George Clinton's solo output of the 1980s and 1990s wasn't as consistent as his work with
Parliament/
Funkadelic in the 1970s -- nonetheless, the P-Funk innovator has had his share of inspired moments as a solo artist, and some of his best solo recordings are united on this collection. Released in 2000,
Greatest Hits spans 1976-1986 and draws on such solo albums as
Computer Games,
You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish,
Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends, and
R&B Skeletons in the Closet. The oldest recording is the bonus track, a live
Parliament/
Funkadelic medley of "Let's Take It to the Stage" and "Do That Stuff" from a 1976 Houston show; most of the selections, however, come from
Clinton's Capitol solo albums of 1982-1986. Not surprisingly, the CD opens with "Atomic Dog,"
Clinton's best-known and most essential solo hit. And The Right Stuff's other choices are also wise ones, including "Do Fries Go With That Shake?," "Cool Joe," "Loopzilla," "Hey Good Lookin'," and the quirky rap item "Nubian Nut."
Greatest Hits isn't the last word on
George Clinton's solo career, but if you need a concise introduction to the funkmeister's Capitol efforts of the 1980s, it's the logical place to go. ~ Alex Henderson