Bootsy's Rubber Band - Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!

Bassist for James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic, Bootsy's solo career has been a George Clinton produced extension of the P-Funk philosophy, with Collins portraying the role of "Starchild, Player of the Year." Collins' vocals, are off-handedly cool in the manner of Jimi Hendrix, whose flamboyance Collins unmistakably aspires to. However, the music is definitely in the Parliament vein, with practically everyone from the band's late-'70s peak aboard, including Mike Hampton, Jerome Brailey and the horny horns. Conceptually, sci-fi reins, and the watery sound of Collins' aqua-bass doesn't get in the way of a mostly up-tempo album. This might be his best solo work. --D. Strauss Amazon.com

Great album and great CD

I think this was his best album and it is even better as a CD. June 18, 2008

CLASSIC

James Brown couldn't control Bootsy. Why should we try. Just gotta let him do his thing and take us along for the ride on the space bass. February 6, 2008

Bootsy shows no sign of sophomore slump

If you fake the funk, your nose will grow. Or at least that's how the "Pinocchio Theory" goes. And if you don't fake the funk, something else is gonna grow. Now, I actually have a reason for whipping out a (bad) joke like that: the second side of this album is, like on the last album, made up of slow sex songs. The epic "Munchies of Your Love" is the best of these, a slow, entrancing song with a fantastic bass solo. And the use of dynamics is brilliant - the song gradually crescendos throughout, rather than the traditional piano/forte/piano dynamic changes. Anyway, let's save the ballad side for later. The funk workouts are the one to focus on now. Like last time, Collins introduces the album with the hilarious title song, pretty much him shouting assorted catchphrases over one of the funkiest grooves ever laid down to man. But hey, let's give the Horny Horns their dues! Especially Maceo. Blow your horn. I don't want no trash. Play me some popcorn! Wait? What? Oh, sorry, Bootsy and Maceo on the same record makes me think James Brown. By the way, buy some James Brown. Trust me. Anyway, though, that title track is something to hear. Plus Bootsy plays his charisma card for all it's worth (which is plenty), and the "Auld Lang Syne" interpolation is random but pretty inspired. Speaking of inspired, that's a damn creative keyboard/bass part on "The Pinocchio Theory", too! And again, the Horny Horns shine. Plus, when Bootsy declares himself the "Funkiest singer on Earth", it's no idle boast. I also enjoy the random shift it goes through, where it suddenly turns from funky to jazzy. Go Bootsy! Those freakout noises in "Rubber Duckie" do kinda get to me, but the beat covers that up. Now, back to ballads. I already discussed how much I love "Munchies". But "What's a Telephone Bill?" deserves mention Besides the obvious fact that the bass is a highlight, that little flute line that pops up occasionally is excellent, and the lyrics are amusingly dirty, as you'd expect. It goes on a bit too long, though, and is one of the relatively weaker songs on this album. In sharp contrast is the much more traditional funk bedroom jam "Can't Stand Away". It's almost like a sequel to "I'd Rather be with You", but in my mind, that is reason for celebration. Another great is the spoken bit, where he references his newest conquest as being "Number one with a bullet! You're pop, you're R&B, you're MOR, you're easy listening..." To me, asides like that are every bit as good as the normal lyrics on Bootsy albums. Oh, may I remind you of the number of classics Bootsy was responsible for co-writing in 1977 alone? That was the year of the P-Funk! Funkentelecy vs. the Placebo Syndrome, One Nation Under a Groove and this one. What's not to like? October 19, 2007

Bootsy's best work!

This is one straight up funky classic album by Bootsy Collins. Every song on here was slammin'. This is definitely his best work in my opinion and he's a couple of nice funky recordings. I remember getting this lp with my alliance back in 77. July 30, 2007

Yo' Bootsy, let me borrow ya spaceship, I'll bring it right back!

This man along with the Funk Master George Clinton single handedly changed the way I looked at music in my younger years.

They created a concept and an imaginary world where funky music was fun.

George Clinton and Bootsy Collins R the undeniable tag team of funk in its most purest form.

This CD is Bootsy's coolest one to date.
From the CD cover to the songs on the project,...U can just feel the era of funk that rocked us all back then.
I'm definitely a Rubber Fan for life.
February 12, 2007

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