George Clinton (October 12, 1993) – Hey Man... Smell My Finger Album: LP,CD,TC.
Released on October 12, 1993, Hey Man... Smell My Finger was George Clinton's second and final studio album issued through Paisley Park Records. The project is particularly notable within the Prince chronology because it contains significant Prince contributions, most prominently the Prince and George Clinton co-written and co-produced track "The Big Pump".
Prince also appeared uncredited on the album, providing background vocals and keyboards on "Get Satisfied". According to George Clinton, Prince additionally contributed to "Way Up", although the extent of that involvement has never been fully documented.
The album featured an extensive cast of guest musicians and vocalists drawn from the worlds of funk, hip-hop and rock. Contributors included members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dallas Austin, Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Humpty Hump, Ice Cube, Yo-Yo, MC Breed, Herbie Hancock, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, members of The Steeles, and Prince associates Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss.
Although primarily a George Clinton project, the album maintained strong links to Prince's musical circle through its personnel, production involvement and several Prince-related compositions.
RECORDING
Recording sessions for the album took place between 1990 and 1992.
"The Big Pump" was recorded in early 1990 and became the most significant Prince-related track on the final release. Recording dates for "Get Satisfied" are not known, although Prince began incorporating chants from the song into live performances during early 1993, suggesting the track may have been completed late in the album's development.
Prince also contributed the song "My Pony", although it was ultimately omitted from the finished album.
An earlier album configuration included a different version of "We Can Funk" than the version later released on Graffiti Bridge.
The album was recorded at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
STYLE & THEMES
The album combined funk, hip-hop and contemporary R&B influences while bringing together musicians from several generations of Clinton's musical network.
Prince's involvement is most evident on "The Big Pump", while additional Prince-related elements appear throughout the project. "Dis Beat Disrupts" contains repeated samples from Prince's song "Housequake", further strengthening the connection between the two artists' catalogues.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
• Way Up — Features possible Prince participation, although the exact nature of his contribution remains uncertain.
• Get Satisfied — Includes uncredited background vocals and keyboards by Prince. The track later became a recurring musical reference within Prince's live performances and later recordings.
• The Big Pump — Co-written and co-produced by Prince and George Clinton. Prince performed all instruments on the track.
RELEASE HISTORY
Hey Man... Smell My Finger was released on October 12, 1993 through Columbia Records and Paisley Park Records.
The album produced two commercially issued singles, "Paint The White House Black" and "Martial Law". A third Prince-related release, "The Big Pump", was issued only as a promotional radio single in Germany.
An NPG Records reissue followed in early 1995.
Several tracks from the album continued to have an influence within Prince's world after release. The video for "Paint The House Black" was shown before concerts on The Ultimate Live Experience tour, while Prince later performed or referenced "Martial Law" and "Get Satisfied" in live settings. "Hollywood" also appeared on the NPG Records compilation 1-800 New Funk in 1994.
CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS
AMERICA
USA: Billboard Top Pop Albums Chart — Entry: October 30, 1993 — Peak: 145 — Weeks: 3
USA: Billboard R&B Chart — Entry: October 30, 1993 — Peak: 31 — Weeks: 11
PERSONNEL
George Clinton — lead vocals
Prince — background vocals and keyboards on "Get Satisfied" (uncredited), all instruments on "The Big Pump", contribution unknown on "Way Up"
Fred Steele — background vocals on "Way Up", "Get Satisfied" and assumed on "The Big Pump"
JD Steele — background vocals on "Way Up", "Get Satisfied" and assumed on "The Big Pump"
Jearlyn Steele — background vocals on "Way Up", "Get Satisfied" and assumed on "The Big Pump"
Jevetta Steele — background vocals on "Way Up", "Get Satisfied" and assumed on "The Big Pump"
Foley — drums, bass, guitar and vocals on "Way Up" and "Get Satisfied"
Michael "Clip" Payne — vocals on "Way Up", co-lead vocals on "Get Satisfied"
Garry Shider — vocals on "Way Up" and "Get Satisfied"
Robert "Peanut" Johnson — vocals on "Way Up" and "Get Satisfied"
Sandra Feva — vocals on "Way Up" and
"The Big Pump"
Atlanta Bliss — trumpet on "Way Up"
Eric Leeds — saxophone on "Way Up"
Maceo Parker — saxophone on "Get Satisfied"
Fred Wesley — trombone on "Get Satisfied"
PRODUCTION
George Clinton — co-producer
Prince — co-producer on "The Big Pump"
Foley — co-producer on "Way Up" and "Get Satisfied"
Eric Leeds — horn arrangements on "Way Up" and "Get Satisfied"
Labels: Columbia Records / Paisley Park Records
Studio: Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minnesota, USA
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Catalogue | Date | Format |
George Clinton | Hey Man... Smell My Finger | Columbia Records / Paisley Park Records | USA | October 12, 1993 | CD | |
George Clinton | Hey Man... Smell My Finger | Columbia Records / Paisley Park Records | USA | October 12, 1993 | LP | |
George Clinton | Hey Man... Smell My Finger | Columbia Records / Paisley Park Records | USA | October 12, 1993 | Cassette | |
George Clinton | Hey Man... Smell My Finger | NPG Records | USA | Early 1995 | Reissue |
TRACKLIST TABLE (PRINCE-RELATED TRACKS)
Format | Catalogue | Tracklisting |
CD | 3. Way Up (5:08) 5. Get Satisfied (3:55) 8. The Big Pump (3:33) | |
LP | Side 2: Way Up (5:08) Side 2: Get Satisfied (3:55) Side 3: The Big Pump (3:33) | |
Cassette | Side 1: Way Up (5:08) Side 1: Get Satisfied (3:55) Side 2: The Big Pump (3:33) |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2 All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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