The subsequent five tracks have been described as "sour harmony-group meditations heavy with bass, keyboard and class consciousness," with the band exploring a "psychedelic/funk fusion." "Can You Get to That" features Isaac Hayes' backing vocal group Hot Buttered Soul, and contains elements of folk blues and gospel music. "You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks" explores interracial love and features electronically distorted drums. "Super Stupid" was described by Pitchfork as a "tale of a dumbass junkie set to a tune Black Sabbath would have been proud of." The nine-minute closing track "Wars of Armageddon" has been described as a "freak-out" jam, and makes use of "paranoid, psychedelic sound effects and crowd sounds." Popular music scholar Yuval Taylor described it as "a burning hot prefiguring" of the music that Miles Davis would perform on his 1975 live album Agharta.
Reportedly, "Maggot Brain" was the nickname of Hazel. Other sources say the title is a reference to band leader George Clinton finding his brother Robert's "decomposed dead body, skull cracked, in an apartment in Newark, New Jersey."
The cover artwork depicts a screaming black woman's head coming out of the earth; it was photographed by Joel Brodsky and features model Barbara Cheeseborough. The album's liner notes are a polemic on fear provided by the Process Church of the Final Judgment. According to author Rickey Vincent, the organization's alleged association with the Manson Family, along with the album's foreboding themes and striking artwork, lent Funkadelic the image of a "death-worshipping black rock band."
A 2005 reissue included three bonus tracks, among them an alternate mix of "Maggot Brain" featuring more of the full band.
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.
Wilson, Lois (2010). "Maggot Brain". In Dimery, Robert; Lydon, Michael (eds.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2. 978-0-7893-2074-2
Leone, Dominique (August 3, 2005). "Funkadelic: Funkadelic / Free Your Mind / Maggot Brain / America Eats Its Young Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 26, 2020. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11739-funkadelic-free-your-mind-maggot-brain-america-eats-its-young/
Taylor, Yuval (March 23, 2008). "Funk's Death Trip". PopMatters. Retrieved May 14, 2020. https://www.popmatters.com/funks-death-trip-2496176916.html
Raggett, Ned (n.d.). "Maggot Brain - Funkadelic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2020. https://www.allmusic.com/album/maggot-brain-mw0000200912
"Top 100 Albums of the 1970s". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved December 28, 2009. http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5932-top-100-albums-of-the-1970s/9/
"The 500 Greatest Albums of all Time". Rolling Stone. September 2020. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712170547/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/funkadelic-maggot-brain-3-1063097/
Houghtaling, Adam Brent. "One-Track Mind: The Passion of Eddie Hazel and Funkadelic's 'Maggot Brain'". Fender.com. Retrieved May 19, 2020. https://www.fender.com/articles/artists/one-track-mind-the-passion-of-eddie-hazel-and-funkadelics-maggot-brain
Houghtaling, Adam Brent. "One-Track Mind: The Passion of Eddie Hazel and Funkadelic's 'Maggot Brain'". Fender.com. Retrieved May 19, 2020. https://www.fender.com/articles/artists/one-track-mind-the-passion-of-eddie-hazel-and-funkadelics-maggot-brain
Tate, Greg (January 12, 1993). "Eddie Hazel, 1950–1992". The Village Voice. /wiki/Greg_Tate
Taylor, Yuval (March 23, 2008). "Funk's Death Trip". PopMatters. Retrieved May 14, 2020. https://www.popmatters.com/funks-death-trip-2496176916.html
Houghtaling, Adam Brent. "One-Track Mind: The Passion of Eddie Hazel and Funkadelic's 'Maggot Brain'". Fender.com. Retrieved May 19, 2020. https://www.fender.com/articles/artists/one-track-mind-the-passion-of-eddie-hazel-and-funkadelics-maggot-brain
Bogdanov, Vladimir; Chris Woodstra; Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2002). All music guide to rock: the definitive guide to rock, pop, and soul. Hal Leonard. p. 440. ISBN 978-0-87930-653-3. 978-0-87930-653-3
Christgau, Robert (August 2008). "The Guide: Back Catalogue: Funkadelic". Blender. Retrieved July 17, 2016 – via robertchristgau.com. /wiki/Robert_Christgau
Grant, Matthew. The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. p. 404.
