Zapp begin a journey with Warner Brothers records, after the minor success of Roger and The Human Body Album, as a Band they performed weddings and small clubs in their hometown their childhood friend Bootsy Collins was once in The J’Bs a backing band for James Brown in Studio/Concert who soon left for Parlament/Funkadelic Mastermind leader George Clinton Camp to begin a new journey as a Solo Artist and Writer, promised Roger Troutman he would return if ever gotten a record deal to bring him along. that promise ring true when Roger and The Human Body found themselves at United Sounds in Studio In Detroit MI in 1979 shaking hands with Geroge Clinton who helped craft and was largely responsible for their hit “More Bounce To The Ounce, George revealed in a 2020 interview “a lot of people don’t know we did Roger More Bounce to the Ounce” he later went on to describe the process “that was Funky Bounce “The Song Roger had we took the little snippet of the first part and cut tape. we copied it copied it paste copied it cutting it then taped it together loop it with a pencil around the head of a two-track machine looped till we got 10min of it put it on a 24 track then called Roger back in he hated it” The song got Roger his deal the song was supposed to be a solo but since Roger didn’t want it as a solo George was the mastermind his thought was to sell it as a band, not a solo so Geroge told him to make up another name so Roger can cash in at least, George “we made Zapp”
in the meantime, so he can make some money” the record became such a hit Zapp became just that “Zapp” overnight it would become a Westcoast anthem not only in LA HipHop Scene but the backdrop to Westcoast Poplockin and break dancing “EMPD” sampled it in 1988 for their hit ‘You Gots To Chill” then MC Breed “Ain’t No Future In Your Frontin” 1990, and a dozen times after
Lester Troutman (Roger Brother and Drummer) in an Unsung TV One interview remembers it like it was yesterday “it was me on drum’s Roger On Bass. Guitar and Talkbox’ Bootsy Collins served as Co-Producer for the hit and the album has guitar credits, Zapp Album is sometime’s referred to as “Zapp I” or More Bounce Album. is a Funky Showdown Smash Party,
the 2nd track Freedom is revamped to funked and reimagined previously released on Roger And The Human Body Album a Funky Hippy Sly Stone vibe as a political song Bobby Glover is the vocalist on the track ( as Previous) Roger showcases his jazzy Wes Montgomery flavor on guitar as Bobby sing ’if I had a hamhok and a pot of greens 3 quarters in my pocket and a real fine place to dine” Roger showcases his talkbox but it's very sluggish either the equipment tech problems or perhaps his talkbox is used with a guitar similar to Peter Frampton who was known to use it and Stevie Wonder with a keyboard, percussion breakdowns towards the end by Big Brother Manager and Member of Zapp Larry Troutman,
3rd track “Brand New Player” is a unique funk groove Jannette Boyce Warren and some women background vocalist possibly Brides Of Funkinstin/Parlet paint “ Brand New Player” as a cool smooth dude who got the midus touch they sing “He wiggle when he walks” Roger sing’s “Making People Happy Is The Name Of My Game” “The Player” is him talented and ambitious that sounds true to his persona in real life according to his associates and kids even more with the ladies, this track has cool interceptions with Carl Cowen On Saxophone Roger infectious guitar playing is the highlight, 4th track
“Funky Bounce” as mentioned earlier is a Pop Funk almost Disco but is too cool to hang in the disco category “Watch It Baby You Funking Out Of Bounce” “ Watch it..” Roger as always gives us incredible guitar work along with his talkbox “You watch your way and I’ll watch mine people say it’s gonna work out fine” Ray Davis “P Funk Vet” replies “Watch IT Baby Watch It Baby” prompting the rhythm to change up midway back in the first groove it started My Favorite track on the album for sure, as the album simmers down,
track “ Be Alright” crushes in crystal clear mid-tempo poppy ballad, in particular encouraging “Alright, Everythings Gonna Be Alright” a love interest Roger insists ‘This Little Thing We got is gonna work out fine” this song can be used for any hardship situation sort of like a hopeful gospel hyem/Nursery rhyme, there are some doo-wop influences can be heard through the vocal arrangement, Terry Troutman (Bassist)and Lester Troutman (Drums) keep the groove locked Roger showcases his skills on guitar and vibes Bobby Glover chimes in vocally with a trade-off with Roger while Carl Cowen gives the track an extra punch with a saxophone solo, this track has become popular sampled amongst New Jack Swing and Hip Hop groups and artist “HTown Knocking The Boots and Tupac Shakur Keep Your Head Up”,
The Album Closes On Track “Coming Home” opens with a bluesy harmonica from Roger the background sound Roger can be heard “let me have a beer my baby left me” it sizzles up to a burst of Funky Engaging Bluesy Groove this track seems like a sister of More Bounce To The Ounce without talkbox, Roger “I ain’t going nowhere no more the trip was a doggone bore” ‘Home To You.. Right Back Home Too You” the adlibs “ZapaDoodah dah dah” is none other than Mudd Bone Cooper in the background vocals from Bootsy's Rubber Band, Muddbone was present during the album recording it makes perfect sense. (Bootsy co-produced this project) this debut from Zapp not only showcased brilliance and creativity but became an everlasting blueprint to the new door of Funk 1980-Present
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May, Roger Troutman Rest In Peace,
