Early '70s Soul

[madbass6]

Another thread here got me thinking about a certain period of music -- right after Motown's heyday. During a relatively brief period, say, '70 - '75, I feel like there was so much musically rich stuff coming out by artists like The Spinners, Stylistics, O'Jays, and more. The compositions were excellent, and the bass work was typically great. So, I thought I'd start a thread to post some of the great music from this period. Figured I'd start with some that have stand-out bass work, IMO. Post some of your faves!

60s,70s era Not only great but the best era!! Period! & no I'm not from that era, Wish I was! I'm I'm 90s up era!

 

[Ant Illington]

Sing it yourself. Not like it's challenging

You're depressing me; I dont think I can even sing THAT.

 

[JimmyM]

You're depressing me; I dont think I can even sing THAT.

LOL! Well the good thing is it really doesn't matter if you can or not. It's still going to sound like Low Rider as long as you're in the ballpark.

 

[nolaguy]

Chuck Rainey showing us how it's done.



And then there are these 2 of my favorite James Jamerson tracks

Wilton Felder played on the Jackson 5 recording.

 

[Badwater]

This one was released in Oct 1969, but very popular in 1970 to today. Great song and bass line.

 

[SoulBeacon]

Chuck Rainey

Paul Martinez

Jerry Knight

 

[Jloch86]

Here you go boys:

 

[Al Dente]

Here you go boys:

I really like your bass covers, nice to see the tabs and notes.

 

[squidtastic]

This album blew me away, EWF seemed light years ahead of everyone musically, always experimenting.
Verdine White-- need I say more?

Love this track. Even though this isn't part of that early '70s sound, this is one of my fave songs of all time by one of my fave bands of all time!

 

[squidtastic]

Another great song from this period that's forever lodged in my memory:

 

[squidtastic]

Another track that has undoubtedly influenced me in ways I don't even realize:

 

[squidtastic]

And another great Spinners track:

 

[Brozzy]

The entire Curtis Mayfield canon is criminally underappreciated by the mainstream, still not getting the credit it deserves. Ultra-talented singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/arranger.

Agreed!! Ditto!!

A song often misidentified as performed by Curtis is this one by William de Vaughn, "Be Thankful for What You Got."



On YouTube and on college radio I have seen it listed as a Curtis song.

 

[Brozzy]

It didn't get picked up by mainstream radio. It was a time of a kind of weird unspoken segregation where if it was "too black" you couldn't mix it into the mainstream. I got robbed of Mayfield, James Brown, Isleys, and so many more because I was listening to mainstream radio (AM and FM) with its steady diet of "Disco Duck" and "Stairway to Heaven.

I think, perhaps, the situation was worse up in the Frozen North, due to our much more limited Black population.

 

[garp]

A sincere thanks to everyone who has posted in this thread. Growing up in the 'burbs north of NYC, this is the music – on AM radio, no less – that eventually lit my fire and inspired me to become the bass player that I am today. One more fave from Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, with the immortal Ronnie Baker layin' down the groove:

 

[Richland123]

 

[Richland123]

 

[FilterFunk]

Two of the most perfect recordings I've ever heard...

"I'm Stone In Love With You" - Stylistics:


"Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" - The Spinners:


Both songs have the great Thom Bell's fingerprints on them.

 

[squidtastic]

Two of the most perfect recordings I've ever heard...

"I'm Stone In Love With You" - Stylistics:


"Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" - The Spinners:


Both songs have the great Thom Bell's fingerprints on them.

Yes, Bell was a huge part of that sound -- just brilliant songwriting & production.

 

[Richland123]