Leone, Dominique (August 3, 2005). "Funkadelic: Funkadelic / Free Your Mind / Maggot Brain / America Eats Its Young Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 26, 2020. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11739-funkadelic-free-your-mind-maggot-brain-america-eats-its-young/
Raggett, Ned (n.d.). "Maggot Brain - Funkadelic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2020. https://www.allmusic.com/album/maggot-brain-mw0000200912
Raggett, Ned (n.d.). "Maggot Brain - Funkadelic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2020. https://www.allmusic.com/album/maggot-brain-mw0000200912
Leone, Dominique (August 3, 2005). "Funkadelic: Funkadelic / Free Your Mind / Maggot Brain / America Eats Its Young Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 26, 2020. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11739-funkadelic-free-your-mind-maggot-brain-america-eats-its-young/
Raggett, Ned (n.d.). "Maggot Brain - Funkadelic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2020. https://www.allmusic.com/album/maggot-brain-mw0000200912
Leone, Dominique (August 3, 2005). "Funkadelic: Funkadelic / Free Your Mind / Maggot Brain / America Eats Its Young Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 26, 2020. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11739-funkadelic-free-your-mind-maggot-brain-america-eats-its-young/
Taylor, Yuval (March 23, 2008). "Funk's Death Trip". PopMatters. Retrieved May 14, 2020. https://www.popmatters.com/funks-death-trip-2496176916.html
Thompson, Dave (2001). Funk. Hal Leonard. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-87930-629-8. 978-0-87930-629-8
Vincent, Rickey (1996). Funk: the music, the people, and the rhythm of the one. Macmillan. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-312-13499-0. 978-0-312-13499-0
Taylor, Yuval (March 23, 2008). "Funk's Death Trip". PopMatters. Retrieved May 14, 2020. https://www.popmatters.com/funks-death-trip-2496176916.html
Vincent, Rickey (2014). Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One p. 192. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-1-4668-8452-6. 978-1-4668-8452-6
"Sound and Vision: Spooky Psychedelia? Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain"". Juxtapoz. Retrieved May 20, 2020. https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/photography/sound-and-vision-spooky-psychedelia-funkadelic-s-maggot-brain/
Taylor, Yuval (March 23, 2008). "Funk's Death Trip". PopMatters. Retrieved May 14, 2020. https://www.popmatters.com/funks-death-trip-2496176916.html
Vincent, Rickey (1996). Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One. Macmillan. p. 236.
Taylor, Yuval (March 23, 2008). "Funk's Death Trip". PopMatters. Retrieved May 14, 2020. https://www.popmatters.com/funks-death-trip-2496176916.html
Agarwal, Manish; et al. (2007). The Mojo Collection (4th ed.). Canongate Books. p. 251. ISBN 978-1847676436. 978-1847676436
Taylor, Yuval (March 23, 2008). "Funk's Death Trip". PopMatters. Retrieved May 14, 2020. https://www.popmatters.com/funks-death-trip-2496176916.html
Leone, Dominique (August 3, 2005). "Funkadelic: Funkadelic / Free Your Mind / Maggot Brain / America Eats Its Young Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 26, 2020. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11739-funkadelic-free-your-mind-maggot-brain-america-eats-its-young/
Leone, Dominique (August 3, 2005). "Funkadelic: Funkadelic / Free Your Mind / Maggot Brain / America Eats Its Young Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 26, 2020. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11739-funkadelic-free-your-mind-maggot-brain-america-eats-its-young/
Aletti, Vince (September 30, 1971). "Funkadelic: Maggot Brain". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 15, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2016. /wiki/Vince_Aletti
Christgau, Robert (1981). "F". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via robertchristgau.com. 089919026X
Raggett, Ned (n.d.). "Maggot Brain - Funkadelic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2020. https://www.allmusic.com/album/maggot-brain-mw0000200912
Christgau, Robert (August 2008). "The Guide: Back Catalogue: Funkadelic". Blender. Retrieved July 17, 2016 – via robertchristgau.com. /wiki/Robert_Christgau
Christgau, Robert (1981). "F". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via robertchristgau.com. 089919026X
Larkin, Colin (2011). "Funkadelic". Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0857125958. 978-0857125958
Gabriel, Lawrence (1996). "Funkadelic". In Graff, Gary (ed.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. ISBN 0787610372. 0787610372
Leone, Dominique (August 3, 2005). "Funkadelic: Funkadelic / Free Your Mind / Maggot Brain / America Eats Its Young Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 9, 2024. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11739-funkadelic-free-your-mind-maggot-brain-america-eats-its-young/
Segal, Dave (June 20, 2020). "Funkadelic: Maggot Brain". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 20, 2020. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/funkadelic-maggot-brain/
Coleman, Mark (1992). "Funkadelic". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Random House. p. 268. ISBN 0-679-73729-4. 0-679-73729-4
Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). "Funkadelic". Spin Alternative Record Guide. New York: Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8. 0-679-75574-8
The Pelican. "Funkadelic - Maggot Brain". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved May 26, 2020. http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/funkadelic-maggot-brain
Anon. (n.d.). "Maggot Brain". Uncut. p. 122. Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via OLDIES.com. https://www.oldies.com/product-view/18171N.html
Taylor, Yuval (March 23, 2008). "Funk's Death Trip". PopMatters. Retrieved May 14, 2020. https://www.popmatters.com/funks-death-trip-2496176916.html
Leone, Dominique (August 3, 2005). "Funkadelic: Funkadelic / Free Your Mind / Maggot Brain / America Eats Its Young Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 26, 2020. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11739-funkadelic-free-your-mind-maggot-brain-america-eats-its-young/
Segal, Dave (June 20, 2020). "Funkadelic: Maggot Brain". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 20, 2020. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/funkadelic-maggot-brain/
Smith, Chris (2006). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Rock History: From Arenas to the Underground, 1974-1980. Greenwood Press. p. 9. ISBN 0-313-32937-0. 0-313-32937-0
Gulla, Bob (2008). Icons of R&B and Soul. Icons of R&B and Soul: An Encyclopedia of the Artists who Revolutionized Rhythm. Vol. 2. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 446. ISBN 978-0313340468. 978-0313340468
Grant, Matthew. The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. p. 404.
