Ultra Wave is the fifth album released by funk musician Bootsy Collins. It was released on November 12, 1980, by Warner Bros. Records. It is the first album credited solely to Bootsy Collins, as opposed to his previous releases, which were credited to Bootsy's Rubber Band. In 2007, "Ultra Wave" was licensed through Rhino Records and reissued through the Collectors Choice music service.

Album background

Ultra Wave was produced by George Clinton and Bootsy Collins, except for three songs that were produced only by Collins ("Is That My Song?", "Fat Cat", and "Sound Crack"). It was recorded at the same time as the album Sweat Band by Sweat Band, a Bootsy Collins-led project that had issued one album for CBS/Uncle Jam Records. Like Collins' previous album, This Boot is Made for Fonk-N, Ultra Wave showcases a more experimental and progressive approach.

Critical reception

The Globe and Mail wrote that "the accessible stuff here is in 'Fat Cat', a spiteful dance tune and the quite lovely 'Sacred Flower', lyrically bland but lush and deep in the backgrounds."

Track listing

Personnel

Singles

The single version of "F-Encounter" features a solo rap by Collins that was not included on the album and has never been released on CD. The B Side of "Mug Push" contained a non-LP track entitled "Scenery" that was released on the CD compilation Back in the Day: The Best of Bootsy.