Mothership Connection (Star Child)

Last updated • 1 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
"Star Child"
Single by Parliament
from the album Mothership Connection
A-side "Star Child"
B-side "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication"
ReleasedAugust 1976
Recorded1975
Genre P-Funk
Length6:11 (album version)
3:08 (7" edit)
Label Casablanca 864
Songwriter(s) George Clinton/Bootsy Collins/Bernie Worrell
Producer(s) George Clinton

"Mothership Connection (Star Child)" is a funk song by Parliament. It was the third and last single released from the group's 1975 album Mothership Connection . The song introduces George Clinton's messianic alien alter ego Star Child for the first time (see P-Funk mythology ).

Contents

The lyrics "Swing down, sweet chariot, stop and let me ride" quote the traditional spiritual "Swing Down, Sweet Chariot", [1] first popularized in the 1940s by The Golden Gate Quartet and later recorded by Elvis Presley among others (and not the better-known spiritual "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot").

The track "Let Me Ride" on the Dr. Dre album The Chronic is heavily based on samples from this song.

In 1998, Scott Grooves produced a remix version of this song under the title Mothership Reconnection, followed by yet another remix by Scott Grooves, Slam and Daft Punk.

The song was the inspiration for Dave Parker's "Boys Boppin'" shirt. [2]

Alternate titles

The song was titled simply "Star Child" on its single release, while the radio promo version was titled "Star Child (Mothership Connection)." This version uses the same track from Mothership Connection but fades out at 3:08. It is included as a bonus track on the Mothership Connection CD.

On the album Live: P-Funk Earth Tour the song is split into two tracks, "Mothership Connection (Star Child)" and "Swing Down, Sweet Chariot."

Cover versions

In 1990, bassist Stanley Clarke and keyboardist George Duke released an album entitled "3," which contained a cover of this song. [3]

Related Research Articles

The P-Funk mythology is a group of recurring characters, themes, and ideas primarily contained in the output of George Clinton's bands Parliament and Funkadelic. This "funkology" was outlined in album liner notes and song lyrics, in addition to album artwork, costumes, advertisements, and stage banter. P-Funk's "Dr. Seussian afrofunk" is often cited as a critical component of the Afrofuturism movement.

<i>Mothership Connection</i> 1975 studio album by Parliament

Mothership Connection is the fourth album by American funk band Parliament, released on December 15, 1975 on Casablanca Records. This concept album is often rated among the best Parliament-Funkadelic releases, and was the first to feature horn players Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley, who had previously backed James Brown in the J.B.'s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Groove Armada</span> British band

Groove Armada are an English electronic music duo, composed of Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They achieved chart success with their singles "At the River", "I See You Baby" and "Superstylin'". The duo have released nine studio albums, four of which have charted in the UK Albums Chart top 50.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swing Low, Sweet Chariot</span> African-American spiritual song

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is an African-American spiritual song and one of the best-known Christian hymns. Originating in early oral and musical African-American traditions, the date it was composed is unknown. Performances by the Hampton Singers and the Fisk Jubilee Singers brought the song to the attention of wider audiences in the late 19th century. J. B. T. Marsh includes an early version of text and tune in his 1876 publication The Story of the Jubilee Singers, with Their Songs. The earliest known recording of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was recorded in 1894, by the Standard Quartette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whodini</span> American hip hop group

Whodini is an American hip hop group that was formed in 1982. The Brooklyn, New York–based trio consisted of vocalist and main lyricist Jalil Hutchins; co-vocalist John Fletcher, a.k.a. Ecstasy ; and turntable artist DJ Drew Carter, a.k.a. Grandmaster Dee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boys (Britney Spears song)</span> 2002 single by Britney Spears

"Boys" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her self-titled third studio album (2001). It was written and produced by Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams. A version of the song titled "The Co-Ed Remix" and featuring guest vocals from Williams was released as the fifth single from Britney on June 24, 2002. The new version also served as the second single from the soundtrack of Austin Powers in Goldmember. "Boys" is a R&B and hip hop song, including funk influences. The remix carries a slower tempo than the album version, and both versions were noted by critics to be reminiscent of music by American artist Janet Jackson. Some critics praised Spears and Williams' chemistry, as well as the production on the track, while others did not think the song worked well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerome Brailey</span> American drummer

Jerome Eugene "Bigfoot" Brailey is an American drummer, best known for his work with P-Funk, which included the bands Parliament, Funkadelic, and numerous related projects. Brailey is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Me Ride</span> 1993 single by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg

"Let Me Ride" is a song by rapper and producer Dr. Dre, released in 1993 as the third and final single from his debut studio album, The Chronic. It experienced moderate success on the charts, until it became a massive hit when Dre won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for the song during the Grammy Awards of 1994. The chorus is sung by Ruben and Jewell, and Snoop Dogg raps the line "Rollin' in my 6-4" and appears in some background vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mocean Worker</span> American musician

Mocean Worker is the recording alias of jazz musician and producer Adam Dorn.

