Bootsy Collins is without a doubt one of the greatest bass players to have walked the face of the earth. Among the greatest of all time are James Jamerson and Bob Babbitt of Motown fame; Larry Graham (Graham Central Station/ Sly and the Family Stone); Stanley Clarke; Victor Wooten; Louis Jagger Johnson aka ‘Thunder Thumbs” (The Brothers Johnson); Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers); Paul McCarrtney (The Beatles); Cliff Burton (Metallica); John Entwhistle (the Who); Geddy Lee (Rush); John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin); Jack Bruce (Cream); Les Claypool (Primus) and Doug Wimbish (Living Color). Bootsy is definitely my favorite.
The first concert I ever went to featured Graham Central Station and Blue Magic, Kool and the Gang were the headlining act. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen, was Bootsy Collins at S.O.B.’s on Varick Street in NYC. The night was ELECTRIC!!! Bootsy performed for what seemed like three hours because he packed so much FUNK into his set, but I honestly don’t remember it being longer than 90 minutes. On April 26th, Bootsy is dropping a brand new album titled “Tha Funk Capitol of the World.” I can’t wait to hear it! Below is a press release from his publicist Think Tank:
Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer and legendary bassist Bootsy Collins, known worldwide for pioneering funk music with James Brown and Parliament Funkadelic, will release his first new album in five years, ‘Tha Funk Capitol of the World,’ April 26 on Mascot Records. Collins collaborated with fellow P-Funkers George Clinton and Bernie Worrell on the record, along with an all-star lineup of musicians and cultural luminaries including rappers Snoop Dogg, Chuck D, and Ice Cube; actor Samuel L. Jackson; banjo phenom Bela Fleck; the Rev. Al Sharpton; scholar Dr. Cornel West; and guitarists Bucketheadand Catfish Collins – Bootsy’s late brother. Engineered in part by Dan Monti (Guns n Roses, Metallica), the album also features a tribute to Garry Shider, the late guitarist and musical director of the P-Funk All-Stars.
The album’s 16 tracks are sonically rooted in Bootsy’s earth-shaking party grooves, but songs like “Freedumb” and “Minds Under Construction” reveal higher ambitions. “There are real messages on this album that I wanted to share,” explains Collins, whose soul-deep rhythms and layered melodies are punctuated by lyrics that range from meditations on the nature of truth and spiritual transcendence, to blissed-out joy.
Collins is a singularly influential bassist. His star-shaped “Space Bass” and the driving grooves he produced with it have become synonymous with modern funk and inspired everyone from The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Primus to NWA and OutKast. Aside from his seminal work with James Brown and George Clinton, Collins achieved considerable success as a frontman for several groups, includingBootsy’s Rubber Band, which recorded the #1 hit single “Bootzilla” and “I’d Rather Be With You.” More recently, Collins collaborated with Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek for 2009’s “Internet Connection.” In 2010, Bootsy was awarded Bass Player Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
More album details and tour dates will soon be announced.
‘Tha Funk Capitol Of The World’ Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Hip Hop @ Funk U (ft. Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, & Chuck D)
3. Mirrors Tell Lies (ft. Jimi Hendrix)
4. JB-Still The Man (ft. Rev. Al Sharpton)
5. Freedumb (ft. Dr. Cornel West)
6. After These Messages (ft. Samuel L. Jackson)
7. Kool Whip (ft. Phil Ade & iCandice)
8. The Real Deal (ft. Sheila E. & iCandice)
9. Don’t Take My Funk (ft. Catfish Collins & Bobby Womack)
10. If Looks Could Kill (ft. Bela Fleck, Zionplanet-10, & Dennis Chambers)
11. Minds Under Construction (ft. Buckethead & (Z-Class)
12. Siento Bombo (ft. Olvido Ruiz & Ouiwey)
13. Garry Shider Tribute (ft. George Clinton & Linda Shider)
14. Stars Have No Names (They Just Shine) (ft. Nick Arnold & Chrissy Dunn)
15. Chocolate Caramel Angel (ft. Faith Daniels, Ronni Racket, & Casper)
16. Yummy, I Got The Munchies (ft. Musiq Soulchild, Razzberry Hershey & Tom Joyner)
Stream the first single “Don’t Take My Funk” exclusively on RollingStone.com
Don’t Take My Funk (AUDIO): http://www1.rollingstone.com/hearitnow/player/bootsycollins.html
Take a voyage with Bootsy Collins to “Tha Funk Capital Of The World” in this funktastical EPK! We promise you’ve never been funked like this before!
Bootsy Collins on the new CD and James Brown Tribute featuring Al Sharpton:
Keepin’ FUNK ALIVE!!!
c-dub
