Customer Reviews

Stretchin Out in

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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Let me take you back just a little bit...to a time of 6-inch afros, platform shoes, strawberry and coconut scented afro hairspray, dashikis, Mad Dog 20/20, Wild Irish Rose and Yago Sangria wine. (I never thought some of these things would make a comeback in the late `90s and 21st century...but...oh well.) It's the mid `70s, the funk decade, and I'm a freshman at Salem State College in Salem, MA. My roommate burst into the room late one Saturday night, and he was ecstatic as he described a song ("Stretchin' Out...") he had just heard played at the campus radio station. We were, and still are, loyal funkateers, as he explained that Funkadelic/Parliament's bass player, Bootsy Collins, had gone solo. Other than seeing his name on P-Funk album credits, I had no idea who Bootsy was or what he looked like, but I knew if he was associated with the funk mob he had to be badder than a 3-year-old in church early Sunday morning. When I finally purchased and had the opportunity to listen to the entire album, I was blown away. With the volume knob turned to 10, I must've pumped those grooves into my cerebral cortex at least three dozen times that day before I finally gave the album a much needed rest.

From start to finish, this album quenches your thirst for the sweet nectar of old-school funk. The opening track "Stretchin Out..." is so nasty and funky you'll swear you can smell and see the vapors comin' off the disc/album, and you're personally introduced to the sub-sonic twangs and bangs of Bootsy's intergalactic, custom-made "Space Bass"; you'll never be the same again. Just as you're ready to give your booty a rest, "Psychoticbumpschool" snatches you by bootyus maximus and forces you, although pleasantly, to shake what your mamma gave ya. "Another Point of View", the sleeper jam on the album, is just as funky but with a smoother groove guided by either a cowbell or woodblock tempo, with an ethereal synthesizer outro. "I'd Rather Be With You" is one of those songs you listen to when you're on the phone late at night, candles glowing, incense burning, trying to convince that special someone to drop by for a late night snack...if you know what I mean. The aptly named "Vanish in Our Sleep", the final track, will tuck you in for the evening after your ear holes have been thoroughly satisfied. Bottom line: If you are accumulating research material for your PhD in funkology, this CD is an absolutely essential.

Warning: Make sure all research references are listed on your footnote page. Plagiarism will not be tolerated!

Speaking as a serious funkateer, a devout follower of the p-funk crew, I was hesitant to embrace the various side projects of the pfunk members. A friend told me to check this album out and I'm glad he did. Usually it takes about 2 or 3 times to listen to an album for me to start getting into the funk, but from I was bobbin and weavin from the gate on this one. You could really call this a parliament or funkadelic album since all the essential members are here, but Bootsy puts it over the top. I mean he grabs the groove by the throat and doesn't let go. All tracks are solid, but the first 2 tracks are killer. My recommendation is to fall asleep listening to the final track, you'll be guaranteed to be visited by Bootsy and Bernie in your dreams. Funky dreams!

man you must buy this cd if you love p-funk, or is a bootsy fan, this cd has punishing basslicks all to the last song, the first jam stretchin out has bootsy introducing casper to the world the jam is infectuious man, then the next cut psychoticbumpskool has casper coming back to haunt us for a second round while the rubber band gives us their names then bootsy gives us a punishing wicked bassline you'll be like man does this stop, funk no-then another point of view has casper for a third round this time the rubber band goes maggot brain, damn-catfish is underrated, i'd rather be with you is one of the best p-funk songs of all time and one of the most sampled mudbone gets his props, i love boot's vocals he made ballads cool, the next cut love vibes features leslyn bailey who only stuck around for this album, not a bad jam at all highly overlooked, the cut physical love is the bomb for these reasons, 1 bootsy gives us a wicked bassline, 2 mudbone, and les sound good together, then finally this song features guitar work from eddie hazel himself can this not be even more funky, the last cut vanish in our sleep is the swan song the vocals are dreamy like i said the bomb props to bootsy the greatest bassist of all time, mudbone, p-nut, leslyn bailey, bernie worrell, fred wesley, maceo, kush, catfish, frank waddy, rick gardner the rubber band was one of p-funk's best side projects thank you james brown and george clinton for recognizing bootsy's talent.

