Funkadelic, Free Your Mind... and Your Ass will Follow (side A)

First, I have to mention that the Unipak gatefold opens in the wrong direction, with the LP sitting on the left rather than the more obvious right.  Packaging fetishes aside, 1970's Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow is a strange and powerful record.  While Funkadelic of course came to be known for its more overt dance/funk moves, the first three albums aren't very dance-y—they amble awkwardly through rock and funk, with strange studio production thrown in for good measure.  It reminds me at times of the work at that time of Sly Stone, Dr. John, the Temptations ("Unite the World"), and maybe even Santana ("Soul Sacrifice").  The songwriting is often not as important as the crazy sounds here, with far too much ping pong panning to make sense.  And despite the odd folding, the cover design looks great too.