Comin' Round the Mountain is from Hardcore Jollies, a CD I apparently bought through BMG. The album cover artist is Pedro 'Blastoid Blaster' Bell, creator of over two dozen George Clinton and P-Funk covers and liner notes. Sadly, this man who was basically responsible for creating the outer space image for the group was barely paid anything. Hmmm, that first article was from 2009. Thankfully, an article form earlier this year reports that Pedro Bell is doing better and receiving more appreciation for this contribution to the history of funk music. Yea! A Vote for Pedro!
This is a funkified version of the classic song She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain. The lyrics are the opening verse Comin round the mountain when she comes and second verse Ridin two white horses when she comes, with an added line Get out on the dancefloor when she comes. Instead of all going out to meet her, George Clinton and the gang are letting her come to them, since where else would she be going but to the dancefloor?
The music grooves along to about twelve repetitions of those lyrics and the doin it just for fun parts. The vocalists sing the first few in unison, then individuals take turns. Check out 2:04 (kind of Sly Stone-ish), 2:13 (low guy voice), 2:17 (awesome group chord), 2:21 (all singing in high voices), and 2:41 (a capella).
While everyone is singing over and over, the music is driving those horses round the mountain with great intensity. The bass is a thumping coach, the guitars are a coaxing, occasionally cracking whip from the driver, the drums are pounding hooves.
She eventually arrives to the dancefloor at 2:49, and everyone gets to groove on a three minute Eddie Hazel guitar effects masterpiece. One of my favorite solos in existence, it starts out all phaser wah and distortion. At 3:40, Eddie turns on the reverb and delay and the dancefloor lifts off the ground and everyone ventures off around the galaxy. Check out the pitch bend at 4:39.
Whoa, Nelly! I like to think the horses are eating well and resting up in a nice cozy barn while everyone is away.
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