Bootsy Collins has put his name in the hat for 2024’s funkiest mother with the announcement of his forthcoming release, Album of the Year #1 Funkateer, due out October 25th via Bootzilla Records/Equity Distribution.
The 23rd studio album from one of funk’s forefathers sees the bassist return to his roots with good, old-fashioned “on the one” funk grooves, spacey jams, and exuberant rock. Produced by Bootsy, the album features a cast of a-list collaborators including Snoop Dogg, Dave Stewart, Wiz Khalifa, October London, Fantaazma, and many more. Collins’ former bandmates from his time playing with James Brown, trombonist Fred Wesley and late drummers Clyde Stubblefield and John “Jabo” Starks, also make an appearance on a track titled “The JB’s Tribute”.
“I wanted to give the people what they wanted back in the Seventies: a sense of hope, joy and freedom,” Bootsy said. “When I start on a project now, it’s about getting the energy from people around me. Then I proceed to gather transmissions from the universe to know what to talk about. It’s important to me to see who the universe brings to me, and I’ve been really blessed that every time I want to do a new record, I get these incredible musicians around me, right on time. That’s what this album helps me do—Transmitting & receiving with different musicians and artists that have the same desire I had when I was their age.”
Along with the album announcement, Collins shared the album’s title track—which features Myra Washington and Bootdullivan—as well as the album tracklist. Listen to “Album of the Year #1 Funkateer” below or on your preferred streaming platform, and click below to view the album tracklist and features. Click here to pre-order or pre-save the album.
Bootsy Collins – “Album of the Year #1 Funkateer”