Swing Down- Houston 1978

[79rapture]

george clinton is one of the best hyped men of music no one can pump a croud up like him Clinton+p funk= my world all funked up!!

[BKinNY]

This is perfection! To watch this on video and get chills I can only imagine what it was like live!

[kingreese79]

Took a real asshole to hit dislike.

Even Jesus likes this

[1980Triumph]

I am not a big Parliament/Funkedelic fan....was always more into EWF, Kool and the Gang, the Jacksons but I feel the point of Swing Down and the coming of the Mothership and what it meant towards black thought.

[mysterymediacorp]

@1980Triumph what does this have to do with race, please explain ..if you can

[BKinNY]

@mysterymediacorp Swing Down, Sweet Chariot is an Old Negro Spiritual that is often misunderstood as some slaves singing about meeting Jesus in Heaven. They were actually sending a signal for escape. Parliament Funkadelic incorporated that for a new time, but as usual many people hear but don't listen.

[mysterymediacorp]

@BKinNY First off.. I'm an atheist and god is santa clause for grown folks ,snap out of it. Second Clinton is from my hometown and I know this song is about aliens (mothership-DUH)

[BKinNY]

@mysterymediacorp Well congrats to you. I stay away from labels because I'm a freethinker and there's nothing better than FREEDOM in my opinion. That does not take away from the fact that Parliament Funkadelic had to code their lyrics because Black Radio wouldn't play them otherwise. They reworked an old negro spiritual made famous by Paul Robeson to share their MULTILAYERED Message. It is what it is.

[mysterymediacorp]

@BKinNY of course I know that, I was just making a point that the song is about aliens, and I'm a free thinker also, but I'm not a fence sitter when it comes to 'god' because I have no reason to believe in that stuff

[BKinNY]

@mysterymediacorp Great Minds think alike! My post was only to answer the original question you posed about race - "what it meant towards black thought" as posted by 1980Triumph. If you have the opportunity to read or see a George Clinton interview where he discusses the stealth he and other Black artists used to get their message across during a time when all Black media was being scrutinized for subversive activity you would appreciate my original response.

[agnemmiretep]

ss

[agnemmiretep]

true, but glenn is surely midded

[KingMellow11]

George couldn't sing and he admitted that,but he knew his notes and only he can do it with funky soul. Well, I agree that Glen can belt the lead out of this song ,but I have to give Gary his props. He did this HIS way.

[russel156]

the one person who didn't like this is... Sir Nose.

[MsMerising]

Where the fuck was I when this was happening? Oh yes - my father's nutsack. They don't make 'em like this no mo' that's fo' sho'...smh...

[maakheru]

George said that he got the idea of Funk spreading throughout the universe after reading the novel Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed.

[tonoslim]

bass player gettin' loose on this version!

[estebanjoel86]

que geniooooooo

[james4u2ok]

let jay z, 50 cent, lady gaga, madonna, beyonce even try to bring it like this, its impossible. and just think an arena sold out, all high on their sh*t or the groove, waving hands, waiting, willing, wanting the mothership to come, to catch that ride, with the band holding it there for as long as it takes to bring it down, while at the time the meaning of what the band was bringing was lost in a cloud of herb, but looking back, wisdom surounded by the funky of that day

[james4u2ok]

Im blown away every time i view this clip, the spirit the music brings out is something that has been long gone, the words very deep and with definite meaning much deeper than what it appears on the surface surrounded by some good funky music, better than almost 100% so called gospel spirituals out today, these days are gone, only to the detriment of the music industry as a whole, nothing can replace live, funky, groovey music

[BKinNY]

@james4u2ok I have watched this clip about 400 times myself!

[SoberAllmanBrosFan]

Easter Island?

I thought that was some trippy LSD jive but now I believe that George had read Chariots of the Gods and wrote lyrics about the theory that aliens started ancient civilizations like Egypt and Easter Island.

[joshua626]

Man Gary was good but everytime he got the center stage he was always trying to sing or talk instead of letting the music and the band build to new heights. Like the song anyway.

[Baggadin]

@joshua626 Gary has just passed away man, lets not bring negatives into it. The man was a true inspiration and joy to many. Me included

Peace and love from the UK.

[OrgenaII]

@joshua626

I agree, less talkin and more singin, but i think they had to waste time so George could get ready.

[SVinNJ]

At this difficult time, this is exactly the type of this country needs...

[StormSong8]

I like the way George's stuff just seems to sneak up on up on you. At first you think, this is kinda cool. A minute later you're swinging a little bit on the couch thinking hey, this is actually funky. Two minutes later you got the head-bob thing going on so hard you're neck might snap, and a minute after that you're off the couch, colliding into the coffee table, in full groove and wondering what the hell just came over you. At least, that's how it happens to me!

[BrooklinFunkProject]

@StormSong8 You're in the pocket!

[zonwuka]

Rest In Peace Star Child

[coopah1]

RODNEY (SKEEEEEEEET) CURTIS is one of my "ALL TIME BASS GUITAR HEROS". This man style to me is: FUNK,ROCK,SOUL,CLASSICAL,JAZZ, and anyone of those styles will jump out at you without any warning. Just prepare your-self to be grooved!!! This brother can lay down the licks and will always be one of my top bass guitar inspirations. Only a few can rank with him,(Larry Graham, Victor Wooten, Tony Smith, Verdine White), just to name a few.

[OrgenaII]

@coopah1 yea, i can listen to skeet all day long. that mugg is on a different level. he plays for Maceo now. just saw Larry in the NYC.

[OrgenaII]

No one has said anything about Jerome with his big-foot and Skeet poppin those strings, plus Bernie on the keys. and Gary is no Glenn. the closest u can get to Glenn is Greg Fitz

[mightyblack1]

Garry told me that Glenn was his cousin.

