{"id":487241,"date":"2019-06-20T12:54:17","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T18:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/?p=848039"},"modified":"2019-06-20T12:54:17","modified_gmt":"2019-06-20T18:54:17","slug":"hear-rare-bootsy-collins-song-in-between-james-brown-and-george-clinton-stints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kqzr\/music-news\/hear-rare-bootsy-collins-song-in-between-james-brown-and-george-clinton-stints\/","title":{"rendered":"Hear Rare Bootsy Collins Song in Between James Brown and George Clinton Stints"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For a moment in the early Seventies, the House Guests were the hottest new funk group in Ohio. Its members, which included bassist Bootsy Collins<\/a> and his brother, guitarist Phelps \u201cCatfish\u201d Collins, among others, had just finished backing James Brown<\/a> on tracks like \u201cSuper Bad\u201d and \u201cSex Machine\u201d and had returned to their hometown of Cincinnati to try something different. They drafted singer Rufus Allen, who wasn\u2019t afraid to do James Brown\u2013style splits, and landed gigs opening for everyone from Gladys Knight and the Pips to George Clinton\u2019s Funkadelic<\/a>. Clinton was so impressed by them that he asked them to leave Allen behind and back him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe House Guests was the group that we formed after leaving James Brown,\u201d Bootsy says. \u201cWe had been all around the world, gig hoppin\u2019 and poppin\u2019! The \u2018Acid Days\u201d were upon us, so we dressed freaky and started eating mouth. The group was a mixture of James Brown, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Freddie King, and Lonnie Mack.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the fleeting moment that the House Guests were their own band, they had a funky sound all their own. Now nearly 50 years later, their complete discography is finally coming out. My Mind Set Me Free: The House Guests Meet the Complete Strangers & Bootsy, Phelps & Gary<\/em> is due out August 23rd and it collects the nine songs they recorded. The record, which is available for pre-order<\/a>, will be available digitally and on LP, cassette and CD.<\/p>\n

The title cut sports a JB\u2019s style rhythm with funky horns (and a Mission: Impossible<\/em> callout), an elastic bass line and Allen\u2019s inspired hoots and hollers about feeling free. In addition to Allen and the Collins brothers, the group\u2019s lineup included drummer Frankie \u201cKash\u201d Waddy, trumpeter Clayton \u201cChicken\u201d Gunnells, and saxophonist Robert \u201cChopper\u201d McCollough. Through it all, they mind \u201cthe one\u201d \u2014 the concept of hitting the first note of a measure that Brown had taught them was the secret to funk \u2014 and keep the groove going for six-and-a-half minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell ya see, the fellas don\u2019t know this, but it was originally \u2018My wife set me free \u2026 \u2018\u201d Allen tells Rolling Stone<\/em>. \u201cHer and I were married, but separated, ya see? Then things just took their course. But rethinking it, with \u2018mind\u2019 instead of \u2018wife,\u2019 it went from a personal song to social power song \u2014 but still on a personal level. Ya know?\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the House Guests album, Bootsy will be releasing the first EP in a series of archival music releases from over the years. Nothin\u2019 But-U<\/em> will come out June 28th and feature tracks from the last couple of decades, including \u201cBootsy Play-Cation,\u201d a track he cut with the Rubber Band. The song features the type of groove Collins pioneered during his time with Clinton and a mix of funk and R&B vocals. The EP is coming out via Bootzilla Records\u2019 Archive Series, which Collins says, will bring \u201cyou fun and positive adventures.\u201d \u201cLet\u2019s just say that the Star-Gate has been opened, and the fountain of youth is pouring love, health and Bootsyful motivation across this nation,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n