Leon Slyvers III in Latest BP

[Dr. Cheese]

The newest issue, with Iron Maiden's Steve Harris on the cover, features an analysis of the song "Misdemeanor," a hit for Leon's brother, Foster. The in teresting thing is Leon wrote the song, but Henry Davis actually played the part. I forgot Misdemeanor existed, and certianly never listened to the bassline way back when. The interesting thing is that Davis' interpretation sounds much more like a Jamerson sort of line than the kind of things that Leon Slyvers would play himself when he actually got to play in the studio.

[tal213]

woww!! looking forward to that article. i was very impressed with Leon's writing when he was a youth. i have the first 3 albums the Sylvers did on MGM and the writing is way beyond his years. he is a very talented cat. and a mean bassist... had no idea Henry Davis played "Misdemeanor" i have been reading up on a few things Mr. Davis has played on lately. sad to hear he passed away last January...RIParadise King Henry Davis.

[Dr. Cheese]

Have you guys checked this piece out? It is amazing that Leon Sylvers came up with so many cool basslines while he was still a teenager. It is always humbling to realize that thirty or more years later, I am learning, practicing, and jamming along with lines that creative people wrote when they were less than half my current age!

It is also interesting to note that Sylvers first "good" bass was a Fender Telecaster. I always remember him playing a Rickenbacker 4001 when he was with Dynasty.

[millsbass5]

Uh-oh. I must've brain-farted. I thought you was talkin' about this guy below. And, I thought "This guy don't play bass!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YvPwQdJdkc

[mjac28]

Great article loved that group

[RCCollins]

what a GREAT song

[JimmyM]

Quite proud of myself that I was able to play that after two passes with the sheet music. Here I thought my sight reading had gone to hell after a period of neglect.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Quite proud of myself that I was able to play that after two passes with the sheet music. Here I thought my sight reading had gone to hell after a period of neglect.

I am jealous of your skill!

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I am jealous of your skill!

Well if it makes you feel better, I spent a hell of a lot of time working on it...I certainly didn't spring from the womb being able to do it

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Well if it makes you feel better, I spent a hell of a lot of time working on it...I certainly didn't spring from the womb being able to do it

If I have learned nothing else, it's that real musical skill is the product of lots of hard work, no matter how talented the player.

[JimmyM]

Word. As they say, 10,000 hours...

[Jhengsman]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

The newest issue, with Iron Maiden's Steve Harris on the cover, features an analysis of the song "Misdemeanor," a hit for Leon's brother, Foster. The in teresting thing is Leon wrote the song, but Henry Davis actually played the part. I forgot Misdemeanor existed, and certianly never listened to the bassline way back when. The interesting thing is that Davis' interpretation sounds much more like a Jamerson sort of line than the kind of things that Leon Slyvers would play himself when he actually got to play in the studio.

My father taught the older kids junior high science at Markham Jr High so all of their albums made it into the house collection. The big story was that Foster was the first of all of the next Michael Jackson's. When I got the copy of the magazine I searched for the download and it sounds like they recorded from my LP on my 30 year old budget record player. makes me want to buy a tribute version to enjoy it today. A song under 3:00, it was a different era.

While I am dropping names we lived a couple of blocks from The Brothers Johnson for a while

[Dr. Cheese]

I was just looking on iTunes, and two great Leon Sylvers III produced downloads are available that I have not seen before: The Look by Shalamar and Adventures in the Land of Music by Dynasty. On the Shalamar album, Foster Sylvers and Stanley Clarke are also on bass. Stanley Clarke is on the title song, The Look, and it is the one time that he conventionally slaps that I genuinely love how he sounds.

[funkboy5]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I was just looking on iTunes, and two great Leon Sylvers III produced downloads are available that I have not seen before: The Look by Shalamar and Adventures in the Land of Music by Dynasty. On the Shalamar album, Foster Sylvers and Stanley Clarke are also on bass. Stanley Clarke is on the title song, The Look, and it is the one time that he conventionally slaps that I genuinely love how he sounds.

"The Look" by Shalamar is the Bomb. I remember when in came out I just arrived at my new assignment at Misawa Air Base Japan. Played it to death in my ride. Must have listened to at least once a day for 3 years. Nice grooves, nice tunes, a very forward looking album. Loved it.

Leon Sylvers is a bad cat. I think he's playing bass on The Whispers "And the beat goes on", a killer track.

Check out this great interview with "The Whispers" discussing Leon Sylvers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRKDrktZ-qU

[Jhengsman]

The Look is another case of remembering the album because of the singer for me. It prestaged Jody Watley becoming a singer and not just a dancer behind Howard Hewitt as I saw her as before I remember her being nice to me when I was a scrub in high school and she was a local celeb senior for being perhaps the featured dancer at that time on Soul Train.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by funkboy5

"The Look" by Shalamar is the Bomb. I remember when in came out I just arrived at my new assignment at Misawa Air Base Japan. Played it to death in my ride. Must have listened to at least once a day for 3 years. Nice grooves, nice tunes, a very forward looking album. Loved it.

Leon Sylvers is a bad cat. I think he's playing bass on The Whispers "And the beat goes on", a killer track.

Check out this great interview with "The Whispers" discussing Leon Sylvers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRKDrktZ-qU

It was Leon Sylvers playing on As the Beat Goes On.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Jhengsman

The Look is another case of remembering the album because of the singer for me. It prestaged Jody Watley becoming a singer and not just a dancer behind Howard Hewitt as I saw her as before I remember her being nice to me when I was a scrub in high school and she was a local celeb senior for being perhaps the featured dancer at that time on Soul Train.

A woman who truly has it going on usually has no need to trip. I was a pretty big Jody Watley fan myself.

[funkboy5]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

A woman who truly has it going on usually has no need to trip. I was a pretty big Jody Watley fan myself.

Got to check out this clip which also discusses Leon Sylvers as a producer. Will crack you up too.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRKDrktZ-qU

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by funkboy5

Got to check out this clip which also discusses Leon Sylvers as a producer. Will crack you up too.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRKDrktZ-qU

That is a great story. It was posted here maybe two years ago, but it is fun to hear that clip again!

[phillybass101]

Classic Leon Sylvers bassline=Here I am by Dynasty. He's cuttin those notes y'all