Released 27/09/1987, EMI Records



This was the third album the Red Hot Chili Peppers released. At the time the only two members which are present today were Anthony Kiedis [vocals] and Flea (Michael Balzary) [bass]. Hillel Slovak was the guitarist and Jack Irons was on the drums. Together these four - the original four - made this work of art.



The Uplift Mofo Party Plan, much like the title suggests, is an ambiguous yet intriguing album. It is by far my favourite of their albums with hits such as ‘Me and My Friends’, ‘Fight Like A Brave’, 'Behind The Sun’ and the album which definitely paved the Peppers’ career. It proved to them and the world that they were not only going to be around for a while. but that they were going to change music!



Although the recording of the album is more crisp than the previous album Freaky Styley (1985), it still has that rough old-school feel about it that is excellent when heard on an LP. As far as the instruments go, Slovak and Flea had the most electric and crude chemistry as far as musicians go and both instruments convulse on a frequently insane level of psychedelic funk rock! Flea pops and thumbs his bass like at no other time,. Slovak champions the sound of single-noted funk on his guitar, yet he transcends it onto full chords and creates the dreamiest and yet eeriest sounds that just make you want to rock. Finally this is backed by Irons’s thick smashing of the drums as he definitely maintains that 60's drum sound which allows you to feel every vibration on each of the drum skins! Of course, it is then Kiedis who can be said to provide the essence of this album as he discovered his more melodic voice and began infusing it with his sporadic rapping.



So together these four made an album definitely worth purchasing, as they were now more confident after the success of their previous album, and signed by a much bigger label (although Geroge Clinton did mentor them for the best). Other amazing more crazy and funky tracks include ‘Funky Crime’ (my favourite), ‘Organic Anti-Beat Box Band’ and ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’. The last track is cover of the Bob Dylan song, and my god is it incredible. Not that Bob didn’t disappoint us in the first place, but they just funked it up and made it even more danceable, definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of Dylan and the Peppers!



Of course the album does have its undermined gems. The ‘Special Secret Song Inside’ or in the re-mastered versions of the album it is called ‘Party On Your Pussy’, is undeniably a massive tune. It is a simple and jokey song, but it combines all the best abilities of the four into a crazy, and definitely sexist song, yet with an incredibly catchy chorus! Finally also listen to the track ‘Love Trilogy’ as it shows that the Peppers were not just four guys who knew their instruments and their style, but also that they were talented musicians and new how to work as artists.



So I hope you enjoy and definitely give The Uplift Mofo Party Plan a chance, because it is one of my favourites and just awesome to get your energy started!