[OrgenaII]

Who, Glenn and Greg or Gary and Greg are cousins? any-way, that's still deep! I do know Glenn, Kevin and Greg (i think Jerome too) formed a group and got a record deal, after they left p-funk.

[OrgenaII]

im sure everyone knows by now that GARRY had a massive stoke last week.

[OrgenaII]

@OrgenaII - Now they r saiyin its cancer.

[OrgenaII]

@OrgenaII Garry just passed, yesterday.

[baller357]

Glen had a powerful vioce. No one could call the mothership in the way he could. He was a talent that left this world to soon.

[nukethewhales13]

He was needed on the Mothership to spread the funk intergalacticly. Other universes need the groove too.

[s4ujxm]

Check out Michael Hampton on the guitar keeping the rythm steady. He is the best when performing live for the funk mob.

[ShangoJamal]

It's funny, but Gary is tryin' so hard to get that husky Gospel quality that Glen had, but it just isn't the same. My favorite song with Glen is HANDCUFFS from the Mothership Connection recording. Here on Youtube.

[terry47family]

thee guys are "every day people", my son hangs back stage started while in HS, George, Gerry and the boys just treat him like a part of the family. Have you seen George Clinton art?

PS. George was never the lead vocal but the leader of the ship

[Rcarroll15]

Glen and Hazel were my favorites..

[Baggadin]

mine too. Eddie Hazel fucking kicks ass

[amunamon]

swing down...damnnnnnn... dem horns!!!

[MrsPlanetMaster]

All due & huge respect to Gary for so many reasons and to all the P-Funk troop, but when it comes to "A" Mothership Connection ...no way, no how cud or can anyone beat Glen Goins.....

[luvoftorah]

Well said, couldn't have said it better myself.

[luvoftorah]

This version is incredible. I will admit that I like Glenn Goins better as a singer, but Gary Shider can sing pretty well in his own right. About George, mumblin, he usually quit pretty quick with Glen singing. It was almost like he was saying "Glen, show me how it's done. Anyway, great post!!

[xavier3961]

"put yo hands on yo head" 6:52-7:05 is forever one of the best lines in all of musicland...........

[drgroove]

right at 7:30 is when they kinda go back to the original version,but its okay,the best ive ever heard or seen was

SAGINAW MI 1977,I was 4 years old at that show with my parents who had a local funk band and opened the show. it was like a living Cartoon to me blew my mind till this day. Glenn was cool back stag he gave me a bag of cotton candy,and trelewd was also back there he was a kid also and ate it all up lol.never forget it

[funkfan45]

You actually met Glenn Goins?

Are you serious?

Cool!

[1Mafioso4]

awesome.....

[DIJV79]

Mannnnn !!!! I love it I just play it over and over again.

[mikedeeez]

Can't believe how many folks think this version's "lame"! Give the Mob some credit - like the poster said, this was the funkiest, groovin'-est version they ever played. Look at the whole crowd swaying together! Glenn was the greatest, and it sucked that he left, but they took this song and made it great in a different way.

[luvoftorah]

Nothin lame about this version.

[WorkaroundStudio]

This version sounds like a tribute to Glen, with the famous riff he launched in the 77 lives ...

[Wamz1978]

Glen Goins WAS this track, without him it is lame just gives more room for George to mumble and sing badly

[funkfan45]

I must agree wholeheartedly!

No one could EVER replace Glenn!

[WorldChampion75]

wonspot (1 year ago)

"swing down sweet chariot stop and let me ride" elvis presley. look it up."

Dumb ass imbecile... And "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was a Spiritual sung by slaves to signal an imminent escape. If anything Elvis stole it... Just like 'Rock N' Roll' was stolen from Blacks. It was term used in the ghetto for sex in the back seat of a vehicle. Furthermore Parliament made that line famous, and Glen goins made that line believable. 1 Year later, YOU GET PWNED!!!

[PrayerBoyz]

nobody can do it like GLEN.....bottom line They was to suppose to retire that song after he pasted away....This is wack without Glen Goins cuz he was Funk.......

[orlandez22]

I Don't Smoke Weed Or Nothin', But I Know This The Type Of Shit You Puff An "L" On. LOL!

[brejaydina]

They was suppose to get his Brother lil Kevin Goins because he can sing and play the guitar

[LynseyBoy]

why did GLEN JONES HAD 2 DIE MEN COULD HE SANG WITH THAT CHURCHAFIED VOICE iam a 15 teen old boy i REALLY REALLY DO UNDERSTAND THIS MUSIC

[wdupar20]

Do you mean Glen Goins?

[SidewalksOfNY315]

Awesome performance! Its impossible to replace Glen's vocals on this song, but Gary still did a good job. Its never gets old watching footage of the Mothership landing on stage. I hope I can see for myself one day.

[SoulbassJr]

i agree.glenn's spirit is all over this track.and always will be

[stogler]

"F" Elvis

[Boogiebonez]

And "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was a Spiritual sung by slaves to signal an imminent escape.

[stogler]

Glenn was a true talent...it's just isn't the same without his "I think I see the muthership comin" Damn! how do you replace a cat like him? Rest in peace my brother.

[glengoins77]

It seemed to me when Glen was with the Mob Garry Shider was the laid back cat that wore the diaper on stage. After Glen left Garry turned it up a notch.

[madave411]

can not do the glen goins thing so i just enjoy this version for what it is a ok version

[sranangl007]

It's impossible to replace Glenn Goins. He was the best singer that I ever heard the last 32 years.

[coolbreeze42]

i agree