Due to legal difficulties between Clinton and Revilot, The Parliaments' label, the name was abandoned in favor of Funkadelic, which consisted of the same group of people (that is, both the former Parliaments and their back-up band, now both combined in the name "Funkadelic"). The group signed to Westbound in 1968.
The group's self-titled debut album, Funkadelic, was released in 1970. The credits listed organist Mickey Atkins plus Clinton, Fulwood, Hazel, Nelson and Ross, though the actual recording also included several uncredited sessionmen then employed by Motown, as well as Ray Monette (of Rare Earth) and Bernie Worrell.
Bernie Worrell was officially credited starting with Funkadelic's second album, 1970's Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow, thus beginning a long collaboration between Worrell and Clinton (who had been friends for quite a while). Worrell would go on to produce many Parliament and Funkadelic albums, as well as play keyboard on albums by other members of P Funk.
After the release of Maggot Brain in 1971, Bootsy Collins and Catfish Collins joined the group. The brothers would go on to become major contributors to the P Funk sound. In 1972, this new line-up released America Eats Its Young, but many members left the group after that, due to internal squabbles, plus Hazel spending a year in jail for drug possession and assault and Tawl Ross experiencing a bad LSD trip and/or speed overdose, while Billy Bass quit due to financial concerns. Michael Hampton, a seventeen-year-old guitar prodigy, replaced Hazel.
1975 brought Funkadelic to Warner Brothers, and saw the release of Hardcore Jollies in 1976. The same year, Westbound released a compilation of archived tracks titled Tales of Kidd Funkadelic, which did significantly better than Hardcore Jollies and included "Undisco Kidd", a R&B Top 30 single. In 1977, Westbound capitalized on the success of Tales of Kidd Funkadelic by releasing The Best of the Early Years. Funkadelic recorded and released its magnum opus, One Nation Under a Groove in 1978. The title track spent six weeks at #1 on the R&B charts, while Parliament was enjoying success with "Flash Light" and "Aqua Boogie."
As the 1980s wore on, legal difficulties arising from the multiple names used by multiple groups, as well as a shakeup among Parliament's record label, Parliament and Funkadelic disintegrated. George Clinton recorded several solo albums (sometimes under the name George Clinton & the P-Funk Allstars).
Filmmaker Yvonne Smith of Berkeley, California-based Firelight Media produced Funkadelic: One Nation Under a Groove, a full-length documentary about the groundbreaking group, which aired on PBS in 2005.
ALSO......
Though it often took a back chair to its sister group Parliament, Funkadelic furthered the notions of black rock begun by Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone, blending elements of '60s psychedelia and blues plus the deep groove of soul and funk. The band pursued album statements of social/political commentary while Parliament stayed in the funk singles format, but Funkadelic nevertheless paralleled the more commercial artist's success, especially in the late '70s when the interplay between bands moved the Funkadelic sound closer to a unified P-Funk style.
In the grand soul tradition of a backing band playing support before the star takes the stage, Funkadelic began life supporting George Clinton's doo wop group, the Parliaments. After having performed for almost ten years, the Parliaments had added a rhythm section in 1964 -- for tours and background work -- consisting of guitarist Frankie Boyce, his brother Richard on bass, and drummer Langston Booth; two years later, the trio enlisted in the Army. By mid-1967, Clinton had recruited a new backing band, including his old friend Billy "Bass" Nelson (born January 28, 1951, Plainfield, NJ) and guitarist Eddie Hazel (born April 10, 1950, Brooklyn, NY). After several temporary replacements on drums and keyboards, the addition of rhythm guitarist Lucius "Tawl" Ross (born October 5, 1948, Wagram, NC) and drummer Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood (born May 23, 1944, Philadelphia, PA) completed the lineup.
The Parliaments recorded several hits during 1967, but trouble with the Revilot label backed Clinton into a corner. He hit upon the idea of deserting the Parliaments' name and instead recording their backing group, with the added vocal "contributions" of the former Parliaments -- same band, different name. Billy Nelson suggested the title Funkadelic, to reflect the members' increased inspiration from LSD and psychedelic culture. Clinton formed the Funkadelic label in mid-1968 but then signed the group to Detroit's Westbound label several months later.
