R&B Skeletons in the Closet

R&B Skeletons in the Closet is the fourth solo album by Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton. It was released in April 1986 by Capitol Records and was the last album that Clinton would record for the label. Recording sessions for the album utilized a small cadre of P-Funk musicians including Bootsy Collins, Garry Shider, and DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight, as well as the debut recorded appearance of former Miss America Vanessa L. Williams on the opening track "Hey Good Lookin'". R&B Skeletons in the Closet was produced by Clinton, Steve Washington, Shider, and Andre Jackson.

R&B Skeletons in the Closet
Studio album by
George Clinton
ReleasedApril 1986
Recorded1985-1986
GenreFunk, dance, R&B, electro, hip hop
Length43:24
LabelCapitol
ProducerGeorge Clinton, Steve Washington, Garry Shider, Andre Jackson
George Clinton chronology
Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends
(1985)		 R&B Skeletons in the Closet
(1986)		 The Cinderella Theory
(1989)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Billboard(favorable)[2]
Chicago Tribune(favorable)[3]
Los Angeles Times(mixed)[4]
The Miami Herald(favorable)[5]
The New York Times(favorable)[6]
Virgin Encyclopedia[7]
Yahoo! Music(mixed)[8]
The Village VoiceA–[9]

The album's concept deals with black musical artists attempts to "cross over" to white audiences and losing their core black audience in the process. R&B Skeletons in the Closet expands on the dance-funk sound of Clinton's previous solo albums, and it also incorporates elements of electro and hip hop music.[7] The album was reissued on CD by Capitol Records in 1991, but went out of print shortly thereafter.

Track listing
  1. "Hey Good Lookin'" (Steve Washington, George Clinton, Garry Shider) (released as single Capitol 5602 and as a 12" single-Capitol 9729)
  2. "Do Fries Go with That Shake?" (Steve Washington, Sheila Washington, George Clinton) (released as single Capitol 5558 and as a 12" single-Capitol SPRO 9628)
  3. "Mix Master Suite: a) Startin' From Scratch, b) Counter Irritant, c) Nothin' Left To Burn" (George Clinton)
  4. "Electric Pygmies" (George Clinton)
  5. "Intense" (George Clinton) (originally featured on the soundtrack to the movie Iron Eagle)
  6. "Cool Joe" (Kevin Burke, Andre Jackson, George Clinton)
  7. "R&B Skeletons (In the Closet)" (George Clinton, David Spradley) (released as single Capitol 5642 and as a 12" single-Capitol V-15263)

Personnel
  • Guitars: DeWayne McKnight, Bootsy Collins, Andre Williams, Stevie Salas, Jack Sherman
  • Bass: Steve Washington
  • Keyboards: Joseph Fiddler, Andre Williams, Gambas, ZO, Kevin Burke, Steve Washington, David Spradley
  • Saxophone and flute: Maceo Parker
  • Trombone: Fred Wesley
  • Piano: Ed Johnson, Gambas
  • Timbales: Lelan Zales
  • Drum Programming: Steve Washington, Fred Johnson, ZO
  • Scratch mix: Anthony Bryant
  • Mix-master orchestra: Ed Johnson, John Johnson, Paula Hachalter, Jim Hay, Murray Adler, William Reichenbach, Donald Ashworth, Rick Marotta
  • Vocals: Kevin Burke, Shirley Jackson, Pat Lewis, Sandra Feva, Jessica Cleaves, Garry Shider, Joe Harris, Michael Payne, Andre Williams, Vanessa L. Williams, Debra Barsha, Bootsy Collins, Sheila Washington, Stefan Frank, Steven Boyd, Lige Curry, Robert Johnson

Notes
  1. Henderson, Alex. "R&B Skeletons in the Closet - George Clinton". Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-08-05.
  2. George, Nelson. "The Rhythm & the Blues". Billboard: 25. April 26, 1986.
  3. Brogan, Daniel. "George Clinton: R&B Skeletons in the Closet". Chicago Tribune: 54. August 8, 1986.
  4. Waller, Don (June 1, 1986). "Clinton's Anti-pop". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-08-05.
  5. Columnist. "Even Sacred Cows Dance to the Churning Rhythms of... Dr. Funkenstein". The Miami Herald: 1K. June 8, 1986.
  6. Palmer, Robert (May 7, 1986). "THE POP LIFE; CLINTON'S SATIRE HAS A BITE". The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-08-05.
  7. Larkin, Colin. "George Clinton". Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul: 70. March 1, 2002.
  8. Meyer, Frank (1986). "George Clinton - R&B Skeletons In The Closet". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved on 2009-08-05.
  9. Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice July 1, 1986. Retrieved on 2009-08-05.

References
  • Colin Larkin (1998). Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin Books. ISBN 0-7535-0241-0.
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