<i>Live: P-Funk Earth Tour</i> 1977 live album by Parliament

Live: P-Funk Earth Tour is a live double album by Parliament that documents the band's 1977 P-Funk Earth Tour. The performances include songs from Parliament's albums through The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein as well as songs from the Funkadelic repertoire. The album is made up of portions of two performances from January 1977 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena and the Los Angeles Forum.

<i>T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M.</i> 1996 studio album by George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars

T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. is a 1996 album by funk musician George Clinton. The title, which is an abbreviation for The Awesome Power of a Fully Operational Mothership, refers to the P-Funk Mothership that was first introduced in 1975 on Parliament's Mothership Connection album. The album was presented as a reunion album because it featured collaborations with former Parliament-Funkadelic members including Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Junie Morrison, Maceo Parker, and Fred Wesley — some of whom hadn't worked with Clinton in many years. The album also included contributions by current members of the P-Funk All-Stars.

<i>Mothership Connection Newberg Session</i> 1995 live album by George Clinton

Mothership Connection Newberg Session is a live album by George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. It was recorded in Hangar E at Stewart Airfield in Newburgh, New York, on September 26, 1976, during the rehearsals for the P-Funk Earth Tour. The live album was released by P-Vine Records in Japan on December 25, 1995.

<i>Heartless Crew Presents Crisp Biscuit Vol 1</i> 2002 compilation album by Heartless Crew

Heartless Crew Presents Crisp Biscuit Vol 1 is a compilation album by the Heartless Crew, released in 2002 featuring the MC members of Heartless Crew toasting on several of the tracks.

The GrooveGrass Boyz were an American musical group that played a mix of bluegrass, funk, and freestyle music. The group was founded as a side project by record producer and session musician Scott Rouse in 1987, after he began experimenting with dance mixes of bluegrass and country songs, eventually applying the term groovegrass to his mix of music. He then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and joined several other country musicians and funk bass guitarist Bootsy Collins, releasing a country version of Los del Río's "Macarena" and two albums. The country cover of "Macarena" charted on both the Hot Country Songs charts and the Bubbling Under Hot 100, and was the group's only chart entry.

<i>George Clinton: The Mothership Connection</i> 1998 video by George Clinton; Parliament-Funkadelic

George Clinton: The Mothership Connection is a DVD released in 1998 and then reissued in 2001, featuring George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. The DVD features a concert performed by Parliament-Funkadelic at The Summit in Houston, Texas on October 31, 1976. The DVD documents the beginning of famed P-Funk Earth Tour, which would run for almost two years.

<i>FabricLive.45</i> 2009 mix album by A-Trak

FabricLive.45 is a 2009 album by A-Trak. The album was released as part of the FabricLive Mix Series.

"Swing Down Sweet Chariot" is an American spiritual song. It tells the story of Ezekiel's vision of the chariot. The title and lyrics are very similar to the spiritual song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", and is thought to be an adaptation of said song. Composer and lyricist Wallis Willis is credited with composing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".

<i>Gold</i> (Parliament album) 2005 compilation album by Parliament

Gold is a two CD compilation by the Funk band Parliament. The album was released by Universal Music in 2005. It essentially updates the 1993 compilation Tear the Roof Off 1974–1980. There are slight differences between Gold and Tear the Roof Off. First, Gold presents the songs in chronological order. Gold also uses shorter versions the tracks "Fantasy Is Reality" and "Agony Of Defeet." Gold also uses remastered versions of all tracks and a slightly different track listing.

<i>20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Parliament</i> 2000 compilation album by Parliament

20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Parliament is a compilation album by the American Funk band Parliament released in 2000 as part Universal Music's "Millennium Collection" series. 20th Century Masters uses eight of the ten songs from Parliament's Greatest Hits (1984), and is essentially an update of that collection. Album versions of the songs "Up for the Down Stroke"; "Mothership Connection " and "Aqua Boogie" are also used in place of the edited versions used on Greatest Hits.

<i>Live...Capitol Theatre 1978</i> 2017 live album by Parliament-Funkadelic

Live...Capitol Theatre 1978 is a three-CD live album by the American funk band Parliament-Funkadelic. The album was released in the UK in November 2017 by the RoxVox label. The CD features the band performing at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey, on November 6, 1978, during their "One Nation/Anti-Tour". The liner notes feature a transcription of a December 7, 1978 article about Parliament-Funkadelic from Jet magazine.

References

  1. Vincent, Rickey (1996). Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 254. ISBN   1466884525 . Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  2. Clair, Michale (2021). "Origin of Dave Parker's 'Boys Boppin' shirt". MLB.com .
  3. "3 overview". Allmusic.com .