Released in 1970, Funkadelic's self-titled debut album listed only producer Clinton and the five members of Funkadelic -- Hazel, Nelson, Fulwood, and Ross plus organist Mickey Atkins -- but also included all the former Parliaments plus several Motown sessionmen and Rare Earth's Ray Monette. Keyboard player Bernie Worrell also appeared on the album uncredited, even though his picture was included on the inner sleeve with the rest of the band.
Worrell (born April 19, 1944, Long Beach, NJ) was finally credited on the second Funkadelic album (1970's Free Your Mind...and Your A** Will Follow). He and Clinton had known each other since the early '60s, and Worrell soon became the most crucial cog in the P-Funk machine, working on arrangements and production for most later Parliament/Funkadelic releases. His strict upbringing and classical training (at the New England Conservatory and Juilliard), as well as the boom in synthesizer technology during the early '70s, gave him the tools to create the horn arrangements and jazz fusion-inspired synth runs that later trademarked the P-Funk sound. Just after the release of their third album, Maggot Brain, P-Funk added yet another big contributor, Bootsy Collins. The throbbing bass line of Collins (born October 26, 1951, Cincinnati, OH) had previously been featured in James Brown's backing band, the J.B.'s (along with his brother, guitarist Catfish Collins). Bootsy and Catfish were playing in a Detroit band in 1972 when George Clinton saw and hired them.
The Clinton/Worrell/Collins lineup premiered on 1972's America Eats Its Young, but soon after its release several original members left the camp. Eddie Hazel spent a year in jail after a combination drug possession/assault conviction, Tawl Ross left the band for medical reasons relating to an overdose of LSD and speed, and Bill Nelson quit after more financial quarrels with Clinton. Funkadelic hired teenaged guitar sensation Michael Hampton as a replacement, but both Hazel and Nelson would return for several later P-Funk releases.
Funkadelic moved to Warner Bros. in 1975 and delivered its major-label debut, Hardcore Jollies, one year later to lackluster sales and reviews. The same year, Westbound raided its vaults and countered with Tales of Kidd Funkadelic. Ironically, the album did better than Hardcore Jollies and included an R&B Top 30 single, "Undisco Kidd." In 1977, Westbound released The Best of the Early Years while Funkadelic recorded what became its masterpiece (and arguably the best P-Funk release ever), 1978's One Nation Under a Groove.
During the most successful year in Parliament/Funkadelic history, Parliament hit the charts first with "Flash Light," P-Funk's first R&B number one. "Aqua Boogie" would hit number one as well late in the year, but Funkadelic's title track to One Nation Under a Groove spent six weeks at the top spot on the R&B charts during the summer. The album, which reflected a growing consistency in styles between Parliament and Funkadelic, became the first Funkadelic LP to reach platinum (the same year that Parliament's Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome did the same). In 1979, Funkadelic's "(Not Just) Knee Deep" hit number one as well, and its album (Uncle Jam Wants You) reached gold status.
At just the point that Funkadelic appeared to be at the top of its powers, the band began to unravel. As is sometimes the case, commercial success began to dissolve several old friendships. In 1977, original Parliaments members Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Simon, and Grady Thomas had left the P-Funk organization to record on their own. In early 1981, they hit the R&B charts with a single called "Connections and Disconnections," recorded as Funkadelic. To confuse matters more, the original Funkadelic appeared on the charts at the same time, with the title track to The Electric Spanking of War Babies.
During 1980, Clinton began to be weighed down by legal difficulties arising from Polygram's acquisition of Parliament's label, Casablanca. Jettisoning both the Parliament and Funkadelic names (but not the musicians), Clinton began his solo career with 1982's Computer Games. He and many former Parliament/Funkadelic members continued to tour and record throughout the '80s as the P-Funk All Stars, but the decade's disdain of everything to do with the '70s resulted in critical and commercial neglect for the world's biggest funk band, especially one which in part had spawned the sound of disco. During the early '90s, the rise of funk-inspired rap (courtesy of Digital Underground, Dr. Dre, and Warren G.) and funk rock (Primus and Red Hot Chili Peppers) re-established the status of Clinton & co., one of the most important forces in the recent history of black music. ~ John Bush, Rovi
By Way of the Drum
Funkadelic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You took the heat out of the flame
You took the heat right out of the flame.
