Game, Dames, And Guitar Thangs - Eddy Hazel (1977)
Besides blathering on about my own favorite music, I consume a ton of content about other people’s favorite music. This week, I’m taking some advice. This one was recommended by Dylan of Noble Records’ 10 Albums I Listen to Most!
Eddie Hazel was the primary guitarist for funk masters Parliament as well as their rock-oriented alter ego, Funkadelic. This was the only thing he released under his own name in his lifetime, but it’s a really fun collection of covers and excerpts that mostly serve as a vehicle for maximalist guitar freakout.
A guitar-heavy take on the already guitar-heavy Beatles track I Want You (She’s So Heavy). Not sure if bandmate Bootsy Collins recorded Parliament co-write Physical Love first, but he realeased it the year before this album. Bootsy’s version has vocals, but you don’t particularly miss them on Eddie’s take. There are two versions of California Dreamin’, an often covered song that often isn’t covered quite like this.
Funk guitar’s job has often been to get buried in the mix like a background color wash in a painting, so it’s great to hear a guitar-centric record in the Parliament style
