Soul Strut 100: # 80 - Parliament - Osmium

RAJRAJ tenacious local 7,779 Posts
edited April 2012 in The Soul Strut 100
I will slowly be unveiling the Top 100 Soul Strut Related Records as Voted by the Strutters Themselves.

# 80 - Parliament - Osmium



Please discuss your reactions to this record. The thread will be archived later here.

About

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]


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmium_(album)

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  Comments


  • strataspherestratasphere Blastin' the Nasty 1,035 Posts
    Great record. I don't know why they don't get more props in the rock community. Still need an original copy. The Get Back reissue sounds great though.

  • CraigCraig 269 Posts
    Great LP, still need an OG though!!!!


  • That's my copy I posted on YouTube :cheese: Great record, thanks RAJ

  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    stratasphere said:
    Great record. I don't know why they don't get more props in the rock community. Still need an original copy. The Get Back reissue sounds great though.

    I remember once listening to a talk radio show where the topic under discussion was greatest rock bands of all time.

    Somebody mentioned P-Funk and the bastard host just laughed it off. "Why, they're just a SOUL band, ha ha ha!"

  • tripledoubletripledouble 7,636 Posts
    double

  • tripledoubletripledouble 7,636 Posts
    i never forgave this record for not having Come in out of th Rain
    i keep a copy of Rhenium filed tho (nice cover too)

  • HorseleechHorseleech 3,830 Posts
    The first record I spent $100 on, way back in the early 80's, worth every penny.

    b/w

    'Come In Out Of The Rain' isn't on Osmium.

  • Oh hell yes. This is one of my all time favorites. Some of their best work IMO.

  • DanteDante 371 Posts
    stratasphere said:
    Great record. I don't know why they don't get more props in the rock community. Still need an original copy.

    i once read a george clinton quote where he said "we were too white for soul audiences and too black for rock people" or something similar.

  • The_Hook_UpThe_Hook_Up 8,182 Posts
    Definitely the most underrated rock band of all time.
    This album (or more specifically "Rhenium") is what made me a soul fan...my gateway record. Came to it being a rock fan and a buddy got it and made me a cassette. Blown away. It is this record's fault. Luckily got an OG for a few bucks about 6 years ago. Love this record. I honestly thought it would be higher in the rankings.

  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    I bought my OG of this record on Soul Strut!! From the brother Young Einstein, no less - after a good 15 years of looking.

    Such a great record, I don't listen to it enough, at least that's what I thInk every time I get around to pulling it out and playing it.

  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    Damn, I didn't mean to dead the thread!
    I think maybe a big reason this thread isn't getting as much action as other SSTOH discussions can be summed up in this ratio from Osmium's discogs page: "1 has this. 50 want this."

  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    I don't think I've ever seen an actual vinyl copy of Osmium in the real world. Hell, in 1989 I was lucky enough to score a scratched copy of the "Breakdown" single at a flea market (since upgraded).

    I have the Early Thangs CD on HDH, which I believe is the entire Osmium album plus a few non-LP singles. I don't believe this is in print anymore.

  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts


    Nothing says "fearless" like a man willing to pose for an album cover outdoors, standing on hard gravel, buck nekkid and wearing nothing but an Indian headdress.

  • akoako https://soundcloud.com/a-ko 3,413 Posts
    never ever ever seen an original copy of this, but id love to have one.

    last time i listened to it i was having the same thought as most people in the thread..."why dont rock dudes recognize this more?"

  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    I think I prefer Parliament's "Red Hot Mama" to Funkadelic's.

  • HorseleechHorseleech 3,830 Posts
    pickwick33 said:
    I think I prefer Parliament's "Red Hot Mama" to Funkadelic's.

    Tough call. Have you heard the version on Rocky Mountain Shakedown?

  • CraigCraig 269 Posts
    pickwick33 said:
    I think I prefer Parliament's "Red Hot Mama" to Funkadelic's.

    Me too, it's much rawer!

    :game_over:

  • HorseleechHorseleech 3,830 Posts
    Horseleech said:
    pickwick33 said:
    I think I prefer Parliament's "Red Hot Mama" to Funkadelic's.

    Tough call. Have you heard the version on Rocky Mountain Shakedown?



    Definitely more of a stadium rock feel, but completely over-the-top.

  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    Horseleech said:
    pickwick33 said:
    I think I prefer Parliament's "Red Hot Mama" to Funkadelic's.

    Tough call. Have you heard the version on Rocky Mountain Shakedown?

    I have now. Great version, and it's just as good as you imply, but it was (a) live, and (b) unreleased at the time, which puts it on a whole nother plane.

  • HorseleechHorseleech 3,830 Posts
    pickwick33 said:
    Horseleech said:
    pickwick33 said:
    I think I prefer Parliament's "Red Hot Mama" to Funkadelic's.

    Tough call. Have you heard the version on Rocky Mountain Shakedown?

    I have now. Great version, and it's just as good as you imply, but it was (a) live, and (b) unreleased at the time, which puts it on a whole nother plane.

    Of course, I'm just geeking.

    I prefer the Parliament version also, but the Funkadelic 45 version has some nice extra shredding on the Vital Juices B-side.

  • Jonny_PaycheckJonny_Paycheck 17,825 Posts
    I've had it a few times, but never really found in the wild - always a brokered deal with a regular customer/vendor.

    Honestly, not my PMG favorite Parliament LP, but it's got its place in the canon apart from all the fonkay shit.

    I have the Get Back reissue, I think, that has "Come In Out Of The Rain" on it. That song fucking slays. Is it on 45?

  • SIRUSSIRUS 2,554 Posts
    i think it is without the drums

  • strataspherestratasphere Blastin' the Nasty 1,035 Posts
    I have the Get Back reissue, I think, that has "Come In Out Of The Rain" on it. That song fucking slays. Is it on 45?

    Nope, that was included on Rhenium. The Get Back re-issue is an exact repro of Osmium. And yes, that song was 45 only originally.

  • tripledoubletripledouble 7,636 Posts
    oh thats right, i remember hearing a drumless version. boooo
    yeah the 45 has drums and is hard as hell to find. ive been trying to upgrade my copy foreverr
    i think theres a uk press too

  • HorseleechHorseleech 3,830 Posts
    SIRUS said:
    i think it is without the bells

  • SIRUSSIRUS 2,554 Posts
    Horseleech said:
    SIRUS said:
    i think it is without the bells

    i have a whole suitcase of em

  • Big_StacksBig_Stacks "I don't worry about hittin' power, cause I don't give 'em nuttin' to hit." 4,670 Posts
    Hey,

    This album is my jernt. There are some many good ones on here, but my favorite of all is "Moonshine Heather." I'm so glad this LP made the list!



    Peace,

    Big Stacks from Kakalak

  • johmbolayajohmbolaya 4,472 Posts
    tripledouble said:
    i never forgave this record for not having Come in out of th Rain
    i keep a copy of Rhenium filed tho (nice cover too)

    That's how I first heard the album too, I think I had ordered mine from Midnight Records way back when.
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