Out of the fire burning they came walking side by side:
They were Shadrack, Meshack and Abendigo untouched by the burning fire.
They said 'He took the heat right out of the flame!
He took the heat right out of the flame!
Them drums won't burn
Them drums don't burn
Them drums don't burn.
Them drums don't burn
No, they won't.
No.
Apartheid lead to genocide.
There'll be no pause for a day
But the word, had to be heard.
They could not, we wouldn't let 'em, could not claim the drums.
Them drums don't burn.
Them drums don't burn.
Them drums don't burn.
Them drums don't burn.
Deep in the jungle where the coconut grows,
Where the tiger and the lion boogie with the rhino,
There's a tribe over here, there's a tribe over there,
Drums beatin' funky rhythm they were talking everywhere.
Too all you people out there.
Men born of woman or whoever you are!
We sing this strong song right from the heart,
Letting you know that the drums won't burn.
He took the heat out of the flame.
He took the heat out of the flame.
Don't you hear what I'm sayin'?
Can't you understand what we're doin'?
The song 'By Way of the Drum' by Funkadelic (Radio Edit) is a powerful and inspiring meditation on the power of drums and their ability to communicate messages of hope and resistance in the face of oppression. The song begins with the repeated line "He took the heat out of the flame," which is a reference to the biblical story of Shadrack, Meshack, and Abendigo, who were thrown into a fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar but were miraculously saved by God. The voices in the song declare that "Nobody but the Lord, the Lord God Almighty took the heat out of the flame!" In this way, the drum becomes a parallel for God, a force that can save and inspire even in the midst of destruction and persecution.
The song then shifts its focus to apartheid and the struggle against oppression. The drums are celebrated as a symbol of resistance and solidarity. The line "They could not, we wouldn't let 'em, could not claim the drums" suggests that even in the face of attempts to silence and erase cultural expression, the spirit of the drums cannot be extinguished. The repeated refrain "Them drums don't burn" reinforces this message of resilience and defiance. The final lines of the song, "Don't you hear what I'm sayin'? Can't you understand what we're doin'?" urge the listener to join in the struggle and to tap into the power of the drum as a tool of resistance and liberation.
Line by Line Meaning
He took the heat out of the flame, He took the heat right out of the flame.
He was powerful enough to remove the heat out of the burning, thus saving lives.
You took the heat out of the flame
You took the heat right out of the flame.
You were brave enough to face the fire and pull off a daring rescue.
Out of the fire burning they came walking side by side:
Three individuals emerged from the flames unscathed.
They were Shadrack, Meshack and Abendigo untouched by the burning fire.
These individuals named Shadrack, Meshack, and Abendigo walked out of the fire without even a single burn.
They said 'He took the heat right out of the flame!
He took the heat right out of the flame!
Nobody but the Lord, the Lord God Almighty took the heat out of the flame! '
They believed that the Lord God Almighty alone had the power to rescue them from the raging fire.
Them drums won't burn
Them drums don't burn
Them drums don't burn.
Them drums don't burn
No, they won't.
No.
The drums will not burn, they are immune to the flames.
Apartheid lead to genocide.
The apartheid regime led to genocide.
There'll be no pause for a day
But the word, had to be heard.
The message had to be spread, and there was no time to waste.
They could not, we wouldn't let 'em, could not claim the drums.
The oppressors had no right to lay claim to the powerful drums.
Deep in the jungle where the coconut grows,
Where the tiger and the lion boogie with the rhino,
There's a tribe over here, there's a tribe over there,
Drums beatin' funky rhythm they were talking everywhere.
In the jungle, there are numerous tribes that use drums to communicate with each other.
Too all you people out there.
Men born of woman or whoever you are!
We sing this strong song right from the heart,
Letting you know that the drums won't burn.
This message is for everyone, regardless of gender or any other identifying factor. The song they are singing is from the heart, and their main message is that the drums will never burn.
Don't you hear what I'm sayin'?
Can't you understand what we're doin'?
The artist is imploring their audience to listen carefully and try to understand the message they are trying to convey.
Contributed by Sydney O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.