Bootsy Collins: After the Mothership

The story of William “Bootsy” Collins can be arranged in 3 different chapters. The first would cover his experience with the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown. While it only lasted a year, it produced groundbreaking Funk jams that helped Mr. Brown transition into the Black Power Era of the early 1970’s. The second chapter would cover his period with the equally groundbreaking Parliament-Funkadelic musical collective, which found him co-writing (and eventually co-producing) crucial P-Funk tracks. The third chapter sees Bootsy leading the most successful P-Funk spin off act, Bootsy’s Rubber Band, through four albums released between 1976 to 1979.

After the crash landing of the P-Funk empire in 1981, Bootsy would record one more album on Warner Bros. Records. After this release, Bootsy would disappear as a performer for the next six years. His participation in the 1983 George Clinton/P-Funk All Stars Atomic Dog tour would be the lone exception to this decision.

In 1988, Bootsy would return to the music industry with a new studio release on Columbia Records.

From this point going forward, his recording career was back in swing, but with a noticeable difference. Future album releases would feature a myriad of guest stars, reflecting his desire to work with a diverse array of musicians. The following is a select overview of the albums that Bootsy released from 1988 to 2017. These albums serve as a masterclass, not just in the realm of pure Funk, but in terms of mixing the Funk with other prominent musical genres. The end results prove to be fascinating and, at times, a groove revelation.

WHAT’S BOOTSY DOIN’? (COLUMBIA-1988)

After a six-year absence from the music industry, Bootsy Collins returned to the scene of the crime with What’s Bootsy Doin’?, an album that showcases the growing phenomenon of Funk recordings utilizing computer technology. The album’s first single, “Party On Plastic,” is a very good example of this formula.

Bootsy would embark on a tour of Japan to promote the release, reuniting with the Horny Horns and P-Funk drummer Jerome Brailey. What’s Bootsy Doin’? represents the first recording by a member of P-Funk to be released in the emerging compact disc format.

JUNGLE BASS (4TH & BROADWAY-1990

After the funk-tinged technological journey of the previous album, Bootsy returned to pumping out good old-fashioned P-Funk on Jungle Bass, his only album for the Island Records-distributed label. This particular release emerged under the name Bootsy’s Rubber Band, and it reunites the vast majority of the original members.

The track, “Disciples Of Funk,” is a return to the band’s glory days with a total 1990s feel. Surprisingly, George Clinton himself appears in the video for the track.

BLASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (P-VINE-1993/RYKODISC-1994)

In 1993, Bootsy would establish a longtime partnership with Blues Interactions Inc., based in Tokyo. His first release for the label, Blasters Of The Universe, would be a double CD (a Bootsy first). The musical lineup boasts at least 30 musicians and singers, including Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel. The video for the track, “Funk Express Card,” features appearances from Lady Miss Kier from Deee-Lite and rapper/author Heather Hunter.

FRESH OUTTA P UNIVERSITY (WEA/BLACK CULTURE-1997/PRIVATE I-1998)

In the same year that Bootsy Collins got married to the lovely Patti Willis and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (along with 15 members of Parliament-Funkadelic), he still found time to record and release his 11th album, Fresh Outta P University. One unique aspect of this release was the different editions that were released. There were also differences in song line-up between the U.S., German, and Japanese pressings. Bootsy would embark on a European tour in support of the album. The touring line-up would consist of P-Funk vets Garry Shider and Bernie Worrell.

PLAY WITH BOOTSY (EAST WEST-2002/THUMP-2002)

Play With Bootsy expands the approach of reaching out to an impressive array of guest artists, almost to an extreme. Chuck D and Professor Griff of Public Enemy, Fat Joe, Bobby Womack, Snoop Dogg, Rosie Gaines, Macy Gray, and various other musical luminaries lend their talents to a diverse collection of tracks that reflect musical influences from house, Hip-Hop, and modern Funk. The most intriguing track on the album, unfortunately, runs exactly one minute. “The Funkship” serves as the most P-Funk-oriented track on the album.

The track would later be used in a commercial for the footwear company Nike. That commercial would provide a showcase for the largest P-Funk reunion to date, bringing together Bootsy, George Clinton, and the P-Funk All Stars, the Parliaments (going under the name of Original P), Bootsy’s brother Catfish, trombonist Fred Wesley, and Snoop Dogg hosting the entire affair.

CHRISTMAS IS 4 EVER (P-Vine-2006/Shout Factory-2006)

Unbelievably, no recording act in the P-Funk organization has ever released a Christmas album. Bootsy finally bucked the trend in 2006 with the release of Christmas Is 4 Ever.

Outside of Snoop Dogg and country music legend Charlie Daniels, Bootsy’s Christmas album relies mainly on P-Funk members. The entire album radiates a kind of “Hendrix Christmas party” vibe, with Bootsy’s Space Bass exerting dominance throughout the entire album.

THA FUNK CAPITAL OF THE WORLD (Mascot- 2011)

“You know you can’t take anything with you. All you got is your story to tell. Maybe someday it will be your story that kept someone out of jail. Write it on the wall. Put it all down, tell the world what you went through. If it does nothing for no one else, at least it tells people about you.”

It is that sentiment that sets the tone in Tha Funk Capital Of The World. Along with a host of guests that include keyboardist George Duke, Sheila E, activists Rev. Al Sharpton and Cornel West, and actor Samuel L. Jackson, Bootsy plants the Funk Flag to establish the real deal.

-Tim Kinley

Photo: Bootsy Collins (Getty)