FINALLY! After hitting up nearly every major record chain here in NY, I found "Play With Bootsy" at Rebel Rebel in the West Village, NYC. This CD was hard as Heck to find, but well worth the wait.

Like a lot of the stuff Prince has been putting out lately, you've got to be a REAL music fan to appreciate this latest Bootsy offering. If you're just a casual listener, poser, Funkster Wanna-be, or just D'Voidoffunk, you're likely to be disappointed with this CD. It's not a "popular" record. What it is is some SOLID FUNK. Funk, by the definition we had for it back in the day: Solid Grooves and Hooks. A CD that you can just put on, kick back and groove on out.

I am a P-Funk fan from back in the day, yet appreciate how Bootsy has progressed through the years, changed his sound- keeping up with the available technology. Funk is not about "sounding" like music from The 70's. Funk was always about being innovative, strange, rhythmic, and dance-worthy. "Play With Bootsy" incorporates all those elements. All the songs on the CD are solid hits, but weather or not they'll get any airplay is another story. But you can't go wrong with the music. A few of my particular favorites are:

1. Love Gangsta (feat Snoop Dogg, Daz & Colin Rich)
2. The Bomb (feat Fat Boy Slim) and
3. Groove Eternal (feat One & Bobby Womack)

I also loved, I mean absolutely loved "Funkship", but it's only 1 minute long!!! I can only hope there'll be remixes of this song to follow.

If you can find it, you better snatch this one up! It will no doubt sell out quickly, and there's no telling when it'd be restocked. This CD closely follows the vibe of his last CD "Fresh Outta P University".

This album sounds a must. Only damn problem is I can't find it. Im from Australia and we dont get things until a year later sometimes. Can anyone help.

This album was VERY hard to find, even in New York City, and it was only released a couple of weeks ago. CDNow and a few of the other on-line stores list the CD, though it's backordered, so it's not exactly ready for shipment. I finally got fed up and went into the "hippest" part of NYC, where I figured if I couldn't find it there then it was not to be found in New York. But of course New York doesn't disappoint, and I finally found it at a very cool, independent music store on Bleeker St. in NYC called "Rebel Rebel" The staff there were very friendly and informative, and where tickled with the fact that they had a CD that I couldn't find at any other venue.

The more I listen to "Play With Bootsy", having just got it yesterday, the better it's sounding. Bootsy has a groove going on in each of these jams that's completly different from the other tracks. The cut with Macy Gray is especially groovy. And of course Rosie Gaines dosn't disappoint with "Don't Let 'Em" either. But my two favorites on the CD so far are the Snoop Dogg joint and the one with Fat Boy Slim. (He even has Lady Miss Kier on two of the cuts!) Bootsy's Trippin!

Hard to find, but worth it if ya do.
[This message was edited Sun Oct 20 8:48:23 PDT 2002 by PDogz]
[This message was edited Fri Oct 25 12:04:53 PDT 2002 by PDogz]

PDogz said:

I think it Insults the Intelligence of a Person too saying they have too dig really deep too digging the music IMHO.I think Bootsy still does Some really Good things but that "P University" while cool in spots was Hit&Miss everywhere else.Bootsy&Prince aren't Complex or that Deep as Songwriters IMHO especially as time has gone on for me too have too taken alot of Listens too getting what they are saying.I'll get the Bootsy just like I still Buy Prince Albums or whomever I'm digging&who I grew Up on but I don't expect much at this stage of the game In all honesty.Bootsy too be Honest is riding off Snoop&there isn't anything worng with that if done right? but those "NIKE" Ads were a Smart Business Move on Bootsy's Part.

mistermaxxx said:

No insult intended, though I can see your point.

Peace,
P-Dogz

Order for £9.99 delivered at www.play.com.

Check it out. That's how I got mine.

mistermaxxx said:

Snoop Dogg has been using Bootsy loops every since his career began. He probably pissed his pants when he heard he was going to have the opportunity to record with Bootsy. I think certainly Bootsy is being smart by recording with other artists who are talented and popular among younger music listeners of today, but in no way do I feel that Bootsy is "riding off Snoop". If anything, Snoop's the one riding Bootsy's Ding-Ding, all the way to the bank.

