Funk of Ages
Studio album by
Bernie Worrell
Released1990
Recorded1990; Mission Control Studios, Westford, Massachusetts; Greenpoint Studios, Brooklyn
GenreFunk
LabelGramavision
ProducerBernie Worrell, Joe Blaney, Bill Laswell
Bernie Worrell chronology
All the Woo in the World
(1978) 		Funk of Ages
(1990) 		Blacktronic Science
(1993)

Funk of Ages is a solo album by former Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell.[1][2] The album was released in 1990 by Gramavision Records.[3] It includes contributions by numerous guest musicians, including Sly and Robbie, David Byrne, Herbie Hancock, Keith Richards, Vernon Reid, and Phoebe Snow.[4][5] P-Funk bandmates Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, Gary Cooper, Doug Duffey, and Michael Hampton also contributed.

"Outer Spaceways" was written by Sun Ra.[6] "Volunteered Slavery" was written by Rahsaan Roland Kirk.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Chicago Tribune[9]
Orlando Sentinel[6]

Patricia Smith, of The Boston Globe, listed Funk of Ages as the best album of 1990.[10] The Chicago Tribune wrote that "Worrell's surprisingly supple voice shines on a couple of melodic reggae numbers, 'Real Life Dreams' and 'Sing'."[9] The Toronto Star determined that "the musicianship is adventurous enough to make for a funky, wide-ranging diversion."[11]

Track listing

  1. "Sing" (Worrell, Michael Hampton, David Byrne) 4:34
  2. "B.W. Jam" (Worrell, Gary Cooper, Joe Polanco) 3:30
  3. "Funk-A-Hall-Licks" (Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Cooper, Doug Duffey) 5:20
  4. "Ain't She Sweet" (Jack Yellen, Milton Ager) 5:02
  5. "Y-Spy" (Worrell, Steve Jordan, Charley Drayton) 4:27
  6. "Real Life Dreams" (Worrell, David Nyce) 4:43
  7. "Beware of Dog" (Worrell, Dougie Bowne) 2:37
  8. "Straight Ahead" (Worrell, Sheila Washington, John Denicola, Patty Maloney, Gil Small) 3:59
  9. "Don't Piss Me Off" (Worrell, Jerry Harrison, Charlie Midnight) 4:26
  10. "Volunteered Slavery/Bern's Blues/Outer Spaceways" (Rahsaan Roland Kirk/Worrell/Sun Ra) 4:45
  11. "At Mos' Spheres" (Worrell) 3:55
  12. "Real Life Dreams On" (Worrell, David Nyce) 1:39

Personnel

John Denicola, Michael Camacho, Doug Duffey

References

  1. ^ Hiltbrand, David (Dec 3, 1990). "Funk of Ages". People. 34 (22): 30.
  2. ^ Ouellette, Dan (Feb 1991). "Funk of Ages by Bernie Worrell". DownBeat. 58 (2): 32.
  3. ^ Mills, David (28 Nov 1990). "In 1990, Firing Up the Funk". The Washington Post. p. B7.
  4. ^ Mitchell, Rick (December 16, 1990). "Recordings". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 11.
  5. ^ Wetherbee, Peter (Nov 3, 1990). "Bernie Worrell Takes Funk to the Future". Billboard. 102 (44): 32.
  6. ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (15 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell, Funk of Ages". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 22.
  7. ^ Green, Tony (22 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell Funk of Ages". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 18.
  8. ^ Funk of Ages at AllMusic
  9. ^ a b Kot, Greg (3 Jan 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  10. ^ "Top Ten Records of 1990". Calendar. The Boston Globe. 20 Dec 1990. p. 17.
  11. ^ Dafoe, Chris (23 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell Funk of Ages". Toronto Star. p. H10.
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