The Story Behind the Making of Atomic Dog by George Clinton 

As a DJ who started when this song came out, I still play it and it hits as hard as it did back then.

This is insane because the entire west coast G Funk sound basically came from an accident 😂

It's amazing how creativity can come about. Garry Shider and crew was the shit for this one. Atomic Dog is a classic for the ages!

Mr. Garry Shider needs a whole lot more credit!!!! Uncle Garry is a genius!!!!

When it came out (Fall of '82), it stopped me in my tracks. Mesmerizing. Still is and it is 40 years old.

A song born from sheer chaos

It was magic in that studio that they couldn't even explain in depth how they created that song.

That's KRAZY ! So this whole song was just basically done like a freestyle. George ad-libbed his vocals part, the instrumental was reversed originally just for play-sake.

The sound, the video and the vision of this song is one of the greatest accidents in music history. Ruff ruff 🐶

All my 40 plus years of hearing this song never had a clue how it was made… FUNK IS REAL ROCK N ROLL

i think the 80's was one of, if not, the best decade for music.

The reversed drums were a genius move.

3:08 I said "This is what you did! You was talking bout the dog!" 🤣

I played this song for my 13 year old daughter and she loves the song and video. Thank you George and crew for making this iconic and legendary song! ✌🏽

So you mean to tell me he just started saying some crazy shit to a backwards track and they recorded this and made a song out of it. And he didn't even remember what the hell he said. 🤣😂😂😂👍👍👍👍

George is real good friend with Sly Stone. Sly Asked me to re-do Georges hit "Flash light" cause I was sleeping. I learned so much about Funk doing that song with George. His ear is crazy. When we were done. In Walks Sly stone with a big smile on his face cause he could hear what we were doing from where he was sleeping. Being in a room with these two inventors of funk was like being in a room with Bethoven and Joseph Bologne. I will never forget it. We re-did that track on my laptop.

The greatest song ever made.

The early to mid eighties was a very dynamic era for r&b music. There were still some great bands left from the 70s like Confunktion, Cameo and Lakeside and there were a lot of good new artists like Luther Vandross and Anita Baker , Zapp, Dazz Band, etc. It was a pretty good time for music and a great time to be a Soul Train watcher.

All I can say is AMAZING, and cocaine is a helluva drug😄

Hearing this story makes me appreciate the song even more

Atomic Dog was my First Sergeant's favorite song that he used to signal a company formation when I was with Delta - 2 -1 at Fort Gordon Signal Training School. Lol! He'd pump it over the company area loudspeakers and come out with his massive boombox on his shoulder.

This has to be one of the funniest origin story to the most important song ever lmao

One of my favorite songs from George Clinton it’s a masterpiece 👍🏾

The Q Dogs of Omega Psi Phi Faternity been stomping to Atomic Dog every since the song came out. Thanks to Uncle George 🤘!

That Atomic Dawg was on Billie Jeans' azz back then! Both rocked!

It hurt me when he didn't win the Grammy...

thanks for uploading that. I remember when that song was released, we were all blown away by it. It has been one of my favourite songs ever since. Sounds as good today as it did when it was new :)

I am sure the brothers of Omega Psi Phi are eternally grateful for this track. Lol

That's why when you're using your gear,just hit record and do whatever..

Dance floor music. Young generation don't even know how to get on the dance floor and JAM. But they know how to kill each other.

This song was given to George Clinton in Chattanooga by a young man at the auditorium in Chattanooga he just had the words George did the rest music wise this back in the 60s

I first heard this song at a house party in the late 80's and was forever hooked.

I wouldn't have never guess anything close to that. Crazy and dude thought that George ment to sing random lyrics and melodies lol....wow.....good video ! Bravo !

The craziest background story ever. Only the Big Pill bka Dr. Funkenstein could make something like this happen. Long Live the Funk!

All time classic dancing song. I am 66 and I still love it today.

All of the P-Funk Nation deserve all the love, credit, & glory for taking funk beyond space. From George, Bootsy, Gary, Eddie, Bernie, Michael, Glenn, Maceo every one of em!!!

*Eastside Low Bottoms sh*t !* _Tappin' in from South Central LA_ Easily...EASILY one of THEE most iconic and influential songs of the 20th century ! It's April 4, 2022 and if you want to pack a dance floor, this is STILL one of the classics to put on. As soon as it starts, there's a mad dash to the dance floor ! LOVE these path-layers. 🤜🏾💥🤛🏾

LoL that was awesome! High af and with expert workings of David and Garry created a classic with the man in the box!

You can't get nothing better than the 80's music ✊🏿😋😆😁😃👍🏿

A lot of great things come from flukish incidents. Nat King Cole was a jazz pianist. He was playing one night when a belligerent customer demanded he sing. The man was out of control so Nat Cole sang to shut him up! The rest is history!

“Yeah…. 🤷🏾‍♂️ I thought you meant what you were doing”😆😆😂😂

“Atomic Dog” is truly a groove for all seasons. It sounds as contemporary and fresh today as it did in the 1970s.

This 45 and lp has never left my crates in 35 years of djing. Still is and always will be the ultimate banger.

