Explore Black History

1977

A 33 1/3 rpm record album titled "Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome," recorded by Parliament and produced by George Clinton with the record label Casablanca. The double-sided vinyl disc (2022.31.2a) is printed with a desert landscape [Casablanca] label with the album information in black text. The record jacket (2022.31.2b) is printed in color and features photos taken by Ron Slenzak and graphics designed by Stephen Lumel. The front of the jacket has a space background with five images of Clinton in a sequence of poses wearing red leather costume trimmed in gold studs, silver sequins, white fringe and pink feathers.He also wears yellow goggles. In the center pose, he holds a futuristic ray gun and fires red and pink waves towards the left where there is another image of him standing in a black suit and hat. At the top is [PARLIAMENT / FUNKENTELECHY] and at the bottom is [VS. / THE PLACEBO SYDROME]. The back of the jacket shows the Clinton dancing in the suit and taking off his jacket and shirt while being hit with pink waves. The album information, including names of band members, are at the top and bottom.
The eight page comic book (2022.31.2c) explains the concept behind the album with the characters Dr. Funkenstein, Sir Nose D’Voidoffunk, and Starchild. The cover page is a galaxy background with an image of Parliment's The Mothership in the lower right corner. There is orange text in the center reading […. and it came to / pass that upon his / return, Dr. Funkenstein / did find the plant to have / completely lost the beat of the / funkentelechy, and had fallen / prey to the placebo syndrome, / spread throughout the galaxy by / the infamous Sir Nose D’Voidoffunk. / Driven by the genius of desperation, / Funkenstein sends Starchild to do battle, / armed with his greatest invention of all time – /the Bop Gun.]. The inside pages are fully colored. The back of the cover is a galaxy background with bold text reading [PARLIAMENT]. The comic’s coloring and collaboration was by Shelby Mack with story and illustration by Overton Loyd.
The poster (2022.31.2d) is colorful drawing with hues of purple, pink, and orange overtaking the background. In the upper left corner, bold and pink text reads [SIR NOSE / D’VOIDOFFUNK]. The character Sir Nose D’Voidoffunk is at the center of the poster wearing an all-pink ensemble which includes a mask. He is holding a gun-like object in his right hand and is standing over clouds or smoke.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Record Albums

Afrofuturism

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Caleb and Eli Tucker-Raymond

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2022.31.2a-d

long-playing records

© 1977 Casablanca Record and FilmWorks, Inc
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

vinyl with ink on paper and cardboard

Diameter (a, disc): 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)
H x W (b, jacket): 12 × 12 in. (30.5 × 30.5 cm)

Title • Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome

nmaahc_2022.31.2a-d

NMAAHC

FUNKENTELECHY VS. THE PLACEBO SYNDROME

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1970s

Shider, Garry • Goins, Glenn • Casablanca • Loyd, Overton • Worrell, Bernie • Nelson, Billy • Parliament-Funkadelic • Collins, Bootsy • Ford, Ron • Tom the Leatherman • Clinton, George

United States • North and Central America

Afrofuturism • Funk (Music) • Composers (Musicians) • Comics and graphic novels • Instrumentalists (Musicians) • Rhythm and blues (Music)

Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

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