Bootsy's solo debut showed the funk community and even George Clinton what he was really made of. His tight, disciplined tutilage under James Brown and the over-the-top, extreme rhythms born from Clinton meshes into a unique, individual Bootsy experience. The title track and "Psychoticbumpschool" are space bass monsters. Bootsy's ballads are also spectacular, and overall are better than the Parliament attempts at ballads. "Physical Love" is the most explicit, sleazy bass-funk romp I have ever heard. Between Eddie Hazel's guitar and Bootsy's bass, I am torn between as to why I truly love this song. You must have this CD if you claim to be a funkateer. Note: Don't sleep on "Another Point of View": this song reeks of soulful stankness.

This is truly an all-time classic! Every single track is a soulful funky masterpiece. "I'd Rather Be With You" (catchy), "Love Vibes" (both soothing and thrilling) and "Vanish In Our Sleep" (haunting) are some of the most beautiful songs of the whole P-Funk canon, while "Psychoticbumpschool" will definitely get you movin'. PLAY LOUD!

The Year was 1976. I was basically into soul music, 19 years old and in the Navy. that's when a heard a friendly BOOOO! This album blue me away because it was vastly different from anything that I had ever herard. I am a trombonist and Fred Wesley was my idol a member of Booty's " Horny Horns" section. The only thing about this music was somewhat familiar to me was some of that James Brown flavor in the horn licks. But man that Space bass and razor sharp synthesizer had me listening over and over again to try and figure out just what they were doing. My favorite track is "Love Vibes. This album helped to usher in that electric funk sound that was never mastered by anyone except Booty and of course Dr. Funkenstien himself. If you are a true lover of the funk grab this one...YAA We're Funkin ON Babba.

when you hear Bootsy Collins you are Hearing a Cat who knows how to make the Funk talk backwards,sideways,forward&everything else in Between.the Jam off this Set was "I'd rather be with you" Bootsy shocked everybody with a slow jam that is still Golden after all of these years."Physical Love" is a Bumping Slamming Bass Heavy Groove that never lets up.the P-Funk Mob is in full Effect here.but you know it's Bootsy's Show.YABBA DABBA DOOOOOO!!!

Recently at a gathering I spoke to Bootsy's brother Phelps (Catfish) Collins About funk music and we agreed that coming from KING RECORDS ,you had to graduate with the highest level of funk music possible. That is why BOOTSY'S stretching out album exceeds all levels of funk. I recommend that everyone put this funk in their ear.

This is the funkiest album I've ever heard. THe title cut is so funky that a skunk will stop to salute it. I was 19 years old when I got the album and I was just blown away. This album was contemporary with Parliament's "Mothership Connection", "Brass Construction 1" & The Brother's Johnson "Looking out for #1). THis was my favorite. Bootsy had won me over big time. Click on the samples and get a whiff of some real funk. I highly reccomend this album is your really into funk.

Bootsy really gives up the funk on this, his debut with the Rubber Band. In what quickly became a formula of sorts for Collins, the first side is hilarious funk; the second, steamy bedroom slow jams. The hilarious, inspired title track is a true P-Funk classic, with hooks galore; top-notch bass; and Bootsy's funny raps about being "Casper the Friendly/Funky Ghost". Can't forget the Horny Horns' contribution, either. That would be doing them a disservice. Next up is "Psychoticbumpschool", a churning cauldron of self-mythologizing funk. Listen close for the ethnic flute part, too! Catfish's guitar also deserves mention. "Another Point of View" has driving beat, a great ensemble vocal fresh out of "P" University, and some dirty, grimy guitar, which is contrasted by squiggly synthesizers that would have been right at home with Mothership Connection. A bit of it loses my interest, though. Then we get to our ballad side, which is surprisingly effective. "I'd Rather be with You" is one of the weirdest love songs I've ever heard; with a bunch of synthesizers, vocals, and xylophones that are more than a little bit creepy. Hey, maybe it's about a stalker? But the creepiness certainly adds layers of Bootsy, and that's a great melody it's got, too. And Bootsy's vocals sound like Hendrix! No, really, they do! They also do on the title track, for whatever it's worth. Was this intentional? Then you hit the rough batch. I'm sorry, but I have heard so many songs exactly like "Love Vibes" and "Physical Love", there's no real reason for me to sit through "Love Vibes" and "Physical Love" themselves. Because I know exactly what to expect from both, you know? Come on, Bootsy, snap out of it man! Snap out of it! Wait... he just did! The hazy hilarity of "Vanish in Our Sleep" will reward patient listeners who may have gotten bored with "Love" and "Love". It actually sounds a bit like a twisted O'Jays ballad. Think I'm making that up? The imitation sex stuff is just weird, though. This and the next one are inarguable funk classics. Get both, I say!