| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label | My Gnosis Rating |
| 1 | Funkadelic | I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody's Got a Thing | Funkadelic | 1970 | LP Westbound | |
|
"Five vocalists calling themselves The Parliaments had limited success
throughout the 60s. Contractual circumstances forced them to stop using that
name and Funkadelic was born. George Clinton proved to be the strongest
willed of the five and proceeded to build an empire of R&B groups. Funkadelic
were the progressive/psychedelic arm of that empire. Here's a short
Psychedelic freakout jam from their debut album." - L. Perez
The Motherpage - Makin' Your Funk the P-Funk One Nation P-Funk Page | ||||||
| 2 | Booker T. & the MGs | Run Tank Run | Uptight | 1967 | LP Stax | |
|
"Perhaps the first artist to fuse Jazz Organ and Rock Drums; call it
Proto-Fusion if you will. Booker T. was very progressive minded. Starting in
1962, he was way ahead of his time. In fact, the early Bar-Kays drew their
inspiration from him." - L. Perez
Rosebud Agency - Booker T. Jones | ||||||
| 3 | War | War Drums | War | 1970 | LP United Artists | |
|
"Eric Burdon of the Animals discovered War in 1969 and immediately recorded an
album (Eric Burdon Declares War) with them. Another (Black Man's Burdon) was
done in early 1970. Their albums with Burdon were primarily Blues/Rock.
Though still associated with the band, Burdon stepped aside for this, their
3rd album and War were able to explore more progressive territory, something
they continued to do until the very end of the 70s. All albums through 1977's
Platinum Jazz are recommended." - L. Perez
Ray Presence War | ||||||
| 4 | Temptations | Message from a Black Man | Puzzle People | 1969 | LP Motown | |
|
"The Temptations enjoyed years of chart success as part of the Motown hit
making machine. In 1968, two years before Funkadelic, they started to
incorporate psychedelic elements in their brand of Rhythm & Blues. Their
first foray into psych was 1968's Cloud Nine. While this song isn't Prog in
our modern day sense, it certainly was progressive back then and besides that
it's such a cool song." - L. Perez
Tempts4Ever | ||||||
| 5 | Mandrill | Peace and Love | Mandrill | 1970 | LP Polydor | |
|
"Mandrill is a band that truly defies classification. One moment they sound
like Santana the next King Crimson, now the Beatles and then Funkadelic.
Their first 5 albums; Mandrill, Is, Just Outside of Town, Composite Truth and
Mandrilland are practically devoid of any Pop-ism. Even their 6th album,
Solid, is just that. This is a 17-minute progressive suite from their debut
album, enjoy." - L. Perez
Mandrill World Music | ||||||