Funkadelic - Hardcore Funk Jam (1994)

Since there aren't many Funkadelic best-ofs widely available, and since there are even less that live up to their function, this single-disc best-of may have to suffice. Yet Hardcore Funk Jam isn't an ideal collection by any means. In fact, you'd be better off purchasing One Nation Under a Groove and going one LP after another from there. First of all, this album only culls its selections from Funkadelic's four latter-day Warner albums. And even worse, it manages to somehow skip over "(Not Just) Knee Deep," one of the P-funk collective's undeniable best songs ever, if not the best. There are a few other songs such as "Electric Spanking of War Babies," "Comin' Round the Mountain," "Cholly," and the live versions of "Cosmic Slop" and "Maggot Brain" that are also noticeably absent. Any of these songs would be better choices than questionable inclusions such as "Uncle Jam" and "Electro Cuties," two of Funkadelic's more awkward moments. Still, from beginning to end, Hardcore Funk Jam is just that, funky and filled with great jams. There are better options out there though, such as the single-disc Best of Funkadelic (1976-1981), the double-disc The Very Best of Funkadelic, or the Funk Gets Stronger collections. But again, an even better idea is to just head straight for One Nation Under a Groove -- it won't disappoint you. That way you'll be positioned to slowly make your way through their better albums one after another rather than even messing with these inadequate best-ofs.