Everytime I visit my Alma mater... I get nervous when this song comes on... think I'm about to get stomped out by a bunch of gold boots lol

I was fortunate to see Parliament Funkadelic perform in Central Park on a July 4th 👏💞

I've never heard of George Clinton before I heard this song. I saw the video for it on MTV on an all night New Year's Eve Watch Party. It was so damn catchy, I been listening to it ever since.

crazy how hit songs come about.

Funny behind the scenes story, One of his most biggest and most sampled songs ever made

RIP Shock G

The irony of the worlds most prolific sampler being sampled more than anyone else. XP

Garry Shider Starchild/ Diaper man!!!

Clever, ingenious... Song has etched its place in history.

Dude was on some good shit...

That's crazy, that became GANGSTER MUSIC!!!

I would like to hear the story on how they made Funkentelechy!!!

That Atomic Dogg beat has so many cords an instruments in it I love it. It's not 75% - 95% funk it's 100% funky 🎼 🎶 🎵 🎸 🎷 🎹 p funk the godfather to that west coast g funk sound ✊

The Clubs in AOTEAROA NZ were pumping with this song!! Thank you guys as this ERA will never be AGAIN!!

I admit when I first heard it way back in 82 I said what is this silly 'lil ditty off of Computer Games? Man's Best Friend was my jam. I didn't think much of it at all. Then one night I heard it on some great big speakers at a party. That's when it bit me.

YOU are not an 80,s person if THIS JOINT was NOT PUMPING THROUGH your speakers or you were not DOING tha DAWGGGG to this one back then. This should have won George Clinton a grammy because it was #1 over THRILLER for a While.

ATOMIC DOG IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS BY PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC.LOVE IT

"What did I do?" Love it. Iconic song. Epic music era.

This song makes my brain explode into dopamine and serotonin soaked bits! If I could imagine what the human brain sounds like on lsd or shrooms it would have this playing deep inside of it near the pineal gland.

Thanx to his drug dealer we have a hit

"Why must I be like that, why must I chase the cat" pretty much sums up my life during the 80"s!

My mother was a back up singer on the song

I was just a kid (13) when this video was made - but I was there and I got to see them make it. Good times.

Amazing!!!!!

Proud to be born in the same year.

Also, the More Bounce To The Ounce beat is just Funky Bounce’s beat - backwards. Given to Roger, made by George. He mentions it a few years ago, on a homemade clip.

That's awesome. I love this tune. Such a classic.

This song gives me chills and move me in a way that words can't describe❤️❤️❤️❤️💪💪!!!!!

still fresh as a daisy

It was one of those songs that no girl would say no to when asked to dance. 100% guarantee 😂😂

Finally the true story. The track was created by David Spradley co-wriiten and co-produced with Gary. It was suppose to be another album cut until George re-arranged it with Ted Currier then it blew up

I played touch football in Cleveland, Ohio from 1982-1984 called the Martin Mad Dogs (Ran by brothers Marvin and Cliff Martin.) Atomic Dog became our theme song beginning in 1983. The song added to our dog themed persona as we all had nick names that ended with “dog”. I was Big Man Dog. Our pre-game ritual involved passing around a bottle of MD 20/20 while barking. Atomic Dog enhanced our team persona.

Most sampled song ever

I still bump this songs instrumentals

Bow wow wow yippy yo yippy yay.... ATOMIC DOOOOOWWWGGGG! 🎵🎶🎵🎶

George & Co was always brilliant with the beats!

I would love to hear it forward

Too Damn Funny . Hey let me do my lines now , Bruh you did it , we done , we can't go back , everything was built around what you had said with the back ground singers . So what i say , Bruh , you was talking bout a dog LoL . Genius as hell ,but he was tweekin hard LOL .Much love , and peace to ma main man George though .

man pops loved this song I was litteraly 7 going nuts in the backseat

Can you humans take one moment to realize where humanity would be. Had it not been for a man named George Clinton being born ??? PS. God Bless You And Your Talented Friends ... Thank You So Much !!! Fm. Lathroup. Vill. Mich.🤘

Awesome. . . Creativity. . . Thanks guys

Shot out to Shock G Rip big dog

The story is so crazy it seems like a Charlie Murphy true Hollywood story.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!!

Most excellent! 😎

With Atomic Dog, Garry Shider and George Clinton continued that African-American tradition of taking lemons and making lemonade.

After all these years, I still only request one song at a party, and this is it. Why must I chase the cat?

WHAT!!!! That's how this great track was composed!!!!!!,that's off the hook.😂

Mr. GEORGE Clinton the original P-Funk thank you for The Atomic 🐕🐕

AS A PRODUCER I BEEN PLAYING TRACKS IN REVERSE TO GET INSPIRATION..................... NOT BECAUSE OF THIS THO

I was just thinking about Shock when watching this....and there he is! 🤣

Incredible 🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶

Probably one of the best produced songs ever and it was damn near an accident🤯

This was and still is the Q Dawg fraternity ANTHEM

My favorite song forever

I first heard this song surprisingly on Stanfords KZSU.

I am a child of p funk and I love their work but I knew and say A. D. is frigging special!! Like what the phuck is that beat!! It goes hard!!