I just cant help myself...Mark King

[junerig]

I don't know how anyone could listen to say, Micro Kid and not say that Mark King has the funk.

So strange how we have different opinions about this...Micro Kid sounds like "bubble gum pop"(like just about every other Level 42 song) to me. You might as well have said "Bob Dylan" or "Johnny Cash" instead of Mark King - the sentence would have made about as much sense to me...which is none.
I'll have to take your word for it being different for you, but I reckon the fooler for most people is the slapping - they hear it, they automatically assume that slap=funk. For example some people think Tim C's with RATM is funky. "He's uses his thumb sometimes"...
Or Stuart Hamn or 'Bassisti' on youtube who both have slapping chops to burn...but aren't funky at all! They just employ a right-hand technique that originated mainly from funky players (Graham, Louis Johnson etc.), that's all.

 

[neilc]

I've seen the band live about 15 times, 5 of those pre 1985 when the band were at their musical peak. I would say Mark is not a funk bass player.

He has skirted around a number of styles and has managed to do what all musicians look to do - create his own sound from taking bits from those before him. References to Clarke etc are all over his music, but his music does not really fit into any established genre, in many ways Level 42's sound is unique.

Mark knows how he sounds, I think you'll find his tone is spot on for what he needs and likes.

How about Mark not slapping? (there is some later in the song though lol)



Both the above clips of from 1991 when in my opinion Level 42 got their sound spot on and have never sounded better.