Free Your Mind...And Your Ass Will Follow

Infobox Album |
Name = Free Your Mind...And Your Ass Will Follow
Type = Album
Artist = Funkadelic


Released = 1970
Recorded = 1970
Genre = Funk, psychedelic soul, psychedelic rock
Length = 30:52
Label = Westbound
Producer = George Clinton
Reviews =
*Allmusic rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hmozefekhgf6 link]
*Robert Christgau (B-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Funkadelic link]
*Pitchfork Media rating|8.8|10 [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/17756-funkadelic-free-your-mind-maggot-brain-america-eats-its-young?artist_title=17756-funkadelic-free-your-mind-maggot-brain-america-eats-its-young link] |
Last album = "Funkadelic"
(1970)
This album = "Free Your Mind...And Your Ass Will Follow"
(1970)
Next album = "Maggot Brain"
(1971)

"Free Your Mind...And Your Ass Will Follow" is a 1970 album by the American funk band Funkadelic. It was released on Westbound Records. The inspiration for this album was, according to George Clinton, an attempt to "see if we can cut a whole album while we're all tripping on acid." Fact|date=June 2008

The album and its title track, a feedback-drenched number taking a third of the album's length, introduces the subversion of Christian themes explored on later songs, describing a mystical approach to salvation in which "the Kingdom of Heaven is within" and achievable through freeing one's mind, after which one's ass will follow. Many of the songs (such as the title track and "Eulogy and Light") subvert Christian themes, including the Lord's Prayer and the 23rd Psalm.

The album's gatefold cover forms something of a visual pun, echoing the sentiments of the album title. The sight of a woman holding her arms towards heaven in an ecstatic pose is subverted upon opening the sleeve to find that she is naked.

On the Billboard Music Charts (North America), "Free Your Mind...And Your Ass Will Follow" peaked at #11 on the Black Albums Chart and #92 on the Pop Albums chart. The album and eponymous song influenced the band En Vogue, leading to the title of their hit song "Free Your Mind".

Track listing

ide one

#"Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow" (George Clinton, Ray Davis, Eddie Hazel) - 10:04
#"Friday Night, August 14th" (Clinton, Hazel, Billy Bass Nelson) - 5:21
#"Funky Dollar Bill" (Clinton, Davis, Hazel) - 3:15

ide two

#

"I Wanna Know If It's Good to You?" (Clinton, Clarence Haskins, Hazel, Nelson) 5:59
#

"Some More" (Clinton, Ernie Harris) - 2:56
#

"Eulogy and Light" (Harris) - 3:31

2005 CD reissue bonus tracks

#

"Fish, Chips and Sweat" - 3:22
#

"Free Your Mind Radio Advert" - 0:55
#

"I Wanna Know If It's Good to You" - 2:50
#

"I Wanna Know If It's Good to You (instrumental)" - 3:12

Personnel

*Parliament (George Clinton, Ray Davis, Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Simon, Grady Thomas): Vocals
*Eddie Hazel: Lead guitar, lead vocals on "I Wanna Know" and "Some More"
*Tawl Ross: Rhythm guitar, lead vocals on "Funky Dollar Bill"
*Billy Bass Nelson: Bass guitar; lead vocals on "Friday Night" and "I Wanna Know"
*Bernie Worrell: Keyboards; piano on "Funky Dollar Bill"; organ on "I Wanna Know"
*Tiki Fulwood: Drums

External links

* [http://www.duke.edu/~tmc/motherpage/albums_funkadelic/alb-fymind.html the Motherpage reviews]