Funk of Ages is a solo album by former Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell. The album was released in 1990 by Gramavision Records. It includes contributions by numerous guest musicians, including Sly and Robbie, David Byrne, Herbie Hancock, Keith Richards, Vernon Reid, and Phoebe Snow. P-Funk bandmates Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, Gary Cooper, Doug Duffey, and Michael Hampton also contributed.
"Outer Spaceways" was written by Sun Ra. "Volunteered Slavery" was written by Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
Critical reception
Patricia Smith, of The Boston Globe, listed Funk of Ages as the best album of 1990. The Chicago Tribune wrote that "Worrell's surprisingly supple voice shines on a couple of melodic reggae numbers, 'Real Life Dreams' and 'Sing'." The Toronto Star determined that "the musicianship is adventurous enough to make for a funky, wide-ranging diversion."
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