Funkadelic “One Nation Under a Groove” released on this date, September 22nd, 1978. Funkadelic’s tenth studio LP is considered the best funk album of all time, and one of the best records ever released in any category. It was also their biggest seller; it went to #1 on the R&B charts in ‘78 and hit the top 40 of the pop charts. I’m pretty sure this an original pressing (it’s a gatefold) but it’s clearly used – I have no idea who “J.W.” is who rudely inked his/her initials on the cover in black Sharpie – and it no longer has the 7″ bonus EP that came with the original LP’s (though the liner notes list the tracks included on that EP). The title track, “One Nation Under a Groove,” went to #28 on the US Hot 100 chart and #1 on the Soul chart; it hit #9 in the UK. It’s probably Funkadelic’s best-known song and is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as helping to shape the sound of rock music. It’s obviously funky as hell, super-danceable and just plain groovy. I also love “Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock?!” (definitely not me, this song rocks AND funks hard with serious shred) and “Cholly (Funk Getting Ready to Roll).”. The winner for best track name goes to “Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo Doo Chasers)” – I think that might be one of the best song names ever. The gatefold has a comic strip that tells the story of the Funk Wars (the Doo Doo chasers have a starring role who are armed with Dookie Stick Blight Sabers – in case it’s not obvious, Star Wars had just come out a year prior to the album’s recording), which seems relevant today: the start of the text says “Once upon a time…in a faraway parallel universe , existed a intergalactic humbug between the forces of GOOD and EVILE [sic]. And on Planet Splurge, FUNK became THE FORCE to alter the cosmos beyond the limits of time and dimension!” We need the funk more than ever right now.