The best solo track that Bernie Worrell left us with was entitled "Don’t Piss Me Off".
It’s a pretty straight up funky jam that fits with his legacy 100%. So it was a blow when he didn’t take his own advice this weekend.
The P-Funk had many engineers – from George himself, to Eddie Hazell and Bootsy Baby and beyond. Bernie was a founding father. And just by virtue of this riff...
...he guaranteed himself funk greatness.
Bernie also took the funk to the Talking Heads and to Bill Laswell’s material (part of the awesome Sly & Robbie Rhythm Killers Joint and this). So he can consider himself to have turned the mutha(s) right out.
His solo moments weren’t as great. Except for the one above, and another I’ve always had a soft spot for...
...which again had a fair title (and a proper P-Funk groove).
If Bernie was there, so was The One. He was the insurance.
- TH
[BTW. For those of you doubting the Woo’s funk that’s him on the bassline, b/v’s & production on Mtume’s "Juicy Fruit" and therefore propping up B.I.G. Quite possibly the most sampled beat of all time. And one of the fonkiest.]