Christgau, Robert (August 2008). "The Guide: Back Catalogue: Funkadelic". Blender. Retrieved July 17, 2016 – via robertchristgau.com. /wiki/Robert_Christgau
Patrin, Nate (August 10, 2015). "P-Funk Albums From Worst to Best". Stereogum. Retrieved March 7, 2020. https://www.stereogum.com/1822964/p-funk-albums-from-worst-to-best/franchises/list/attachment/maggot-brain/
Bush, John. AllMusic Guide: The Definitive Guide to Popular Music. Hal Leonard Corp. p. 163.
Happy (September 11, 2018). "We've gathered George Clinton's 5 best P-Funk albums". Happy Mag. Retrieved May 18, 2020. https://happymag.tv/counting-down-george-clintons-5-best-albums/
Houghtaling, Adam Brent. "One-Track Mind: The Passion of Eddie Hazel and Funkadelic's 'Maggot Brain'". Fender.com. Retrieved May 19, 2020. https://www.fender.com/articles/artists/one-track-mind-the-passion-of-eddie-hazel-and-funkadelics-maggot-brain
Himes, Geoffrey (May 16, 1990). "Records". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 26, 2021. /wiki/Geoffrey_Himes
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. November 2003. Archived from the original on March 17, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20080317152102/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6627651/486_maggot_brain
Wenner, Jann S., ed. (2012). Rolling Stone – Special Collectors Issue – The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. USA: Wenner Media Specials. ISBN 978-7-09-893419-6 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/funkadelic-maggot-brain-3-1063097/
Wilson, Lois (2010). "Maggot Brain". In Dimery, Robert; Lydon, Michael (eds.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2. 978-0-7893-2074-2
Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 11, 2021). "Before & After 'Maggot Brain'". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/11/arts/music/funkadelic-maggot-brain.html
Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 11, 2021). "Before & After 'Maggot Brain'". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/11/arts/music/funkadelic-maggot-brain.html
Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 11, 2021). "Before & After 'Maggot Brain'". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/11/arts/music/funkadelic-maggot-brain.html
Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 11, 2021). "Before & After 'Maggot Brain'". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/11/arts/music/funkadelic-maggot-brain.html
Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 11, 2021). "Before & After 'Maggot Brain'". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/11/arts/music/funkadelic-maggot-brain.html
Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 11, 2021). "Before & After 'Maggot Brain'". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/11/arts/music/funkadelic-maggot-brain.html
Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 11, 2021). "Before & After 'Maggot Brain'". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/11/arts/music/funkadelic-maggot-brain.html
Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 11, 2021). "Before & After 'Maggot Brain'". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/11/arts/music/funkadelic-maggot-brain.html
Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 11, 2021). "Before & After 'Maggot Brain'". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/11/arts/music/funkadelic-maggot-brain.html
Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 11, 2021). "Before & After 'Maggot Brain'". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/11/arts/music/funkadelic-maggot-brain.html
Weingarten, Christopher R. (July 11, 2021). "Before & After 'Maggot Brain'". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/11/arts/music/funkadelic-maggot-brain.html
Simmons, Ted (February 26, 2013). "Bilal's 25 Favorite Albums". Complex. Retrieved August 28, 2020. https://www.complex.com/music/2013/02/bilals-25-favorite-albums/the-velvet-underground-the-velvet-underground-and
Dean Rudland (2005). Maggot Brain (album liner notes). Westbound Records Inc.