Funk of Ages explained

Funk of Ages
Type:	studio
Artist:	Bernie Worrell
Cover:	Funkofages.jpg
Released:	1990
Recorded:	1990; Mission Control Studios, Westford, Massachusetts; Greenpoint Studios, Brooklyn
Genre:	Funk
Label:	Gramavision
Producer:	Bernie Worrell, Joe Blaney, Bill Laswell
Prev Title:	All the Woo in the World
Prev Year:	1978
Next Title:	Blacktronic Science
Next Year:	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. "Volunteered Slavery" was written by Rahsaan Roland Kirk.^[6]

Critical reception

Patricia Smith, of The Boston Globe, listed Funk of Ages as the best album of 1990.^[7] The Chicago Tribune wrote that "Worrell's surprisingly supple voice shines on a couple of melodic reggae numbers, 'Real Life Dreams' and 'Sing'." The Toronto Star determined that "the musicianship is adventurous enough to make for a funky, wide-ranging diversion."^[8]

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

• Sing
• Synthesizer, Organ, Synth Bass, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
• Drums: Steve Ferrone
• Guitar: Michael Hampton, Jimmy Ripp
• Electric Sitar: Jimmy Ripp
• Percussion: Larry Fratangelo
• Background Vocals: David Byrne, Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington
• B.W. Jam
• Clavinet, Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Percussion: Bernie Worrell
• Drum Programming, Synth Horns, Samples, Sequencing: Joe Polanco, Gary Cooper
• Horns: Uptown Horns
• Background Vocals: Bernie Worrell, Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington, Steve Washington, Jenny Douglas-Foote
• Funk-A-Hall-Licks
• Clavinet, Synthesizer, Organ, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
• Bass: Bootsy Collins
• Drums: Steve Jordan
• Keyboard: Herbie Hancock
• Guitar: Keith Richards, Jimmy Ripp, Bootsy Collins
• Saxophone: Maceo Parker
• Background Vocals: Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington, Jody Bell, Doug Duffey
• Ain't She Sweet
• Arrangement: Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins
• Piano, Synth Bass: Bernie Worrell
• Bass, Drum Programming: Bootsy Collins
• Synthesizer: Bernie Worrell, Herbie Hancock
• Percussion: Larry Fratangelo
• Banjo: Jimmy Ripp
• Vocals: Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Gary Cooper
• Y-Spy
• Clavinet, Synthesizer, Organ, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
• Drums: Steve Jordan
• Bass, Snare, Lap Steel Guitar: Charley Drayton
• Guitar: Keith Richards, Steve Jordan
• Percussion: Steve Jordan, Charley Drayton
• Vocals: Steve Jordan, Gary Cooper, Loren Qualls
• Real Life Dreams
• Organ, Clavinet, Synthesizer, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
• Drums: Sly Dunbar
• Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
• Guitar: Jimmy Ripp, Steve Jordan
• Percussion: Larry Fratangelo, Gary Cooper
• Background Vocals: Sheila Washington, Jody Bell
• Beware of Dog
• Clavinet, Organ, Synthesizer: Bernie Worrell
• Guitar: Vernon Reid
• Drums: Doug Bowne
• Bass: Jimmy Hawkes
• Saxophone: Maceo Parker
• Straight Ahead
• Clavinet, Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
• Drums: Steve Ferrone
• Guitar: Jimmy Ripp
• Bass: Warren McRae
• Background Vocals: Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington, Patty Maloney,

John Denicola, Michael Camacho, Doug Duffey

• Don't Piss Me Off
• Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Samples: Bernie Worrell
• Lead Vocals: Phoebe Snow, Gary Cooper
• Organ: Jerry Harrison
• Drums: Dennis Chambers
• Volunteered Slavery
• Producer: Bill Laswell
• Organ, Electric Piano: Bernie Worrell
• Vocals: Bernie Worrell, Gary Cooper
• Chatan, Conga, Tambourine, Bells: Aïyb Dieng
• At Mos' Spheres
• Producer: Bill Laswell
• Organ: Bernie Worrell
• Real Life Dreams On
• Organ, Clavinet, Synthesizer: Bernie Worrell
• Drums: Sly Dunbar
• Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
• Guitar: Jimmy Ripp, Steve Jordan
• Percussion: Larry Fratangelo, Gary Cooper

Notes and References

1. Hiltbrand . David . Funk of Ages . People . Dec 3, 1990 . 34 . 22 . 30.
2. Ouellette . Dan . Funk of Ages by Bernie Worrell . DownBeat . Feb 1991 . 58 . 2 . 32.
3. News: Mills . David . In 1990, Firing Up the Funk . The Washington Post . 28 Nov 1990 . B7.
4. News: Mitchell . Rick . Recordings . Houston Chronicle . December 16, 1990 . Zest . 11.
5. Wetherbee . Peter . Bernie Worrell Takes Funk to the Future . Billboard . Nov 3, 1990 . 102 . 44 . 32.
6. News: Green . Tony . Bernie Worrell Funk of Ages . St. Petersburg Times . 22 Feb 1991 . Weekend . 18.
7. News: Top Ten Records of 1990 . The Boston Globe . 20 Dec 1990 . Calendar . 17.
8. News: Dafoe . Chris . Bernie Worrell Funk of Ages . Toronto Star . 23 Feb 1991 . H10.