Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome

Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 28, 1977
Recorded1976–1977
StudioUnited Sound Systems, Detroit, Michigan, and Hollywood Sound, Hollywood, California
GenreFunk, disco
Length44:22
LabelCasablanca
ProducerGeorge Clinton
Parliament chronology
Live: P-Funk Earth Tour
(1977)
Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome
(1977)
Motor Booty Affair
(1978)
Singles from Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome
  1. "Bop Gun (Endangered Species)"
    Released: October 29, 1977
  2. "Flash Light"
    Released: January 28, 1978
  3. "Funkentelechy"
    Released: June 3, 1978

Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome is the sixth studio album by the American funk band Parliament, released in 1977.[1][2]

It is a loose concept album warning the listener of falling into the "Placebo Syndrome," which according to George Clinton is consumerism, and listening to disco music, which he saw as a simplification of funk music in attempt to gain commercial success. The album spawned the R&B number No. 1 single in "Flash Light", which features a funky synthesizer bass line played on a Minimoog by keyboardist Bernie Worrell. The album became Parliament's fourth consecutive gold album and second platinum album. The song "Sir Nose d'Voidoffunk (Pay Attention – B3M)" contains nursery rhymes "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" and "Three Blind Mice"; the lyrics were changed to refer to drug use.

The original vinyl release contained a 22″×33″ poster of the character Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk, as well as an 8-page comic book that explains the concept behind the LP. Both the poster and the comic book were illustrated by Overton Loyd.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference CL was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Reading Rock and Roll: Authenticity, Appropriation, Aesthetics. Columbia University Press. 1999. p. 150.