Uncle Jam Wants You


Uncle Jam Wants You is the eleventh studio album by American funk band Funkadelic. It was originally released by Warner Bros. Records on September 21, 1979, and was later reissued on CD by Charly Groove Records and Priority Records. It was produced by George Clinton under the alias Dr. Funkenstein. It is the first Funkadelic album since America Eats Its Young in 1972 not to sport a cover illustrated by Funkadelic artist Pedro Bell, though Bell did contribute some interior artwork. Uncle Jam Wants You was the second Funkadelic album to be certified gold. The album peaked at #18 on the US Billboard 200 and #2 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

Significance

In some ways, Uncle Jam Wants You is a more militant sequel to the group's previous album, One Nation Under a Groove. Whereas that album described an ideal country ruled by Funk, "Uncle Jam" actually attempts to provoke the conversion into Funkadelia. Its purpose is also to "rescue dance music from the blahs."
The cover art depicts George Clinton in a Huey Newton-Black Panthers pose, reflecting the more martial lyrical themes of the album. The album features the band's last big hit single, " Knee Deep", an edited version of which went to number one on the Billboard Soul singles charts. This album had a profound influence on the West Coast hip-hop scene, especially the legendary DJ organization known as Uncle Jamm's Army.
Samples of the 15-minute Funkadelic cut " Knee Deep" can be heard in De La Soul's "Me Myself and I", the Teddy Riley-produced "Get Away," as well as several of Dr. Dre's productions.

Reception

Side One

  1. "Freak of the Week" - 5:34
  2. " Knee Deep" - 15:21

    Side Two

  3. "Uncle Jam" - 10:25
  4. "Field Maneuvers" - 2:26
  5. "Holly Wants to Go to California" - 4:25
  6. "Foot Soldiers " - 3:31

    Personnel

Funkadelic Rescue Dance Band :
Mallia Franklin is credited as a background vocalist, but she was the female lead singer on the song "Freak of the Week".
Additional Musicians:
Photography: