Osmium (album)

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1970 studio album by Parliament

Osmium

Studio album by

Parliament

Released| July 1970
Recorded| 1969–1970
Genre| Psychedelic soul[1]
Length| 45:53
Label| Invictus
Producer| George Clinton, Ruth Copeland
Parliament chronology
|  | Osmium
(1970)  | Up for the Down Stroke
(1974)

|
|

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [2]
Christgau's Record Guide| B[3]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide| [4]

Osmium is the debut album of American funk band Parliament, led by George Clinton. The album has a psychedelic soul sound with a spirit of experimentation that is more similar to early Funkadelic than the later R&B-inspired Parliament albums. It was originally released in July 1970 on Invictus Records.[5] The original vinyl release contained a glossy lyric sheet.

Since its re-release in 1990, Osmium has been distributed numerous times by various labels in the U.S., Europe and Japan, sometimes under alternate titles that have included Rhenium and First Thangs. A number of these reissues have featured material that was not included on the original album, such as unreleased tracks and singles that were recorded around the same time as Osmium.

The personnel for this album included the five Parliaments singers and the five backing musicians known as Funkadelic. The same personnel also recorded as Funkadelic, releasing that act's self-titled debut album also in 1970. After the release of Osmium, contractual difficulties prevented further recording under the name Parliament until 1974, when Clinton signed that act to Casablanca Records and positioned it as an R&B-inspired counterpoint to the more rock-oriented Funkadelic.

The yodeling that arguably uniquely identifies one of De La Soul's early hits, "Potholes in My Lawn" (which eventually appeared on De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising), comes from Osmium's "Little Ole Country Boy".[6]

This is the only Parliament album to be produced by Ruth Copeland, and the only album to feature rhythm guitarist Tawl Ross, before his 1971 departure from the group.

## Track listing

[edit]

Invictus – ST-7302

Side oneNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

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|
|

1.| "I Call My Baby Pussycat"| George Clinton, Eddie Hazel, Billy Nelson| 3:50
2.| "Put Love in Your Life"| George Clinton, Vivian Lewis| 5:05
3.| "Little Ole Country Boy"| Ruth Copeland| 3:57
4.| "Moonshine Heather"| George Clinton| 4:04
5.| "Oh Lord, Why Lord/Prayer"| Phil Trim, Ruth Copeland| 4:59

Side twoNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

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|
|

1.| "My Automobile"| George Clinton, Clarence Haskins| 4:43
2.| "Nothing Before Me but Thang"| George Clinton, Bobby Harris, Eddie Hazel, Bernie Worrell| 3:55
3.| "Funky Woman"| George Clinton, Bernie Worrell| 2:54
4.| "Livin' the Life"| George Clinton, Billy Nelson, Bernie Worrell| 6:15
5.| "The Silent Boatman"| Ruth Copeland| 5:50
Total length:| 45:32

CD Reissue (Edsel Records – EDSS 1031)No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

11.| "Breakdown" (Mono Single Version)| George Clinton, Ruth Copeland, Clyde Wilson| 2:30
12.| "Red Hot Mama"| George Clinton| 4:26
13.| "Come in out of the Rain"| Ruth Copeland, Clyde Wilson| 2:56
14.| "Loose Booty"|  | 10:18
15.| "Fantasy Is Reality"| George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Leon Ware| 3:56
16.| "Unfinished Instrumental"|  | 5:10
17.| "Breakdown" (Stereo Unedited Version)| George Clinton, Ruth Copeland, Clyde Wilson| 3:50
Total length:| 1:18:58

## Track listing for First Thangs

[edit]

1. "Red Hot Mama"
2. "Come In Out of the Rain"
3. "Fantasy Is Reality"
4. "Breakdown"
5. "Loose Booty"
6. "Unfinished Instrumental"
7. "I Call My Baby Pussycat"
8. "Put Love in Your Life"
9. "Little Old Country Boy"
10. "Moonshine Heather (Takin' Care of Business)"
11. "Oh Lord, Why Lord/Prayer"
12. "My Automobile"
13. "There Is Nothing Before Me But Thang"
14. "Funky Woman"
15. "Livin' the Life"
16. "The Silent Boatmen"

## Track listing for Rhenium

[edit]

