I was trying to find some good stuff to jam along to in my music collection. I was thinking of something classic, with a solid bass line. And then I noticed that my genres skip from Skate Punk to Spoken Word. No Soul around! I need to start building up that end of my collection. What are some good starter titles? Motown, Disco, anything goes - as long as it's pre-1985. Feel free to stretch the boundaries of the genre. The simpler, clearer, and easier to follow, the better (I'm not very good).

well start with James Brown and Stevie Wonder if you havent already...

But also look up Lalah Hathaway. Great stuff, she collaborates lots with Marcus Miller so its really awesome stuff.

Also try Funk Brothers (with James Jamerson) and all that other Motown old school stuff.


good luck

The Meters - James Porter Jr on bass - excellent.

Tower of Power - Rocco Prestia on bass

Earth, Wind & Fire - Verdine White on bass

well start with James Brown and Stevie Wonder if you havent already...

But also look up Lalah Hathaway. Great stuff, she collaborates lots with Marcus Miller so its really awesome stuff.

Also try Funk Brothers (with James Jamerson) and all that other Motown old school stuff.
Great suggestions. But what I really want to know is "What album by ___ is really indicative of their sound and style?" What's a good Stevie Wonder album to start with? What's a good James Brown record to start with? Of the hundreds of Motown singles/albums Jamerson played on, which are the real bass standouts?

You might like The Exciting Wilson Pickett released in 1966
featuring Tommy Cogbill & Duck Dunn.

You'll like the bass line on Tighten Up (Archie Bell & the Drells). I played an album date with that drummer at...wait for it...Curtis Mayfield studios in 1976. Chambers Brothers are cool also (I Can't Turn You Loose).

You might like The Exciting Wilson Pickett released in 1966
featuring Tommy Cogbill & Duck Dunn.

The "Best Of Wilson Pickett" is excellent as well. Real "Old School" Soul Music. The Wicked Pickett, as he was known. Nobody ever like him. Great disc...highly recommended.
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I'm familiar with "Tighten Up", and my brother-in-law sent me an mp3 the other day.

Wilson Pickett - will pick up a sampler as soon as possible. He was on my mind because I've seen that ridiculous (yet loveable) movie "The Commitments".