George Clinton - Greatest Hits
Not to be confused withGreatest Funkin' Hits, this disc collects 10 tracks from George Clinton's '80s Capitol solo albums, most of which have been out of print for far too long. Nothing else here dented the charts as hard as "Atomic Dog," but it's fascinating to listen back to how the funk mastermind dealt with changes in the music (not least the growing power of rap). "Do Fries Go with That Shake!?" stands as one of Clinton's finest tail-waggers of this period, while "Last Dance" handily nicks a hook fromDavid Bowieto mock a too-shy club-goer. Throughout, the beats are pumping and the wit and invention never flag, despite the inclusion of "R&B; Skeletons in the Closet," whose anti-crossover stance is somewhat dated. Rounding out the package are a vintageParliament/Funkadelicconcert medley and an entertaining one-off side project single.--Rickey Wright