jerome Brailey, Bootsy Collins, and Tiki Fulwood) isn't so bad, merely it even so doesn't excite me in the to the lowest degree.
The true examination comes with the original songs, written by the P-Funk regulars. Though Eddie left Funkadelic, this is yet very much a P-Funk production. George Clinton produced the album, and several of the musicians are from Clinton's two bands. Even so, "Frantic Moment" is less than impressive. The vocal is fine for the near part, but the Brides' vocals really hurt the vocal for me.
On "Then Goes the Story," Eddie makes his presence known very early, with a few commanding guitar licks that overpower the other instruments. It becomes clear that this grouping is strongest when jamming, letting Eddie show his chops unabashed.
"Physical Love" features a squeamish fat bass line which almost, virtually plays over Eddie's guitar noodling. But Eddie somewhen takes command, hell it's his album. The drumming gets interesting on "What Nigh It?" particularly mixed with another fine bass line. The band really gels, like an actual band, not focusing on anyone in particular more working as a group. The guitar is simple for the most part, but it works. Booty'south bass fit perfectly with both drums and guitar. Toward the end of the guitar picks up, taking the lead a bit more.
The album ends with a reprise of "California Dreamin'." It is the chorus with drum effects taken straight from "The Goose" off of Parliament'south 1973 Upwards for the Down Stroke. Eddie Hazel's one actual solo album is pretty good. The songs as a whole are only alright, but nosotros should just be paying attention to the jamming in a P-Funk song anyway. I judge information technology is probably ameliorate he didn't take over each and every song, this has been my first real introduction to Bootsy Collins. Odd that I'd beginning truly appreciate him from an Eddie Hazel solo album.
Recommended Tracks: California Dreamin', "What About It?"
Source: https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/13609/Eddie-Hazel-Games-Dames-and-Guitar-Thangs/
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