EDDIE HAZEL "Games Dames & Guitar Thangs" 12" Vinyl LP 1977 WB BS-3058 PROMO VG+

$

42

                                                EDDIE "SMEERO" HAZEL

Artist Biography by Jason Birchmeier






A mythical figure, original Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel pioneered an innovative funk-metal sound in the early '70s, best exemplified on his mammoth classic instrumental jam "Maggot Brain." This mythological status arises from his brief, mysterious era of productivity, a shadowy three-album cycle capped by Maggot Brain that came to a close as Hazel's notorious drug problems began to haunt him, resulting in personal disputes with George Clinton, a jail sentence, and ultimately his slow death to liver failure. Yet even though Hazel's notable accomplishments are few -- reserved mostly to the first three Funkadelic albums, a 1977 solo album, and legendary live performances -- these accomplishments were highly influential. At the time, Hazel seemed a clear successor to the deceased Jimi Hendrix, one of the few black guitar players merging an acid rock approach with an R&B aesthetic. Furthermore, Hazel took things a step further, integrating a heavy dose of funk into his fiery guitar work as well, setting the precedent for successive Parliament/Funkadelic guitarists, as well as later generations of funk-metal guitarists. 



                                        Game - Dames - And - Guitar Thangs

                               1977 Warner Bros. Records        BS - 3058          Promo


AllMusic Review by Sean Westergaard

For many years, Eddie Hazel's Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs was a holy grail of sorts for real funkateers, as it was the only thing released under Hazel's name while he was still alive, and it had been out of print for years. Truth be told, the album itself is a bit light. Barely over 30 minutes long, about half of the album consists of two covers (and a reprise), and the other tracks are little more than slightly fleshed-out jam sessions. But what the album lacks in songwriting and original material, Hazel more than makes up for with his guitar playing. The album starts with the most soulful version of "California Dreamin'" you've ever heard. Hazel totally makes the song his own by slowing it down and adding an even more pronounced sense of longing; then there are the wicked molten guitar leads that are alone worth the price of admission. "Frantic Moment" and "So Goes the Story" are little more than jams with some Brides of Funkenstein vocals added (and of course, great guitar), but the epic cover of the Beatles' "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" is just fantastic. "Physical Love" and "What About It?" are solid instrumentals that just let Hazel strut his stuff ("Physical Love" also gives some spotlight to Bernie Worrell) before the reprise of "California Dreamin'" closes the set. Again, what this album lacks in substance it makes up for in performance, and there just isn't enough material that really features Hazel's guitar playing up-front like this. Eddie Hazel was an undeniable guitar genius, but his troubled lifestyle led to a dearth of material that really showed his strengths. Thankfully, this lost classic is available again, putting some spotlight back on a pioneering and under-recognized guitar great.

Tracklist 

A1 California Dreamin' 6:16 A2 Frantic Moment 3:42 A3 So Goes The Story 3:55 B1 I Want You (She's So Heavy) 9:25 B2 Physical Love 5:32 B3 What About It? 3:46 B4 California Dreamin' (Reprise) 1:30








Condition:  

 

VG +  = Very Good  . Vinyl has a few surface scuffs and/or very minor scratches (but no ‘feeler’ scratches). Label shows some evidence of wear, no writing. Jackets have some seam splits and 1-2 small hairline creases and/or minor chipping at edges or bumped corners, some ring wear, no writing, no liquid stains. 

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