Funkadelic - Toys (Vinyl LP)

Toys is a fascinating collection of previously unreleased recordings from American psychedelic funk pioneers Funkadelic, the groundbreaking group led by George Clinton. Originally released in 2008 through Westbound Records, the album opens a window into the band's extraordinary creative period during the early 1970s, bringing together rare songs and extended instrumental jams that capture Funkadelic's adventurous approach to music.

Funkadelic helped redefine the possibilities of funk and rock by combining heavy psychedelic guitars, deep bass grooves, gospel influences, soul vocals and experimental studio techniques. Alongside Clinton's Parliament, the group became a central force in the development of P-Funk, creating a sound that would influence generations of musicians across funk, hip-hop, alternative rock and electronic music.

Recorded during Funkadelic's celebrated years with Detroit's Westbound Records, Toys features performances associated with the band's classic early lineup, including legendary guitarist Eddie Hazel, bassist Billy Bass Nelson, keyboardist Bernie Worrell and drummer Tiki Fulwood. The recordings reveal the spontaneity and experimentation that helped make albums such as Maggot Brain, Cosmic Slop and Standing on the Verge of Getting It On so influential.

Unlike a conventional studio album, Toys gathers material that remained in the vaults for decades. Some performances have a loose, unfinished character, but that is part of their appeal. They offer an unusually intimate glimpse into Funkadelic's recording process, revealing the interplay between musicians and the freedom that defined the group's most adventurous work.

Side A opens with Heart Trouble (AKA You Can't Miss What You Can't Measure), a soulful, guitar-driven recording featuring vocals from Eddie Hazel and Billy Bass Nelson. Its combination of expressive singing, blues-inflected guitar and deep funk rhythms captures the raw musical chemistry that made early Funkadelic so distinctive.

Talk About Jesus follows with a gospel-influenced performance that reflects the band's ability to blend spiritual themes with earthy funk arrangements. The instrumental The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg closes the first side, highlighting the musicians' rhythmic interplay and improvisational instincts.

Side B is devoted to two extended instrumental performances. Vampy Funky Bernie (3rd Tune Olympic) places the spotlight on the band's exploratory side, building its groove through layered instrumentation and rhythmic experimentation. The lengthy Slide On In (2nd Tune Olympic) provides a particularly rewarding listening experience, allowing the musicians space to stretch out across an expansive psychedelic funk jam.

These extended recordings demonstrate why Funkadelic's influence reaches far beyond traditional funk music. Their willingness to explore distortion, repetition, improvisation and unconventional arrangements helped lay the groundwork for countless developments in rock, soul and hip-hop.

For longtime Funkadelic listeners, Toys offers an opportunity to discover recordings from one of the band's most creatively important periods. For newer fans, it provides an intriguing introduction to the raw musical experimentation behind George Clinton's revolutionary P-Funk sound.

This Westbound Records vinyl LP edition features five previously unreleased recordings across two sides, with three songs on Side A and two extended instrumental jams on Side B. Released in 2008, it is an excellent addition to collections of psychedelic funk, P-Funk, rare groove and classic soul.

Supplied brand new and sealed.

Available from Heathen Records, your independent Australian online record store specialising in new and collectible vinyl.

Details

• Artist: Funkadelic
• Album: Toys
• Format: Vinyl LP
• Release Type: Compilation of Previously Unreleased Recordings
• Vinyl Colour: Black
• Recording Period: Early 1970s
• Original Compilation Release: 2008
• Genre: Psychedelic Funk / P-Funk / Funk Rock / Soul
• Record Label: Westbound Records / Ace Records
• Catalogue Number: SEWD133
• Barcode: 029667713313
• Tracks: 5
• Condition: Brand New and Sealed

Tracklist

Side A – Songs

• A1 Heart Trouble AKA You Can't Miss What You Can't Measure
• A2 Talk About Jesus
• A3 The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg

Side B – Jams

• B1 Vampy Funky Bernie (3rd Tune Olympic)
• B2 Slide On In (2nd Tune Olympic)