Dear Brothers and Sisters in Rock:

Games, dames and guitars. These are just a few of Eddie Hazel’s favorite things. Oh yeah, and mescaline and blow too. What the hey, it’s all good. Well brothers and sisters, this is a brilliant funk-metal/rock gem that has been lost in the now, all-too-familiar, salvage yard of stellar albums that have failed to be rescued and reissued [to yummy vinyl or compost disc].

Even though this was a concept album [albiet a shallow “concept”] chock full o’ recycled cover tunes (“California Dreamin’ ”, “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”, etc.), and only seven tracvks total, this intense wunderkund is an essential to any fan of the rock, the roll, the funk and the HAZEL! I am a HUGE Eddie Hazel fan, and unfortunately, because of the failure of snooty record execs to recognize a golen idol waiting to be resurrected, most folks of all ages don’t even know who he is! This was further enhanced by Eddie’s pseudo-mythological status as a member of George Clinton’s Parliament/Funkadelic collective. 

Eddie pioneered a groundbreaking funk-metal sound (epitomized in the classic, monumental “Maggot Brain” instrumental jam). At one point, Eddie seemed to be the clear successor to the [now deceased] Jimi Hendrix throne*. This notoriously dark-draped aura arose from his brief, underpublicized, era of productivity with Funkadelic. A three-album tryptich (“Funkadelic” [1970]; “Free Your Mind…and Your Ass Will Follow” [1970]; and “Maggot Brain” [1971]) bookended by the grooves of “Superstoopid”, “Funky Dollar Bill”, and the aforementioned “Maggot Brain”, came to an untimely end, as Eddie’s drug use escalated, leading to a heightened frequency of disputes with Papa Funk Clinton, a jail sentence (after being arrested while smoking angel dust on a jumbo jet flight to his court date for heroin possession), and ending with a lugubrious battle with liver cancer. 

“Games, Dames” allowed Eddie to put on a rhythm clinic, by laying down his electric chops, and even sing a bit too (a luxury he was not afforded, save a few tracks, with Funkadelic). The six full length tracks on “Games” (track 7 is a reprise) were designed as a basic framework to provide a launchpad for Eddie to do a helluva lot of soloing; the gems being the album’s cover jams. The shorter tunes are typical Parliament/Funkadelic workouts, however, being his solo project, the focus is full-on, straight-up Eddie!

The Mamas & Papas’ cover “California Dreamin’ ” kicks off the platter, and is a sure fire doozy; packing a power punch, with a surprisingly grounded, funky balance. Who’d a thunk it, the Mamas and Papas get dragged kicking and screaming [via Eddie’s axe] into the metal millenium. Eddie’s spacey-sounding guitar is in full effect, and is matched in a marathon race with his funk/soul brothers Bootsy “Boogie” Collins (bass), Bernie Worrell (resident ivory tickler), Jerome Bailey (drums), and the backing vocals provided by Lynn and Dawn [the Brides of Funkenstein]. “Frantic Moment” is a bit of a slow tune, that shoves off with spacey drumming and backward-sounding guitar effects. The Brides handle the vocals throughout, and incidentally, this is rumored to have been written for the Brides’ first album.

The Beatles, while pop music icons, were certainly never lauded for any intricate guitar work. Though, if ever an axeman should choose a Fabs cover, let it be “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”–remember that sweet solo work on “Abbey Road”? Clocking in at 9:32, Eddie continues to knock your socks on your ass by handling both leads and melody guitars. Also memorable, “What About It”, a super heavy guitar intstrumental piece (later served as the background to George Clinton’s “Clone Communicado”), an earth moving groove that slings the listener into a space orbit.

ATTENTION: SOMEONE REISSUE THIS ALBUM!! I can just picture a beautiful “Akarma-esque”/digipak reissue sleeve for the platter and the disc. Here’s the rub, brothers and sisters, this album has been long out of print, and otherwise very rare. A vinyl copy, in even fair condition, could cost a buyer USD $20–80. The cover art is incredible, a 70’s-style collage featuring Eddie with his beloved Gibson Les Paul in one hand, and a medieval sword in the other; while riding a horse in an inner-stellar space environment. Interesting side notes include, the “special thanks” on the back cover, to the guys on “the Yard” at Lompoc (the locale of the California State Pen) where Eddie was incarcerated. Alson, Eddie’s nickname “Maggotbrain” has been dropped, and replaced with the obscure “Smears”.

*Eddie fans should run down Axiom Funk, the P‑Funk family collective project, release “Funkcronomicon”; featuring some of the last tracks Eddie ever recorded, including blowing the roof off the sucker with a cool and funk laden take on Hendrix’s “If 6 Was 9”.