“Party Up In Here" by The Brides of Funkenstein

Photo by Richard E. Aaron 

In 1978, the Brides of Funkenstein generated much buzz and excitement across the funk community with their superb debut album, Funk or Walk. The Gold-certified collection showcased the formidable talents of the dynamic funk duo Lynn Mabry and Dawn Silva. They were also captivating live performers, effortlessly commanding the stage with their strong vocal abilities and charisma. But by the time the Brides released their sophomore album, Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy (1979), they had undergone significant personnel changes. Mabry left the Brides in 1979 due to ongoing financial disagreements and becoming pregnant with the child of her then-boyfriend and P-Funk musical director and keyboardist Walter “Junie” Morrison. As a result, the Brides re-formed as a trio, which consisted of Dawn Silva and former P-Funk backup singers the Bridesmaids, Sheila Horne (now known as Amuka Kelly) and Jeanette McGruder (now known as Satori Shakoor).

The newly formed trio brings the fire on Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy, an impressive collection filled with several bangers. One of the album’s standout tracks is “Party Up In Here.” Rodney “Skeet” Curtis's fantastic bass line is the funky foundation for this massive groove. The track boasts a cold horn arrangement and an explosive beat. The Brides infuse their powerful vocals with tons of soul, attitude, and funk. The three ladies display great chemistry here. The track also features a terrific bridge that showcases the Brides’ considerable vocal chops. “Party Up In Here” was written by Curtis and George Clinton, who also produced it. Funkadelic sampled "Party Up In Here" for their 2014 track "Catchin' Boogie Fever."

Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy was released on Atlantic Records in November 1979. The album was a modest commercial success, peaking at #49 on Billboard’s R&B album chart and #93 on the Billboard 200. And the title track rose to #67 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. The collection was well-received critically, garnering high praise from funk enthusiasts and numerous music critics. It won the Brides the Cashbox Rhythm & Blues Award for Best Female Group in 1981, beating out music heavyweights such as Sister Sledge, Cheryl Lynn, and the Pointer Sisters. The song designated for the award was the single “Didn’t Mean To Fall In Love,” written and produced by Ron Dunbar.

Additionally, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy at number 26 on its list of the “50 Coolest Albums of All Time” in 2001. And the collection ranked at number 17 on Rolling Stone's “25 Best Parliament-Funkadelic Albums” list, which was published early this year. Additionally, the album’s title track was a hit in Europe, Asia, and the Midwest.

The Brides recorded a third album in 1980, titled Shadows On The Wall, Shaped Like The Hat You Wore, but it was never released. However, many of the tracks recorded during the sessions for the album were later reworked and have resurfaced elsewhere in the P-Funk catalog.

"Party Up In Here" is available at Amazon