May 30th, 2025 - A Parliament of Mothership Connections

 

Hello and happy Friday funksters and craft beer freaks!  The Meista here with another killer brew and killer album pairing for ya my friends!  Today, I'm getting funked up Parliament's fantastic "Mothership Connection" and a crisp, tart, salty, and tasty Parliament Funky Raspberry Gose Ale from Bombastic Brewing!  Ahhhhh, shit!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Parliament
• Title: "Mothership Connection"
• Recorded: March through October 1975 at United Sound in Detroit, Michigan and Hollywood Sound in Hollywood, California
• Release date: December 15th, 1975 (4th studio album by Parliament)
• Record company: Casablanca Records
• Production: George Clinton
• Album cover art: David Alexander (photography) and Gribbitt! (art direction and design)
• Personnel: Boom (horns), Jerome Brailey (drums and percussion), Michael Brecker (horns), Randy Brecker (horns), George Clinton (vocals), Bootsy Collins (bass, guitars, drums, percussion, and vocals), Gary Cooper (drums and percussion, handclaps, and backing vocals), Ray Davis (vocals), Joe Farrell (horns), Tiki Fulwood (drums and percussion), Glenn Goins (guitars and vocals), Michael Hampton (guitars), Fuzzy Haskins (vocals), Cordell Mosson (bass), Maceo Parker (horns), Gary Shider (guitars and vocals), Calvin Simon (vocals), Grady Thomas (vocals), Fred Wesley (horns), and Bernie Worrell (Minimoog, Wurlitzer electric piano, ARP Pro Soloist and String Ensemble, RMI Electra Piano, Hammond organ, grand piano, Fender Rhodes, and Clavinet D6)
• Backup singers: Sidney Barnes, Rasputin Boutte, Bryna Chimenti, Debbie Edwards, Archie Ivy, Taka Kahn, Pam Vincent, and Debra Wright
• Musical style: Funk with elements of R&B, soul, and rock
• Sound: Soulful, very upbeat, and funky as hell, "Mothership Connection" is everything you've come to love and expect from Parliament... brilliant, straight-forward, foot-stompin' funk!  And those oh so wonderful harmonies, melodies, and horns!
• Major themes: A concept album of sorts about black funk astronauts interacting with intergalactic alien worlds, themes include space travel, partying, funk, rock and roll, sex, dancing, joy, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "P. Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)"
2. "Mothership Connection (Star Child)"
3. "Unfunky UFO"
4. "Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication"
5. "Handcuffs"
6. "Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)"
7. "Night of the Thumpasorus Peoples"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Bombastic Brewing (Hayden, Idaho)
• Website: https://www.bombasticbrewing.com/
• Brew: Parliament Funky Raspberry Gose Ale
• Style: Fruited Gose
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 14
• Pour: The Parliament Funky Raspberry Gose Ale pours a slightly hazy, bright red hue with a bubbly, 1-finger, light pink head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, tart, grainy, and slightly salty.  There are aromas of freshly picked raspberries, lemon juice and zest, lime, a hint of salt, and light grains. 
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Parliament Funky Raspberry Gose Ale is .  There are notes of fresh raspberries, green apple, lemon juice, and a dash of sea salt.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body with good carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp, tart, and salty with a clean finish.

Overall pairing: The very crushable tart, salty, and fruity flavors and aromas of the Parliament Funky Raspberry Gose Ale from Bombastic Brewing are perfect for a funky dance party with the Parliament gang and their wonderfully soulful "Mothership Connection" album!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Funk on!!