For his new version of “WantMe2Stay,” Bootsy Collins has teamed with one of his heroes, the great Larry Graham of Sly & the Family Stone and Graham Central Station. The arrangement by Bootsy features Graham on bass, Collins on drums and background vocals, with Branford Marsalis on sax and Uché on lead vocals.
“Larry and I met back in 1972 when I was touring with Parliament/Funkadelic,” says Bootsy. “We were in similar situations with him playing with Sly, and I was playing with George. We developed a friendship and respect as brother bass players. Larry is the one that started the ‘thump & pluck’ style, and that is why to this day I call him the Bassest Mutha Plucker this Side of the Universe!”
“WantMe2Stay” is on Bootsy’s latest album, The Power of the One, available now on CD and all streaming services, with vinyl on the way. “Music is always a soother, a healer, and that’s how I want to use this record,” adds Bootsy. Listen to The Power of the One here.
True essence of funk is the Power of the One, and it all began when James Brown and his musicians dominated the first count of each measure. For Bootsy, “the One” is also a philosophy: “The Power of the One is what pulls us through,” he says. “Everyone has “The One” inside of them. You never know who is using you for guidance, so always be pure and never fake the funk. Everybody’s got a light. Everybody needs to shine.”
Bootsy has dug into the Bootzilla archives for the concert premiere of Bootsy Collins and the Funk Unity Band, Live at Bear Creek (2013). On Friday, December 11 via Stageit, Bootsy and Pepperminte Patti will co-host the two-hour Throwback in Funk History, recorded in November, 2013 at the Bear Creek Music & Arts Festival in Live Oak, Florida. Get your tickets here.
To help pull us through, Bootsy has programmed a free 24-7 station, Bootsy Radio, featuring interviews, unreleased grooves from the Bootzilla archives, and whatever else the Funkship delivers. Glory be, the funk’s on me.
