8) Funkadelic: Maggot Brain

Sorry for the hiatus, I’m a bit busy on weekends and I’m sure many of you realize that I rarely post on them. Now back to the countdown… Well I doubt that many people expected this song to be on the countdown but it rightfully deserves to be. Now I can’t go and say that I’m a big fan of Funkadelic or George Clinton but this song is just incredible and really the whole “Maggot Brain” album is wonderfully creative and unique. Now if you may or may not know Eddie Hazel is on guitar for this ridiculous piece of work. Apparently when making this song Eddie Hazel was told by George Clinton to "Play like yo' momma just died." It sounds like he did just that, and what makes this solo even better is the great backdrop with the mellow and soothing appriego. This beautiful solo lasts for a total of ten minutes and regardless of who you are you cannot deny that playing that amazing solo for that long has to put some heavy strain on your fingers. What makes it even more astonishing is that this was recorded in just one take! The solo is epic and made Eddie Hazel a legend and just hearing five minutes of the song can make you agree. Unfortunately the song goes overlooked for reasons that I just cannot understand. Why have I never heard this song on the radio? I believe the only reason I could give for this solo being overlooked is because it was not created by a “rock” guitar legend, and it seems as if there is no place for incredible guitar work by a funk band. This song is so soothing and surreal; it really sends the listener off into a different world. Eddie Hazel’s playing starts off slow and progressively gets faster and faster until it reaches its peak about half way through and then starts to lull down and once again builds towards the end of the song. The way he plays is just so spiritual and soulful and you really get the feeling that he is expressing deep sorrow which apparently George Clinton wanted. I sort of kick myself for putting this piece so far back but the competition is very stiff. If you haven’t heard this song do so immediately!