It's lighter and euro-poppier than his past work and of course isn't messing with his first two solo albums, however, it's a great deal of fun and growing on me with continued listenings.

Liking the tracks you pointed out, I believe the reggae track with "Seed" will be taken off for releases outside of German original.

Shame the duet with Public Enemy didn't make the cut (Yet they're namechecked in the intro) and "Funkship" only lasts for one minute clip, due to Nike I guess.

Essence said:

Hopefully the "REMIXES" are on the way!

on http://www.vibinmusic.co.uk/index2.htm you can hear 2 songs of that album in full length in 10/2002, "Don't Let'em" & "Groove Eternal". Click "Releases", scroll down to Bootsy.

Maybe it's so hard to find because of the German companies he works with. It's pretty easy to get in Germany... even the german version of his internet site (http://www.bootsycollins.de/) differs from the dot-com site.

incredibleD said:

Yeah, the German site is better! And I'm from NY! I heard part of an interview he did (can be found on the German Website) where he was saying his music was more appreciated in Europe than in the US. The record companies he's working with now are doing more to make sure THE ARTIST get's paid.

I've been listening to the "Play With Bootsy" CD every since I got it a few days ago. Hard to find: YES, but I'm so glad I found it! A must have for any true Funkateer's collection. Now I need to go find Michael Hampton's "Heavy Metal Funkasson" and then I'll be in FUNK BLISS. LOL.

I've had this for a week now. It's good; very funky. Very Bootsy. Ya gotta lissen at this funk cuz NOSES who don't know a thang 'bout funk is bashin and hatin'.

"A burnt cat is, after all, a dead pussy."

mistermaxxx said:

Snoop is Bootsy's nephew.

PDogz said:Now I need to go find Michael Hampton's "Heavy Metal Funkasson" and then I'll be in FUNK BLISS. LOL.[/quote]


Bliss is Mike Hampton: http://www.thefunkstore.c...tonCDs.htm

More bliss
http://www.thefunkstore.c...rugsCD.htm

(420FM feature Mike Hampton and DRUGS):
http://www.thefunkstore.c...LiveCD.htm

You can also cop PLAY WITH BOOTSY here:
http://www.thefunkstore.c...otsyCD.htm

SUPPORT THE ARTIST! THIS IS DIRECT FROM THE PFUNK MOB RETAIL STORE!!!


www.thefunkstore.com

PFunkjazz said:

I heard Snoop on a Interview say Cousins.

mistermaxxx said:

IT's all made very clear on the cd in Boot's own words. Go cop it

PDogz said:

I Understand what you are saying but I'm coming from the Perspective that Snoop is more Happening with a Larger Segment of a Audience that when folks see Snoop they will be down with anything He does.I think back when Bootsy was backing up with Dee-Lite&it's ashamed that a Solid One Man Band like Bootsy has too back up Acts He could easily have for Breakfast on Music Instrumentation&Composition IMHO.Snoop is so tired&down still doing that same ole Walk&ROutine.

Been playing this album more and more, well worth getting. Few little niggles but overall rates alongside anything since Bootsy's first three LPs.

here's a solid PFUNK-related spinoff. It's very current.



Check the WEFUNK RECORDS link for more "DIRECT FROM THE ARTIST" recordings.

http://www.wefunkrecords.com

This record is not worth getting it at all !! It sucks... really !! The first tracks just use some plain R&B sounds... that someone shoot Snoop ! "Play With Bootsy", what a laugh... the man even does not play bass anymore... not a good solo on the LP. "Eternal Groove" is woth a listen... but only one !! Though I found a favorite which is "Don't Let'em"... really jazzy with some beautiful horns... the vocoder reminds of the Zapp era, and Rosie Gaines sings beautiful !

But worth burning it ??