The track became Parliament's second certified million-selling single, following "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)".[4] "Flash Light" also gave Casablanca Records its first No. 1 R&B hit. In New Zealand, the song reached #3[5] and is ranked as the No. 8 hit of 1978.[5] "Flash Light" also charted in Canada (No. 24) and reached No. 3 on WLS-AM in Chicago.[6]
Background
The song's distinctive bass line is often attributed to Bootsy Collins and was originally written for him. However, Collins rejected the part and Bernie Worrell created the line on at least three, possibly four connected Minimoog synthesizers. Worrell also played all the song's keyboard parts.[7]The New York Times described Worrell's synthesized bass as a "descending and ascending chromatic line with a meaty tone and a certain swagger, an approach that would spread through funk, new wave, electro, synth-pop and countless other iterations."[8]
Collins contributed to the track by handling drum duties while his elder brother Catfish Collins played rhythm guitar. Lead vocals were by bandleader Clinton. Clinton credited Worrell with the idea of composing the song under a motif. Starting out as a jam, Clinton recorded multiple tracks, layering up to 50 voices within the theme of an inclusive love song. The "Da da da dee da da da" chant was based on a chant from a dance at a bar mitzvah party that Clinton had heard from a friend.[9]
^Reid, Vernon (2007). The Vibe Q: Raw and Uncut, p. 45. Dafina, Kensington Publishing Corp., New York, New York. ISBN1601830025. (from original interview with George Clinton entitled, "Brother From Another Planet", (November, 1993)