Funk of Ages
Funk of Ages is a solo album by former Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell.[1][2] The album was released in 1990 by Gramavision Records.[3] It includes contributions by numerous guest musicians, including Sly and Robbie, David Byrne, Herbie Hancock, Keith Richards, Vernon Reid, and Phoebe Snow.[4][5] P-Funk bandmates Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, Gary Cooper, Doug Duffey, and Michael Hampton also contributed.
| Funk of Ages | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Recorded | 1990; Mission Control Studios, Westford, Massachusetts; Greenpoint Studios, Brooklyn | |||
| Genre | Funk | |||
| Label | Gramavision | |||
| Producer | Bernie Worrell, Joe Blaney, Bill Laswell | |||
| Bernie Worrell chronology | ||||
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"Outer Spaceways" was written by Sun Ra.[6] "Volunteered Slavery" was written by Rahsaan Roland Kirk.[7]
Critical reception
    
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating | 
| AllMusic | |
| Chicago Tribune | |
| Orlando Sentinel | |
Patricia Smith, of The Boston Globe, listed Funk of Ages as the best album of 1990.[10] The Chicago Tribune wrote that "Worrell's surprisingly supple voice shines on a couple of melodic reggae numbers, 'Real Life Dreams' and 'Sing'."[9] The Toronto Star determined that "the musicianship is adventurous enough to make for a funky, wide-ranging diversion."[11]
Track listing
    
- "Sing" (Worrell, Michael Hampton, David Byrne) 4:34
 - "B.W. Jam" (Worrell, Gary Cooper, Joe Polanco) 3:30
 - "Funk-A-Hall-Licks" (Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Cooper, Doug Duffey) 5:20
 - "Ain't She Sweet" (Jack Yellen, Milton Ager) 5:02
 - "Y-Spy" (Worrell, Steve Jordan, Charley Drayton) 4:27
 - "Real Life Dreams" (Worrell, David Nyce) 4:43
 - "Beware of Dog" (Worrell, Dougie Bowne) 2:37
 - "Straight Ahead" (Worrell, Sheila Washington, John Denicola, Patty Maloney, Gil Small) 3:59
 - "Don't Piss Me Off" (Worrell, Jerry Harrison, Charlie Midnight) 4:26
 - "Volunteered Slavery/Bern's Blues/Outer Spaceways" (Rahsaan Roland Kirk/Worrell/Sun Ra) 4:45
 - "At Mos' Spheres" (Worrell) 3:55
 - "Real Life Dreams On" (Worrell, David Nyce) 1:39
 
Personnel
    
- Sing
 - Synthesizer, Organ, Synth Bass, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
 - Drums: Steve Ferrone
 - Guitar: Michael Hampton, Jimmy Ripp
 - Electric Sitar: Jimmy Ripp
 - Percussion: Larry Fratangelo
 - Background Vocals: David Byrne, Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington
 - B.W. Jam
 - Clavinet, Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Percussion: Bernie Worrell
 - Drum Programming, Synth Horns, Samples, Sequencing: Joe Polanco, Gary Cooper
 - Horns: Uptown Horns
 - Background Vocals: Bernie Worrell, Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington, Steve Washington, Jenny Douglas-Foote
 - Funk-A-Hall-Licks
 - Clavinet, Synthesizer, Organ, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
 - Bass: Bootsy Collins
 - Drums: Steve Jordan
 - Keyboard: Herbie Hancock
 - Guitar: Keith Richards, Jimmy Ripp, Bootsy Collins
 - Saxophone: Maceo Parker
 - Background Vocals: Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington, Jody Bell, Doug Duffey
 - Ain't She Sweet
 - Arrangement: Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins
 - Piano, Synth Bass: Bernie Worrell
 - Bass, Drum Programming: Bootsy Collins
 - Synthesizer: Bernie Worrell, Herbie Hancock
 - Percussion: Larry Fratangelo
 - Banjo: Jimmy Ripp
 - Vocals: Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Gary Cooper
 - Y-Spy
 - Clavinet, Synthesizer, Organ, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
 - Drums: Steve Jordan
 - Bass, Snare, Lap Steel Guitar: Charley Drayton
 - Guitar: Keith Richards, Steve Jordan
 - Percussion: Steve Jordan, Charley Drayton
 - Vocals: Steve Jordan, Gary Cooper, Loren Qualls
 - Real Life Dreams
 - Organ, Clavinet, Synthesizer, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
 - Drums: Sly Dunbar
 - Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
 - Guitar: Jimmy Ripp, Steve Jordan
 - Percussion: Larry Fratangelo, Gary Cooper
 - Background Vocals: Sheila Washington, Jody Bell
 - Beware of Dog
 - Clavinet, Organ, Synthesizer: Bernie Worrell
 - Guitar: Vernon Reid
 - Drums: Doug Bowne
 - Bass: Jimmy Hawkes
 - Saxophone: Maceo Parker
 - Straight Ahead
 - Clavinet, Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Lead Vocals: Bernie Worrell
 - Drums: Steve Ferrone
 - Guitar: Jimmy Ripp
 - Bass: Warren McRae
 - Background Vocals: Gary Cooper, Sheila Washington, Patty Maloney,
 
John Denicola, Michael Camacho, Doug Duffey
- Don't Piss Me Off
 - Synthesizer, Synth Bass, Samples: Bernie Worrell
 - Lead Vocals: Phoebe Snow, Gary Cooper
 - Organ: Jerry Harrison
 - Drums: Dennis Chambers
 - Volunteered Slavery
 - Producer: Bill Laswell
 - Organ, Electric Piano: Bernie Worrell
 - Vocals: Bernie Worrell, Gary Cooper
 - Chatan, Conga, Tambourine, Bells: Aïyb Dieng
 - At Mos' Spheres
 - Producer: Bill Laswell
 - Organ: Bernie Worrell
 - Real Life Dreams On
 - Organ, Clavinet, Synthesizer: Bernie Worrell
 - Drums: Sly Dunbar
 - Bass: Robbie Shakespeare
 - Guitar: Jimmy Ripp, Steve Jordan
 - Percussion: Larry Fratangelo, Gary Cooper
 
References
    
- Hiltbrand, David (Dec 3, 1990). "Funk of Ages". People. 34 (22): 30.
 - Ouellette, Dan (Feb 1991). "Funk of Ages by Bernie Worrell". DownBeat. 58 (2): 32.
 - Mills, David (28 Nov 1990). "In 1990, Firing Up the Funk". The Washington Post. p. B7.
 - Mitchell, Rick (December 16, 1990). "Recordings". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 11.
 - Wetherbee, Peter (Nov 3, 1990). "Bernie Worrell Takes Funk to the Future". Billboard. 102 (44): 32.
 - Gettelman, Parry (15 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell, Funk of Ages". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 22.
 - Green, Tony (22 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell Funk of Ages". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 18.
 - Funk of Ages at AllMusic
 - Kot, Greg (3 Jan 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
 - "Top Ten Records of 1990". Calendar. The Boston Globe. 20 Dec 1990. p. 17.
 - Dafoe, Chris (23 Feb 1991). "Bernie Worrell Funk of Ages". Toronto Star. p. H10.
 