1. "Breakdown"
2. "I Call My Baby Pussycat"
3. "Put Love in Your Life"
4. "Little Ole Country Boy"
5. "Moonshine Heather"
6. "Oh Lord, Why Lord/Prayer"
7. "Red Hot Mama"
8. "My Automobile"
9. "Nothing Before Me But Thang"
10. "Funky Woman"
11. "Livin' the Life"
12. "Come in Out of the Rain"
13. "The Silent Boatman"

## Personnel

[edit]

* George Clinton \- lead vocals in "Loose Booty", "Moonshine Heather", "Red Hot Mama", "My Automobile", "Funky Woman"
* Fuzzy Haskins \- lead vocals in "Fantasy Is Reality", "I Call My Baby Pussycat", "Little Old Country Boy", "My Automobile"
* Calvin Simon \- lead vocals in "I Call My Baby Pussycat", "Oh Lord Why Lord", "Livin' the Life"
* Ray Davis \- lead vocals in "I Call My Baby Pussycat", "Put Love in Your Life"
* Grady Thomas \- lead vocals in "I Call My Baby Pussycat"
* Clyde Darnell Wilson - lead vocals in "Come in Out of the Rain", "Breakdown"
* Ruth Copeland \- vocals
* Eddie Hazel \- guitar
* Tawl Ross \- guitar
* Billy Bass Nelson \- bass guitar
* Bernie Worrell \- Hammond organ, piano
* Tiki Fulwood \- drums
* Paul Franklin \- pedal steel on "Little Ole Country Boy"[7]

Note: Personnel as listed in the album credits. Note that some songs also featured session personnel. Garry Shider (guitar), Bernie Worrell (keyboards), and Tyrone Lampkin (drums) also appeared on some non-album tracks that were included in later CD reissues of the album. Red Hot Mama, Loose Booty, I Call My Baby Pussycat, and Fantasy Is Reality would all be remade on later Parliament-Funkadelic albums.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Terich, Jeff (August 10, 2020). "Celebrate the Catalog: The Parliament-Funkadelic albums". Treble. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
2. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Osmium - Parliament | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
3. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: P". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 10, 2019 - via robertchristgau.com.
4. ^ Rolling Stone review
5. ^ Rudland, Dean. "Free Your Mind...And Your Ass Will Follow reissue liner notes". Westbound Records: 3. 2005.
6. ^ "Detroit's Invictus". Soul Source. June 11, 2007. Archived from the original on July 7, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
7. ^ "About Paul Franklin".

## External links

[edit]

* The Motherpage
* Osmium at Discogs
* Rhenium at Discogs

* v
* t
* e

Parliament

* George Clinton
* Ray Davis
* Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins
* Calvin Simon
* Grady Thomas
* Billy Bass Nelson
* Eddie Hazel
* Tawl Ross
* Tiki Fulwood
* Mickey Atkins
* Bernie Worrell
* Bootsy Collins
* Cordell Mosson
* Rodney "Skeet" Curtis
* Garry Shider
* Prakash John
* Tyrone Lampkin
* Glenn Goins
* Michael Hampton
* Debbie Wright
* Gary "Muddbone" Cooper
* Jerome Brailey
* Fred Wesley
* Maceo Parker
* Michael Brecker
* Randy Brecker
* Rick Gardner
* Reunald "Renny" Jones
* Jeanette Washington
* Dawn Silva
* Lynn Mabry
* Ron Ford
* Shirley Hayden
* Greg Thomas
* Larry Heckstall
* Walter "Junie" Morrison
* Robert "P-Nut" Johnson

Studio albums|

* Osmium (First Thangs/Rhenium)
* Up for the Down Stroke
* Chocolate City
* Mothership Connection
* The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein
* Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome
* Motor Booty Affair
* Gloryhallastoopid
* Trombipulation
* Medicaid Fraud Dogg

Live albums|

* Live: P-Funk Earth Tour
* Live 1976–1993

Compilations|

* Parliament's Greatest Hits
* The Best Nonstop Mix Compilation
* Tear the Roof Off 1974–1980
* 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Parliament
* Gold
* The Casablanca Years: 1974–1980

Singles|

* "Up For The Down Stroke"
* "Testify"
* "Chocolate City"
* "Tear The Roof Off The Sucker (Give Up The Funk)"
* "Mothership Connection (Star Child)"
* "Do That Stuff"
* "Dr. Funkenstein"
* "Fantasy Is Reality"
* "Bop Gun (Endangered Species)"
* "Flash Light"
* "Funkentelechy"
* "Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)"
* "Party People"

Other Songs|

* "The Goose"
* "P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)"

Related|

* Discography

* v
* t
* e

Parliament-Funkadelic

* Jerome "Bigfoot" Brailey
* George Clinton
* Bootsy Collins
* Ray Davis
* Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood
* Glenn Goins
* Michael Hampton
* Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins
* Eddie Hazel
* Walter "Junie" Morrison
* Cordell "Boogie" Mosson
* "Billy Bass" Nelson
* Garry Shider
* Calvin Simon
* Grady Thomas
* Bernie Worrell

Parliament discography|

* Osmium
* Up for the Down Stroke
* Chocolate City
* Mothership Connection
* The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein
* Live: P-Funk Earth Tour
* Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome
* Motor Booty Affair
* Gloryhallastoopid
* Trombipulation
* Medicaid Fraud Dogg

Funkadelic discography|

* Funkadelic
* Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow
* Maggot Brain
* America Eats Its Young
* Cosmic Slop
* Standing on the Verge of Getting It On
* Let's Take It to the Stage
* Tales of Kidd Funkadelic
* Hardcore Jollies
* One Nation Under a Groove
* Uncle Jam Wants You
* Connections & Disconnections
* The Electric Spanking of War Babies
* Live: Meadowbrook, Rochester, Michigan – 12th September 1971
* By Way of the Drum
* Toys
* U.S. Music with Funkadelic
* First Ya Gotta Shake the Gate

George Clinton and
Parliament-Funkadelic|

* Computer Games
* Urban Dancefloor Guerillas
* You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish
* Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends
* R&B Skeletons in the Closet
* The Mothership Connection – Live from Houston
* The Cinderella Theory
* Live at the Beverly Theater
* Hey, Man, Smell My Finger
* Dope Dogs
* Mothership Connection Newberg Session
* T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M.
* Live 1976–1993
* How Late Do U Have 2BB4UR Absent?
* George Clinton and His Gangsters of Love
* Live...Capitol Theatre 1978

Bootsy Collins|

* Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band
* Ahh... The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!
* Bootsy? Player of the Year
* This Boot Is Made for Fonk-N
* Ultra Wave
* The One Giveth, the Count Taketh Away
* What's Bootsy Doin'?
* Jungle Bass
* Blasters of the Universe
* Lord of the Harvest
* Keepin' dah Funk Alive 4-1995
* Fresh Outta 'P' University
* Live in Louisville 1978
* Play with Bootsy
* Live in Concert 1998
* Live in Oklahoma 1976
* Christmas Is 4 Ever
* Tha Funk Capital of the World

Eddie Hazel|

* Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs
* Rest in P

The Horny Horns|

* A Blow for Me, a Toot to You
* Say Blow by Blow Backwards
* The Final Blow

Bernie Worrell|

* All the Woo in the World
* Funk of Ages
* Pieces of Woo: The Other Side
* Blacktronic Science
* Free Agent: A Spaced Odyssey

The Brides of Funkenstein|

* Funk or Walk
* Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy
* Live at the Howard Theatre

Parlet|

* Pleasure Principle
* Invasion of the Booty Snatchers
* Play Me or Trade Me

Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins|

* A Whole Nother Thang (1976)
* Radio Active (1978)
* A Whole Nother Radio Active Thang (1994)

Ruth Copeland|

* Self Portrait (1970)
* I Am What I Am (1971)
* Take Me to Baltimore (1976)

Mutiny|

* Mutiny on the Mamaship (1979)
* Funk Plus the One (1980)
* A Night Out With the Boys (1983)
* Aftershock 2005 (1996)

Other spinoffs|

* Quazar (1978)
* Sweat Band (1980)
* Federation of Tackheads (1985)
* Lifestyles of the Roach and Famous (1988)
* Out of the Dark (1993)
* Funkcronomicon (1995)
* Heavy Metal Funkason (1998)

Filmography|

* PCU
* Parliament-Funkadelic: One Nation Under a Groove
* George Clinton: The Mothership Connection

Related articles|

* Parliament
* Funkadelic
* House Guests
* Godmoma
* Kiddo
* Original P
* The Pacemakers
* The Parliaments
* Zapp (Roger Troutman)
* List of P-Funk members
* Pedro Bell
* Armen Boladian
* Bridgeport Music
* Children of Production
* Bill Laswell
* Overton Loyd
* P-Funk
* P-Funk Earth Tour
* P-Funk Mothership
* P-Funk mythology
* P-Funk projects
* Uncle Jam Records
* G-funk

Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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