“Love Amnesia" by Parlet

Parlet was a P-Funk spinoff act formed in 1978 by George Clinton. He originally conceived the trio as a female counterpart to doo-wop vocal group the Parliaments (who eventually evolved into legendary funk outfit Parliament). The vocal trio’s original name was the Parlettes, but Clinton thought it sounded a bit too Motowny and trimmed the name down to Parlet. The group’s original members were veteran P-Funk background singers Debbie Wright, Jeanette Washington and Mallia Franklin (aka “Queen of Funk”). Parlet were known for being a bit more wild and overtly sexual than P-Funk’s other female vocal group, the Brides of Funkenstein.

Parlet released their debut album Pleasure Principle in 1978 on Casablanca Records. The album, produced by Clinton, is filled with great funk, dance and R&B tracks that effectively showcase the trio’s strong vocal abilities. One of the album highlights is the exceedingly funky “Love Amnesia.” Billy “Bass” Nelson serves up some extra-nasty bass, and Bernie Worrell enhances the groove with some sensational synth work. He’s also responsible for the song’s amazing horn arrangement. Additionally, the track boasts a really cool, imaginative bridge. And Parlet bring the fire on their gritty, funkified vocals. “Love Amnesia” was written by Clinton, Nelson and Ron Dunbar. It was sampled on Ice Cube’s 1991 song “Steady Mobbin’”.

Pleasure Principle rose to #55 on Billboard’s R&B album chart, and the title track peaked at #66 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. Here’s the full musician lineup for the album: Billy “Bass” Nelson (bass and guitar), Garry Shider (guitar), Fred Wesley (trombone, horn arrangements), Bootsy Collins (drums), Glenn Goins (guitar), Frankie “Kash” Waddy (drums), Maceo Parker (saxophone), Richard “Kush” Griffith (trumpet), Mike Hampton (guitar), Gary “Mudbone” Cooper (drums), Rick Gardner (trumpet), Rick Gilmore (bass), Bernie Worrell (keyboards, string and horn arrangements), Jim Wright (drums), Rodney “Skeet” Curtis (bass), David J. Van De Pitte (string arrangement), and Ron Dunbar and soul/disco trio Brandye provided background vocals.

Following the release of Pleasure Principle, Debbie Wright had to leave the group due to health issues. She was replaced by Shirley Hayden who appears on Parlet's second album Invasion of the Booty Snatchers (1979). Mallia Franklin left the group in 1979 to help form R&B/funk outfit Sterling Silver Starship with her then-husband Donnie Sterling, who was a bassist for Parliament. She was replaced by Janice Evans halfway through the recording of Invasion of the Booty Snatchers. In 1980, Parlet released one final album, Play Me or Trade Me, before disbanding that same year. The trio's lineup for that album was Jeanette Washington, Shirley Hayden and Janice Evans.

"Love Amnesia" available at Amazon